A FORMER head of the Island’s hospitality industry is seeking to grow his home-made liqueur business.
Having started Uncle Si’s Island Tipples as a project just before Christmas, Simon Soar is beginning to gain interest from bars and restaurants.
The ex-chief executive of the Jersey Hospitality Association, who now works as interim director of the Policy Centre Jersey think tank, has applied for a licence to enable him to continue manufacturing the Uncle Si’s range at his home in St Helier.
The liqueurs have previously been made under a licence with a business partner, but now Mr Soar hopes to gain approval from the Licensing Assembly to go out on his own.
“It’s something I’ve been doing at home for years for my own drinks-making,” he said.
“I’ve tried them out with friends, who reacted well and asked if I’d considered selling them.
“It’s very much a hobby – I won’t be going full-time with it, but the reaction from people I know in venues has been positive and so I’m looking to expand the range and increase production.
“They’re local, natural products and I believe they compete well on flavour and price, so it would be good to push on a bit further.”
The range has expanded to six flavours: coffee, strawberry and vanilla, orange, gingerbread, cherry and herbal liqueur kümmel.
Mr Soar makes batches of the liqueurs using natural ingredients which are macerated in grain spirit. Serving suggestions include classic cocktails such as the Margarita and Espresso Martini, sipping over ice, mixing with prosecco or as a way to spice up a hot chocolate.
The application is due to be considered by the Licensing Assembly on 21 March.
