45 West Distillers, which produces Burleighs Gin, said that the exclusive Doddie’5 Gin recipe was developed by Burleighs Gin head distiller Ed Gibson and Doddie at the distillery in Leicestershire.
The pair combined the unique Burleighs Signature recipe with specially selected botanicals that pay homage to Doddie’s roots in the Scottish Borders.
Gibson said: “By including milk thistle and heather flower to our Signature blend, we have created an incredibly vibrant artisan gin that we are proud and excited to put our name to.
“We are calling on rugby and gin fans to help tackle MND and be part of the cure by pre-ordering the special edition bottle online from BurleighsGin.com. Our drive with this partnership is to raise crucial funds and awareness for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
“With the profit from each bottle sale going directly to the foundation, we are committed to achieving our goal of raising £1,000,000.”
The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was set up in November 2017 by Doddie and his fellow trustees, five months after he revealed that he was suffering from motor neurone disease himself.
Doddie earned 61 caps for Scotland during a successful playing career and represented The British & Irish Lions on their victorious 1997 tour to South Africa.
From the outset of his diagnosis, Doddie has been driven to help fellow sufferers and seek ways to further research into this, as yet, incurable disease. In its first year, the foundation committed to raise £1 million to help find a cure and to support those affected by MND, and they are confident of investing a similar figure in 2019.
The Scottish rugby legend added: “We are delighted to be involved with Burleigh’s and very much appreciate their fantastic support through Doddie’5 gin. We had a great time creating the gin with Ed and the team at 45 West Distillers and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.
“I was keen to introduce a hint of the Borders into the flavor and we are thrilled with the result.”
45 West managing director Matt Payne said that it hopes the funds raised from the sales of Doddie’5 Gin will assist the foundation in achieving its aims and enable individuals suffering from MND to live as fulfilling a life as possible.
He said: “Doddie is a truly inspirational character and working in partnership has been a humbling experience. We have created a fantastic gin together and feel honoured to be given the opportunity to support the foundation’s ongoing fight to raise the necessary funding to find a cure for MND.”
It’s not the first time a gin producer has donated its profits to this worthwhile cause.
Last year a small Scottish farm distiller based in South Lanarkshire created a limited edition gin to raise funds.
Entrepreneur and rugby fan Jenny McKerr, who produces Drover’s Gin, created 200 bottles of Doddie’s gin at her Wee Farm Distillery, with the run selling out in its entirety, raising £2,500 for the charity.
She said: “I couldn’t have picked a more remarkable man’s mission to support when we decided to produce Doddie’s Gin at The Wee Farm Distillery. Doddie’s strength of character and determination to help others is an absolute inspiration and I’m pleased our craft gin could contribute to such a fantastic cause.”
