Meet the Team

Matt

Owner of Rare Bird Distillery & Head Distiller

Matt worked through the ranks in the fire service for 30 years. Before his retirement in 2018, he was based in stations across North Yorkshire.

Nearing the end of his duty and inspired by the concept of brewing & distilling, he began trialing ‘how to make gin’ in his garage. Fast forward four years, and Matt's the proud owner and head distiller of the Rare Bird business.

You’ll find him either leading one of his 5* rated gin school experiences or making new batches of gin (sometimes in the early hours of the morning, those nights shifts never wore off!)

Matt loves chatting with new and returning customers. When he’s not making or talking about all things gin, you’ll find him watching a Leeds United game or cooking up a fine dinner for the family.

Matt said: "Reflecting on the last four years, all I can say is it's been amazing. To see a product that I have made come to life and be sold on shelves, is still a 'pinch me moment'.

"When the business began to grow, it was clear we were going to need some extra hands on board. My team are nothing short of fantastic and I'm proud to have them with me on this journey.

"We pride oursleves on our selection of flavours, glowing gin school reviews and being Malton's first and only gin distillery."

His favourite Rare Bird Gin? London Dry.

Elizabeth

Strategy & Branding Director

Supporting the business from its inception, Elizabeth has enabled Rare Bird to become a distinctive brand with a luxury aesthetic.

After years of her own retail therapy, matched with a true passion for design and presentation – Elizabeth has used her skills to design the Rare Bird gin bottles and top-level customer service.

Elizabeth said: “As you can imagine, a clear liquid & a clear bottle are not the most dynamic elements to work with!

“My idea to add a colour wash onto the Rare Bird bottles allowed for our gin that you see on the shelves today, to have their distinctive gradient tone. It really does add an important dimension and added attractiveness, giving each flavour its own personality.

“When customers began to return their empty gin bottles to us, stating they simply couldn’t bear to throw them away, we listened & introduced pouch refills. Not only does this help the environment by reducing glass wastage, but it also allows the lovers of our gin, to keep their original bottle.”

Her favourite Rare Bird Gin? Rhubarb & Ginger.

Kristina

Rare Bird Distillery Sales Team

Kristina’s been part of the Rare Bird team for two years.

She joined Rare Bird after a successful career in primary school teaching, which she worked in for 17-years. Kristina fancied a change and turned her head to retail, swapping school books for sales.

Kristina said: "I love introducing new people to Rare Bird gin and telling them the story. My role mainly involves serving customers and handcrafting our scented candles.

"When I'm not at work, you can find me either with my cat or doing yoga. Whether that be at the beach, studio, or just at home! I also have a big passion for baking and have experimented with using Rare Bird gin in my cakes before. So far, I’ve baked lime & gin cupcakes and a G&T birthday cake - both were delicious!

"Since having gone vegan in January, I’m now dabbling with vegan bakes - so there’s more to come!”

Her favourite Rare Bird Gin? Vanilla Spiced.

Contact & Find us in Malton

Rare Bird is a working Distillery, Shop, Bar, and Gin School.

Our Distillery is open to view, and you can purchase the gin we make onsite. We operate a fully licensed bar and are open to the public all year round.