IF you’ve been bitten by the sea shanty bug, then you may also enjoy a tipple of rum made by a Northwich husband and wife team to enjoy while you sing.

Ben and Holly Fogg have launched Hygge Drinks Company during lockdown number three and their first batch of Caribbean white rum is going down a storm with customers.

The couple, who already run a busy electrical and building maintenance company in Northwich, began mooting the idea during the first lockdown, and it’s certainly gathered its sea legs since then.

Ben, 31, explained: “I’ve always been a big fan of spiced rum from my time in the Army as a Royal Engineer.

“When lockdown first started, I found myself drinking more varieties and brands of rum and fell truly in love with the difference in flavours and the versatility.

“I think, after one or two too many rums I said to my wife ‘I’d love to do my own rum’, and that’s where it all started – Hygge Rum was born.

“Initially, we wanted to do this as a very small side business as we already own a very busy company, so our spare time is very limited anyway, but lockdown 1.0 gave us plenty of time to start.”

And it’s a real family affair as the couple’s daughters Alexa and Willow love helping to pack boxes and stick postage labels onto customer’s orders.

It’s been a learning curve for the couple, and Ben admits some of their first attempts were ‘horrendous’, but after narrowing it down to three varieties, they had their distillery make the rum to their specifications.

Ben said: “It’s steeped with our blend of spices and natural caramel flavourings to produce our Hygge Spiced Rum.

“One of the biggest highlights for us is when we get feedback from our customers who love our rum, or when we see our being recommended to people in the online rum clubs.

“It’s quite overwhelming to see how our simple idea, which we had while sitting in the garden, has gone from concept to being purchased up and down the country with customers who genuinely love everything about it.”

Ben added: “Our rum is a drink that is best enjoyed with friends and family and at social gatherings. I really hope that this summer it rum can be shared far and wide with our customers at barbecues and family gatherings. Fingers crossed we can all have a less restrictive summer. 

“In addition to this we’d love to be stocked in a mainstream national retailer, whether – this would allow us to share our rum with more people and help to create and recognise those little hygge moments, which I think we've all missed and taken for granted.”

Visit  hyggedrinks.co.uk for more information.