When you travel First Class on an Avanti West Coast train, you can enjoy a delicious selection of complimentary food and drink including Forest to First, a bespoke gin created exclusively for Avanti West Coast.
Produced entirely from the untamed landscapes of Macclesfield Forest, this special edition gin embodies the same attention to detail and craftsmanship that has made Forest Gin a multi-award-winning favourite.
The Unique Ingredients of Forest Gin
Perched at 515 metres above sea level, where the elements test all that stand before them, the Cat and Fiddle has endured for centuries. Once a traditional coaching inn, it now houses something even more remarkable, Forest Distillery.
The distillery sits within the Peak District National Park, an area of woodland and moors, once part of a vast Norman royal hunting forest. Today the Cat and Fiddle, with its cosy fires, bar and shop, welcomes visitors from all over the world… and it also holds the secrets to the Bond family’s range of premium spirits - Forest Gin, Forest Whisky and Forest Rum.
Operating in small batches of just 85 bottles at time, Forest Gin was the brainchild of Lindsay and Karl Bond’s back in 2014 from their own home on the outskirts of the forest.
Their initial trials used easily accessible ingredients bought online, producing mixed results. It was only when they turned to high-quality ingredients and experimented with local forest flora, (hand-foraged by their young daughter, Hattie), that they realised they had created something special.
From those first experiments in 2014, Forest Gin quickly gained recognition, not only for its flavour and iconic ceramic bottles but also for its commitment to sustainability and local sourcing, commitments they share with Avanti. What sets Forest Gin apart is its carefully selected mix of wild botanicals, still hand-foraged from Macclesfield Forest, to create a distinct flavour. These include:
- Gorse Flowers
- Pine and Spruce Needles
- Moss and Ferns
- Wild Raspberries, Blackberries, and Bilberries
One of the most important ingredients in Forest Gin is the water itself. Sourced from the Cat and Fiddle’s very own spring water supply, it is truly unique.
Forest to First: Exclusive Avanti West Coast Drink
Crafted exclusively for Avanti West Coast, Forest to First is a bespoke gin that captures the essence of the journey from wild landscapes to refined travel. Distilled at high altitude within the Peak District National Park, this small-batch spirit is made using a meticulous process that highlights both tradition and innovation.
Each batch begins with pure spring water sourced directly from Forest Distillery’s own supply. This forms the base for an expertly balanced selection of botanicals. Wild-foraged berries—raspberries, bilberries, and blackberries— bring a delicate fruitiness, while organic juniper, coriander, cinnamon, and vanilla add layers of spice, warmth, and depth.
The gin is distilled in small 25-litre pot stills, a slow and careful method that allows for precise extraction of flavours. It ensures the perfect drink, ready for you to sit back and enjoy it onboard your Avanti West Coast journey.
What makes Forest to First truly special is the way it captures the surrounding landscape. At 40% ABV, it delivers bright juniper and citrus up front, followed by the rich, tart sweetness of forest berries and a smooth, warming finish from the spice blend.
The result is a gin that feels both wild and refined—perfectly suited for the journey from rugged moorlands to first-class travel. As Avanti West Coast’s first-class alcoholic drinks go, we think it’s one of the best.
