Keep it in the family: 11 siblings behind two boozy powerhouses
Brewing and distilling have for centuries been family pursuits, but the McAvoy family have taken that idea to almost absurdist lengths.
Launched in 2017, the Sis4ers Distillery is run by sisters, Kerry Collins, Hayley Robinson, Kate Haslam and Lucy McAvoy, themselves the siblings of the brothers behind the Seven Bro7hers Brewing Co, based on the same Lancastrian estate. Between the 11 siblings, they are probably the largest group of brothers and sisters operating in the alcoholic beverage industry anywhere in the world.
Lucy, Sis4ers Distillery’s sales and marketing director, said: “Our brothers – Keith, Kit, Guy, Luke, Daniel, Nathan and Greg McAvoy – were about three years ahead of us. I had an events management company at the time and they approached me to help with their first crowdfunding campaign. That gave me an insight into what they were doing. Our brothers were our springboard.”
The sisters, who have 13 children between them, out of the collective of 29 between all the siblings, have just released a spiced rum and have started making “vibrant core” gins. The flavours reflected the sisters’ differing tastes, with Strawberry Gin made for sweet-toothed Kerry (procurement director), Lime and Thyme for Hayley (production director), Caramel Espresso for coffee lover and finance director Kate, while Passion Fruit & Cardamom Gin was designed to complement Lucy’s love of Asian food.
Their ‘Home at Ten’ peach gin was released last year to raise funds for the hospitality charity So Let’s Talk. Hayley, Kerry and Kate are also teachers, but are taking the plunge and joining the business full time this year to help Lucy push the company to the next level.
Their brothers, also based at Salford’s Weybridge Enterprise Centre, make Easy IPA, Hoppy Pale, Amber Lager, Sling It Out Stout, Peanut Butter On A Jaffa Cake? Stout, Humble Pie wheat beer and a new limited edition Sticky Toffee Pudding and Custard Pale Ale. The brothers opened their first beer house in Ancoats, Manchester in 2016.
Sis4ers Spiced Rum is a Caribbean-inspired, UK-made rum which is blended with spices and vanilla. To honour the all-female team behind it, the rum’s label features Amphitrite, the goddess of the sea and wife of Poseidon in Greek mythology.
Callum Collins is the sisters’ head distiller and part of the extended family; he’s the son of eldest sister Kerry and says “Being part of the distillery team and the production and creation of the new products is a great challenge. I never thought I would become a distiller, but can’t imagine doing anything else now!”
Three other powerful women also work alongside the sisters: Frederica, Venetia and Arabella are the distillery’s hard-working copper pot stills. All their names are inspired from author Georgette Heyer, who wrote about strong female characters, which is what the Sis4ers are all about and why nothing is going to stop them from establishing themselves as one of the most unique and best-selling distilleries in the UK.