ORIGINS
OUR JOURNEY
From the adventure of a lifetime came a spark that led to the launch of Tarsier. We didn’t follow a roadmap. We followed instinct. And in doing so, we turned a dream into a bottle.
INSPIRED BY ADVENTURE
In 2015, we packed our bags and set off on a backpacking adventure across Southeast Asia. From the jungles of the Philippines to the street markets of Thailand, the rivers of Vietnam to the temples of Cambodia - we travelled by plane, boat, motorbike and tuk-tuk, soaking in every moment.
What we found was more than just a beautiful backdrop. We fell in love with the region; the vibrant flavours, the warm-hearted people, the epic landscapes, and the way simple ingredients were transformed into dishes full of balance and soul.
Returning to England, we couldn’t shake the feeling. The tastes, the smells, the spirit of the places we’d explored; they stayed with us. And that’s when the idea was born: to bottle the essence of Southeast Asia and share it with the world.
Tarsier was our way of honouring the journey; it’s a spirit crafted with curiosity, built on instinct, and born from adventure.
JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
From day one, we knew we wanted to distill the spirits ourselves. This wasn’t just about creating a product; it was about capturing a journey. Every bottle had to tell the story of our adventure across Southeast Asia. It had to be personal. It had to be made with love.
We weren’t distillers when we started. But where we lacked expertise, we learned. Where we lacked knowledge, we dug deeper. Just like our backpacking trip, this was a journey into the unknown; fuelled by curiosity, driven by passion.
In our little Manchester kitchen, with a copper alembic still and ingredients sourced from across the region, we spent countless days experimenting. Fruits, herbs, spices - each distillation was a step closer to balance. Citrus, floral, spice. Some botanicals were rejected. Ratios were tweaked. Dozens of recipes were tested until everything finally clicked.
Tarsier is the result of that devotion. Not just to craft, but to a vision; of creating something unique, something meaningful, something that could only have come from the path we chose to walk.
CRAFTING OUR SPIRITS
We began in a tiny room at the back of a pub, distilling our first gin on two 60-litre copper alembic pot stills; named Florencia and Graciano, after Sherwin’s Filipino grandparents. It was small, scrappy, and filled with purpose.
As demand grew, so did we. Reinvesting into building our own dedicated distillery and upgrading to modern equipment without losing the soul of our craft. Today, we distil on a state-of-the-art 500 litre iStill, named Christian in honour of Sherwin’s friend and mentor.
To capture the most vibrant flavours from delicate botanicals, we also use a vacuum still; allowing us to cold distil at room temperature and preserve the bright, fresh notes that would be lost in a traditional still.
We’re relentless in our pursuit of flavour. Always experimenting. Always learning. We use the finest ingredients and the most time-intensive processes. It’s how we honour the region that inspired us and the journey that started it all.
NEXT ADVENTURES
Tarsier was born from travel and now it takes us around the world. From city to city and country to country, we’ve launched in new markets through bar takeovers, masterclasses, and guest shifts. But more than that, it’s about sharing drinks with locals, trading stories with bartenders, and truly immersing ourselves in each place we visit.
Every destination leaves its mark. The people we meet, the flavours we discover, the moments we share; they become the spark for our next creation. Each new product is a reflection of where Tarsier has taken us, and where it will go next.
This is more than a brand. It’s a journey. And we’re only just getting started.