A LOT of Hollywood and television stars seem to be drawn to the world of spirits – Ryan Reynolds, Brad Pitt and Emma Watson all have their own gin brands, and Outlander star Sam Heughan has a malt whisky. Now former Top Gear presenter James May has launched his own gin, made in Wiltshire, where he has a historic village pub, and the new spirit is gaining fans and accolades.

May, who owns The Royal Oak at Swallowcliffe, a few miles east of Shaftesbury, has created his unique and unusual Asian Parsnip Gin in conjunction with Hugh Anderson of Downton Distillery, based south of Salisbury. The gin is praised in the Gin and Craft newsletter as “a distinctive and bold profile, setting it apart from more conventional gins.”

The broadcaster, who has a reputation for wide and often quirky interests – and a love of fine drinks – describes it as a “a premium craft gin created by two men in a cold shed in Wiltshire.” It is one of four gins in his James Gin range, the others are Asian Parsnip Navy Strength, London Drizzle and American Mustard,

He stresses that the unusual gin really is his own creation, blending the flavour of parsnip, “because it reminds me of England and its dampness,” with exciting Asian spices. Early reviewers of James Gin have praised its unusual but well-balanced flavour profile.

Probably helped by its creators media fame, the first run of 1,000 litres rapidly sold out as a signed and numbered limited edition.