David and Dominic Tait, who founded Tait Bros. in 2019 are out to recruit an ‘army of advocates’ for the brand as they today launch ‘Put Your Money Where Vermouth Is’ crowdfunding campaign.

The Crowdcube campaign, which launched privately last week and to the public today, has already raised more than £80,000.

The fully-licensed facility, which will include an ‘experimentation studio’, bar and tasting room, will also serve as a brand home for Valentian Vermouth. 

Tait Bros. is currently based in St Boswells in the Scottish Borders, an area once known as Valentia, the most northerly part of the Roman empire, which was the inspiration for the brand’s name.  

The firm plans significant expansion following completion of the crowdfunding campaign, with investment in a sales team and up to eight new employees to help run the centre for excellence.

The launch of the crowdfunding campaign arrives at an exciting time for Valentian Vermouth, which this year added some of the best-known names in Scottish hospitality to its impressive list of stockists including Montpeliers and Indigo Yard in Edinburgh, and Glasgow’s Bar Vini and Eusebi’s ­– where it features in the famous house Negroni.

New products are also in the pipeline, including Valentian Vermouth Bianco and Valentian Vermouth Secco.

The firm is working with partners including South of Scotland Enterprise on the exciting centre for excellence and tasting room project.

The crowdfunding campaign enables investors to own part of the award-winning Scottish Borders-based Tait Bros., makers of Valentian Vermouth Rosso, a super-premium vermouth marrying Scottish new make malt spirit, Italian white wine and botanicals cultivated in both countries.

Investors receive equity in the burgeoning firm, alongside a series of exclusive rewards dependent on how much they invest.

Rewards range from discounts and Valentian Vermouth branded items for entry level investment, rising to dinner and an afternoon with founders David and Dominic Tait at the completed tasting room for those willing to invest £10,000.

Tait Bros. founders David and Dominic, who are originally from Glasgow, chose to launch the crowdfunder after studying the success of other notable Scottish food and drinks campaigns, such as Innis & Gunn’s £3m ‘Beer Money’ campaign in 2019.

However, the main aim remains to gather shareholders and supporters who will spread the Valentian Vermouth message.

Dominic, 33, who manages Tait Bros. operations, said: “This is a massively exciting development for Valentian Vermouth and undoubtedly the biggest step on our journey so far. We want people to join our family business and come with us for the ride.

“Through the campaign we hope to gain not only shareholders but friends and enthusiastic supporters who are going to join us on this journey to put Scotland on the vermouth map.

“Investors will gain exclusive rewards and experiences to get to know us and the world of Valentian Vermouth better.”

He added: “The unique blend of ingredients in Valentian Vermouth creates an amazing aromatic nose from the moment the bottle opens, paving the way to a rich depth of flavour. We know from the response of bartenders and consumers across the country that people absolutely love it.

“Scotland has been leading the way in malt whisky, premium gin and craft beers for years and we know vermouth can have the same impact – it is the next big thing in drinks.”

Co-founder David, 35, added: “The vermouth and aperitif market in the UK has grown by 12 per cent per annum, so we know this is the perfect time to expand the business.

“We’ve enjoyed our success through strong wholesale backing, with three regional wholesalers and one national UK wholesaler, and have developed an online platform which enables us to sell direct to consumers.

“Our longer-term aim is to create a production facility in the Scottish Borders, and we are confident and excited in equal measure about this next stage in the route towards it. Through this crowdfunder we are asking people to join a family business with high growth potential on what promises to be a very exciting journey.”