Group of pals in Corby launch their own vodka spirit brand

Luke Reay, Jordan McKenzie-Allan, Ryan Carlton and Daniel Bradley, who have been friends for years, went on holiday to Fuengirola earlier this year.

While trying to invent new drinks to try, they hit on a winning strawberry and vodka combination and decided that there was a gap in the market.

Now the 23-year-olds will launch their Brisa Marina vodka-based spirits drinks at a special event in their hometown tomorrow (Saturday, November 23).

Luke, who attended Lodge Park School along with his three friends and business partners, will act as the firm's marketing manager. He said: "We were in a cocktail bar in Fuengirola and were a bit bored with drinking the same things so started drinking mixing some flavours and then we just said that we had to write it down because it was so nice.

"It went from there really. We found Locksley Distilling in Sheffield who are producing it for us and we've learnt so much during the process. We're so grateful to them for helping us make such an amazing drink and to all our family and friends and to Rohan Entertainments for their support."

The vodka-based liqueur is available in four flavours - strawberry and vanilla, mango, bubblegum and blackberry. It is designed to be drunk as a shot or mixed with lemonade.

It will be sold in a large number of bars across Northamptonshire from tomorrow with a long-term ambition of it being sold to a much wider audience.

"Everyone who's tried it really likes it," said Luke. "My mum doesn't really drink alcohol and even she likes it!

"We've learned so much along the way and had to go through so many legal processes to make sure we get this right."

The official launch party for invited guests will take place tomorrow at The Raven Hotel in Rockingham Road. The friends hope to eventually branch out into providing full events packages to people who are hosting events.