Leamington rum producer helps local gym pack a punch in the community

An award-winning distiller in Leamington is throwing its weight behind the expansion of a community boxing gym which prides itself on producing champion fighters.

The Warwickshire Gin Company has become long term sponsors for Cleary’s Boxing Gym following the recent opening of its new £100,000 premises in Whitnash.

The money will fund new kit as well as amateur boxers’ expenses for competitions and events abroad.

The partnership is a nod to the distiller’s rums, The Pugilist, and its new release, Sting Like A Bee honey rum, both inspired by Randolph Turpin who went down in British boxing history for his sensational world title win against the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson and earning himself the nickname ‘The Leamington Licker.’

The rums use Guyanan rum spirit as a base in honour of Leamington-born Turpin’s Guyanan family heritage.

Dave Blick, who established Warwickshire Gin Company in 2018, said: “With the inspiration behind our Pugilist brand, we are perfectly aligned with Cleary’s.

“With our local legend being Randolph Turpin, boxing is still a very strong sport in Leamington and Warwick and when we were approached about supporting their new gym, we jumped at the chance.

“This is an opportunity to be part of a great project and give opportunities to more youngsters to learn the sport and learn key life skills.”

“I have no doubt Cleary’s will be a huge success, being inclusive and also developing youngsters.

“Edwin Cleary is kind and supportive in addition to being a great coach, who has helped develop current great up and coming boxers such as Lewis Williams and Danny Quartermaine.”

The Pugilist rums are among Warwickshire Gin Company’s range of artisan copper pot-distilled premium gins, rums and vodka.

The flavours are developed to represent the county’s own unique story.

These include Leamington on Parade, inspired by the true story of three elephants brought over from Sri Lanka to Leamington by circus elephant trainer Sam Lockhart in the 1880s; The Kingmaker – named after Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick and Peeping Tom – inspired by the legend of Coventry’s Lady Godiva.

The non-profit boxing gym is owned by Edwin Cleary, who trained with the Turpins before himself turning professional, and has produced some of Leamington’s and Great Britain’s finest fighters over the last 15 years, including Lewis Williams who won gold at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.