March 8, 2025, marks International Women’s Day, calling for greater efforts to achieve gender equality. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, reminds us that progress must be intentional, urgent, and ongoing.
At hampers.com, we are dedicated to championing women in business by working with female-led makers and entrepreneurs. Supporting women-owned businesses helps to break barriers to entry and creates lasting change in historically male-dominated industries.
To honour this day, we sat down with Samantha Graves, Director of Maidstone Distillery, to hear her inspiring journey. Read on to learn how Samantha turned her passion into a thriving business.
introducing Samantha Graves, Director of Maidstone Distillery
Samantha turned her passion for gin into a thriving business, whilst also uncovering Kent’s rich distilling history along the way. By crafting spirits that reflect their surroundings and heritage, Maidstone creates meaningful connections between the past, present, and future.
Their distillery offers three unique gins, each inspired by the local history of Maidstone, located in Kent. Visitors can experience the magic of distilling firsthand through tours, tastings, and masterclasses. With a commitment to authenticity and education, Samantha ensures that every sip tells a story, making the distillery a must-visit destination for spirit enthusiasts.
hampers.com interviews Samantha Graves...
As part of hampers.com's International Women's Day celebrations, we were lucky enough to interview Samantha about her business journey, and ask what advice she would give to other women in business:
hampers.com: Please could you tell us about your business, and your lovely spirits?
We are a family run distillery based in the heart of Kent, inspired by our past and determined to contribute to over 235 years of Maidstone’s important distilling heritage in a positive way.
Maidstone wants to create spirits which inspire, which resonate with the world today, speak of our past, our surroundings and of our vibrant future. We have created a place where people can see our spirits being made first hand and also experience the art of distilling in a fun and exciting way.
Maidstone produce three gins, each inspired by different aspects of local heritage, and a Toffee Liqueur, which nods to Maidstone's sweet making past. We also run Tours & Tastings, Cocktail Masterclasses and our Gin School.
hampers.com: What inspired you to start, own or lead your own business?
My husband and I reached a point in our lives where we felt ready to take the leap into business. Our passion for gin sparked an exciting idea - what if we could uncover the distilling history in Kent?
To our delight, we discovered that Maidstone is the birthplace of English Gin! It was an incredible story we couldn’t pass up, and it became the perfect inspiration for us to dive in and bring that rich heritage to life through our own distillery.
Samantha shares advice to women in business...
hampers.com: What challenges did you overcome during this process, specifically as a woman entrepreneur?
As a woman entrepreneur, one of the challenges I faced was breaking into an industry that’s traditionally male-dominated. It required persistence, confidence, and sometimes a bit of extra determination to prove myself and my vision. Also being a mum to three children has brought its own challenges when pursuing a career, but also trying to be the best mum I can be.
Overcoming these challenges has made me even more passionate about supporting and encouraging other women in business. It’s been a rewarding journey, showing that with hard work, resilience, and belief in your idea, you can create something truly special. And to be kind to yourself is really important!
hampers.com: What advice would you give to other women looking to break into your industry or start their own businesses?
My biggest piece of advice is never giving up on your dreams, no matter how tough the road may seem. The journey to starting and running your own business can be full of obstacles, but perseverance is key. There will be moments when doubt creeps in, but it's important to remember that every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Trust in your vision, stay true to your passion, and surround yourself with a supportive network. The more you push forward, the closer you get to turning your dreams into reality. Women bring such unique perspectives and strengths to business - so don’t be afraid to take the leap and make your mark!
hampers.com: What does this year’s International Women’s Day theme - ‘accelerate action’ - mean to you, and how do you celebrate or reflect on its significance in your business?
Accelerate action has momentum behind it, it gives energy and an importance to enabling women to match their male counterparts in the workplace. Our workforce is over 65% female, including in our management team. We have employed people based on their strengths and have not overlooked female employees for manual and manufacturing roles. There certainly is a sense of ‘girl power’ in the team!