L – R back row: Ben White, Nick Ravenhall, Nick Stagg, Alex Ravenhall L – R front row: Francesca Roffe Ridgard, Tamsin Gayle

On Wednesday 16th June, New Zealand brothers Alex and Nick Ravenhall, commonly coined the Whisky Smugglers, swam across the Channel from Dover to Calais with a team of four other swimmers to raise money for Sea Shepherd New Zealand. Partnering with London’s Bimber Distillery, each swimmer transported a dram of whisky, which was then blended back into a cask and will be sold as limited-edition whiskies later this year.

The team completed the arduous swim in an amazing 12 hours and 58 mins, the second fastest team this season, alongside swimmers Ben White, Tamsin Gayle, Francesca Roffe Ridgard and Nick Stagg. The Maori brothers founded Whisky and Waves, an ocean awareness campaign, to call attention to how vulnerable the earth’s beautiful waterways are. The pair felt a special calling to work with Sea Shepherd on this project, whose charity work includes protecting Maui’s dolphins, endemic to New Zealand.

The brothers now based in the UK both work in the new world whisky scene. Nick is the Managing Director for Edinburgh’s innovative Holyrood Distillery, whilst Alex is Head of Events for Atom Brands which includes the famous independent whisky bottling brand Boutique-y Whisky Company.

Ewelina Chruszczyk, Director at Bimber Distillery commented: “Bimber are delighted to be collaborating with Whisky & Waves on their latest charity swim. Whilst our distillery has its historical roots in mainland Europe, our home is very much England – and as such, crossing the channel with our single malt in tow is a perfect expression of both our journey and of the universal language of the shared love of whisky.” 

This Summer, the pair will undergo at least two more swims in some of the UK’s most treacherous waters, including the The Corryvreckan. Both swims will be completed with smuggled whisky with the intent to release further fundraising bottlings for Sea Shepherd.