The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) will be opening the doors of its eighteenth Century Grade 2 listed threshing barn at 6pm on November 7 for a celebration of Oxford Rye Vodka and, as this date marks the centenary of the October Revolution, an evening of Russian culture and education. 
Professor Dan Healey, professor of Modern Russian History at Oxford University will be talking and TOAD’s Master Distiller, Cory Mason, will be revealing the secrets of vodka distillation and offering aptly-named cocktails including White Russians and Moscow Mules. TOAD opened for business, after five years of planning, in July at Old Depot, Cheney Lane. Situated at the top of South Parks, this site and its original barn were not available to the public until the distillery gained permission to develop it and provide facilities for visitors. Since launching three months ago, Oxford’s first ever distillery has welcomed many thousands of guests through its gates. The Vodka Event on November 7 will be the first time the barn has been used specifically to entertain visitors and promises to be a lively and interesting celebration of TOAD’s purest spirit. Made from ancient heritage grain, grown sustainably in fields within 50 miles of the distillery and milled on site, TOAD’s Oxford Rye Vodka is steeped in history. It is one of only a tiny handful of vodkas to be made from scratch in the UK and is the only one in the world to use ancient populations of heritage rye. 
TOAD’s founder Tom Nicolson said: “We are truly honoured to have Professor Healey join us and share his expertise in Russian culture at this centenary event. We like to think of TOAD as providing spiritual excellence for curious minds – and this event should be a fine example of this in action”. The event is free and open to anyone over 18 years of age. Vodka and gin cocktails and bottles of TOAD spirits will be on sale. Doors open at 6pm at TOAD, Old Depot, Cheney Lane, OX3 7QJ. RSVP to info@spiritoftoad.co.uk. More details on TOAD at www.spiritoftoad.co.uk
