5 THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM 'SIPSMITH SAM'
Sam Galsworthy Co-Founded Sipsmith Gin Then Took Over His Family Estate - Here's What Suprised Me
1) COLD WATER SWIMMING ACTS LIKE A ‘TRUTH SERUM’
I am sure I’m not alone in loathing getting cold – a hangover from enforced outdoor swimming in winter, at prep school, perhaps?
But there’s something about Sam Galsworthy’s boyish enthusiasm for it that even makes me consider it.
He says in Cornwall you’re never far from a hole or the sea – so he’s become a seasoned pro.
The best time? Early morning or late at night – something to do with hormones….
2) BEING ASKED TO WEAR TIGHTS AND VELVET, AS A MAN, IS CONSIDERED AN HONOUR
Asking Sam why he dons tights and velvet made him cringe - but it made my week!
While he lives in a stately home, he assures me this isn’t his daily attire.
He wore this fetching outfit during his year as High Sheriff of Cornwall - a kind of mini-ambassador to the King, representing the Duchy.
He tells me the tradition dates back to King Alfred - originally tied to upholding law and order.
But, a rather grizzly part of the role was to administer capital punishment – right up until the 60’s!
Luckily, Sam’s duties were far gentler: shining a light on darker corners of the county and celebrating unsung heroes.
3) EATING HONEY CAN MAKE BEES COLD IN WINTER
Yes really.
Sam thrives outdoors, roaming 30 acres of woodland gardens and 200 acres of parkland - Trewithen literally means “house of trees.”
His family has a history of funding plant-hunting expeditions in the late 1800s, bringing back seedlings from the Far East to six Cornish gardens.
Being inspired by the past to make the best decisions for the future, Sam has embraced sustainability.
It’s thought a new natural hybrid variety of Camellia (named Isadora after his daughter) might have been pollinated by local bees – sparking his fascination with beehives.
He now rarely eats their honey, preferring to ‘bee kind’ !
4) HAVING A SICK CHILD IS AN ALMIGHTY LEVELLER
It doesn’t matter if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth or on a council estate – a sick child is every parent’s nightmare.
Watching Sam recount the phone call when his wife told him their 3 year-old-son, Eddie, had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia was so moving.
A sharp reminder that having it all means nothing when your child’s life is at risk.
(*I’m so happy to report that Eddie is now fully recovered – and ‘a total menace’ – just as he should be)
1) WHO YOU WALK BESIDE IS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE OF ALL
Launching a business with a childhood best friend is a big gamble.
It only takes one of you to want to take the company in a different direction or to make a misstep and you can jeopardise even the strongest bond.
But Sam insists co-founding Sipsmith with Fairfax Hall was part of their success - their talents were complimentary and their trust, complete.
He also credits his wife, Kitty, with helping him lean in to life at Trewithen – despite a sometimes stifled childhood.
So, in summary - plunge in, embrace the unexpected, tend to what matters, and never underestimate the people beside you - because they’re what make the mess and the magic all worthwhile.
Listen/watch New Chapters with Isabel Webster – out NOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube
PS – a little plea from me 💌: New Chapters is going great guns 🚀, but hitting subscribe wherever you listen helps me keep telling stories that inspire, connect, and resonate. It means the world – thank you x