Initial development of the distillery was assisted by Harry Cockburn (a Master Distiller and former Production Director at Bowmore distillery) and Dr. Jim Swan (an expert in cask maturation whose previous projects include work with Penderyn in Wales, Kavalan in Taiwan and The Milk & Honey Distillery in Israel). Production began on 5 September 2014, with the first cask of single malt whisky filled on 22 September 2014. The first release of whisky (4000 bottles),[2] when a selection of casks had reached the three-year minimum age, took place in October 2017.[3]
Crowd funding
In January 2016, the Distillery opened a crowd funding initiative on CrowdBnk with the aim of raising £500,500 for expansion of the business.[4] The investment window closed with the initiative having raised £1,001,000 from 124 investors in seven weeks.[5]
In June 2018, £3 million was raised on Crowdcube for a visitor centre.[6] In January 2020, the company raised £1 million.[7]
In July 2023, the distillery took first place in a ranking by Cask Connoisseur and was the most popular whisky distillery among visitors.[8]
Technical specifications
The distillery features a 0.5 tonne mash tun and eight 2,500-litre washbacks. The distillation takes place in two copper pot stills supplied by Forsyths of Rothes, Scotland.[9]
The gin is produced on a 500-litre hybrid pot and column still made by Arnold Holstein GmbH of Markdorf, Germany. Using just the pot still section of the still, the gin is rectified using the 'steep and boil' method, and the gin is collected in one shot, as opposed to the multi-shot method traditionally used by larger gin brands.[10]
Products
As of 2024 the distillery primarily produces both gin and whisky. All of the distillery's whiskies are single malt and range from 46% to 59.1% ABV. The distillery does also produce a cream liqueur alongside two amaro liqueurs. There is a limited annual release of treacle rum and Christmas gin in the shops, though the latter is available to purchase all year round on the distillery's website.
Whisky
Cotswolds Signature Whisky (The Distillery's flagship product) [11]
Founder's Choice Whisky (STR Cask)
Sherry Cask Whisky (Ex Oloroso Cask)
Bourbon Cask Whisky (White American Oak)
Peated Cask Whisky (Ex Laphroaig Cask)
Reserve Whisky (First Fill Bourbon and Red Wine)
Spanish Oak Whisky (Blended Cask with Ex Oloroso and First Fill Ex Red Wine Casks)
Hearts and Crafts 6 (Ex Calvados Cask)
Amber Meadow: Harvest Release (Ex Moscatel Cask)
In addition to the distilleries lineup of whisky, they also produce and bottle a new make spirit; White Pheasant.[12] The distillery also have a number of distillery exclusive whiskies that often feature as a single cask release, or, a promotional 'fill your own bottle' that, as of October 2024, is a 7 Year matured STR cask.[13]
The distillery has also created a commemorative whisky for Dr. Jim Swan, a blended collaboration with The Milk & Honey Distillery in Israel.[14] As well as producing a multiple whiskies with Highgrove Gardens.[15]
As well as the distillery's release of gins, they have also released grapefruit bitters - a liquid garnish to pair with their Cotswolds Dry Gin.[18]
Reception and awards
Distillery
The Cotswolds Distillery receives over 100,000 visitors per year and in 2016 won Best Distillery Tour in the Distillery Experience Awards run by Drinks International, and a Distillery Master award for Consumer Experience from the Spirits Business organisation.[19]
On May 27, 2024 the Cotswolds Distillery was named the most popular whisky distillery in Great Britain and Ireland by the Cask Connoisseur 2024 Whisky Index.[20]
↑ Though it was an Irish cream at the time it won the award, the Cotswolds Cream Liqueur now uses fresh English Cream.
Footnotes
↑ Berry Bros did not disclose the exact terms of their investment [1]
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