Cotswolds Distillery

Cotswolds Distillery is an English distillery producing single malt whisky, gin and other spirits. It is located in Stourton, near Shipston-on-Stour, in the Cotswolds region of England. Founded in 2014, it was among the early producers of the modern English whisky revival and has since gained international recognition through industry awards and specialist retail distribution.

History

The distillery was founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Daniel Szor, with the aim of producing premium English single malt whisky using traditional Scotch-style methods adapted to English ingredients and conditions.

Gin production began shortly after the distillery’s establishment, allowing early commercial activity while whisky stocks matured. The first Cotswolds single malt whisky was released in 2017.

Between 2016 and 2020, the company undertook several crowdfunding rounds to support expansion, production capacity and maturing inventory. These rounds were among the most successful drinks-sector crowdfunding campaigns in the United Kingdom at the time.In June 2018, £3 million was raised on Crowdcube for a visitor centre. In January 2020, the company raised £1 million.

In April 2023, Berry Bros. & Rudd acquired a minority stake in the business, a move widely reported in drinks-industry media as a strategic endorsement of the distillery and of English whisky more broadly.

From January 2024, Illva Saronno became the exclusive distributor of Cotswolds Distillery products in the United Kingdom and Benelux markets.

Production

Cotswolds Distillery produces its spirits on site using copper pot stills. Whisky production involves long fermentations and double distillation, followed by maturation primarily in ex-bourbon casks and STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) ex-wine casks.

Gin is distilled using a separate copper pot still and employs a “steep and boil” method, with a botanical recipe that includes juniper, coriander and locally inspired botanicals.

Products

The distillery produces a range of whiskies, gins and liqueurs.

Whisky

• Cotswolds Signature Whisky (The Distillery's flagship product)
• Founder's Choice Whisky (STR Cask)
• Sherry Cask Whisky (Ex Oloroso Cask)
• Bourbon Cask Single Malt
• Peated Cask Single Malt

Gin

• Cotswolds Dry Gin
• Cotswolds Old Tom Gin
• Hedgerow Gin (Sloe Gin)
• Wildflower Gin Series
• Gin Essence

Visitor center

The distillery operates a visitor centre offering guided tours, tastings, whisky and gin masterclasses, a café and retail facilities. It is listed as a popular visitor attraction within regional tourism guides.

Collaborations

In 2024, the distillery collaborated with Highgrove to produce a limited-edition English single malt whisky made using heritage Plumage Archer barley grown at the Highgrove Estate. Further collaborative releases followed in subsequent years.

Reception and awards

Distillery

Cotswolds Distillery spirits have received awards at several international competitions.

Subsequent releases have received medals at competitions including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the International Wine & Spirit Competition.

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. In 2019, a Cotswolds whisky won a category award at the World Whiskies Awards.

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.

Awards

Footnotes