Cotswolds Distillery


The Cotswolds Distillery was established in 2014, which produces both English whisky and gin.
Initial development of the distillery was assisted by Harry Cockburn and Dr. Jim Swan. Production began on 5 September 2014, with the first cask of single malt whisky filled on 22 September 2014. The first release of whisky, when a selection of casks had reached the three-year minimum age, took place in October 2017.

Crowdfunding

In January 2016, the Distillery opened a crowdfunding initiative on CrowdBnk with the aim of raising £500,500 for expansion of the business. The investment window closed with the initiative having raised £1,001,000 from 124 investors in seven weeks.
In June 2018, £3 million was raised on Crowdcube for a visitor centre. In January 2020, the company raised £1 million.
In July 2023, the distillery took first place in a ranking by Cask Connoisseur and was the most popular whisky distillery among visitors.

Technical specifications

The distillery features a 0.5-tonne mash tun and eight 2,500-liter washbacks. The distillation takes place in two copper pot stills supplied by Forsyths of Rothes, Scotland.
The gin is produced on a 500-liter 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.

Products

As of 2024, the distillery primarily produces gin and whisky. All of the distillery's whiskies are single malt and range from 46% to 59.1% ABV. In addition to gin and whisky, the distillery also produces a cream liqueur and 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
  • Founder's Choice Whisky
  • Sherry Cask Whisky
  • Bourbon Cask Whisky
  • Peated Cask Whisky
  • Reserve Whisky
  • Spanish Oak Whisky
  • Hearts and Crafts 6
  • Amber Meadow: Harvest Release
In addition to the distilleries' lineup of whisky, they also produce and bottle a new make spirit: White Pheasant. The distillery also has 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.
The distillery has also created a commemorative whisky for Dr. Jim Swan,
a blended collaboration with The Milk & Honey Distillery in Israel. As well as producing multiple whiskeys with Highgrove Gardens.

Gin

  • Cotswolds Dry Gin
  • Old Tom Gin
  • Wildflower 1
  • Wildflower 2
  • Wildflower 3
  • Hedgerow Gin
  • Gin Essence
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.

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.
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