Cotswolds Distillery
| Location | Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Owner |
|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Daniel Szor |
| No. of stills | The Distillery currently has 4 Whisky stills, and 2 Gin stills. |
| Capacity | Whisky: 23,100 Litres (Combined across 4 stills) Gin: 1,700 Litres |
| Website | www |
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.[2][3]
History
The distillery was founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Daniel Szor,[4] with the aim of producing premium English single malt whisky using traditional Scotch-style methods[5] adapted to English ingredients and conditions.[6]
Gin production began shortly after the distillery’s establishment, allowing early commercial activity while whisky stocks matured.[7] The first Cotswolds single malt whisky was released in 2017.[8]
Between 2016 and 2020, the company undertook several crowdfunding rounds to support expansion, production capacity and maturing inventory.[9] 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.[10] In January 2020, the company raised £1 million.[11]
In 2021, Daisy Kerby-Smith, revealed that the distillery had, in fact, taken out one bottle from the first cask they filled. Selling it for £3,333[12] for charity. Making it one of the most expensive bottles of English Whisky to ever be sold.
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.[13]
From January 2024, Illva Saronno became the exclusive distributor of Cotswolds Distillery products in the United Kingdom and Benelux markets.[14]
Since March 2025, The Cotswolds Distillery are the largest producer of English Whisky.[15]
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.[16]
Gin is distilled using separate copper pot stills and employs a “steep and boil” method, with a botanical recipe that includes juniper, coriander and locally inspired botanicals.[17]
Products
The distillery produces a range of whiskies, gins and liqueurs.[18][19]
Whisky
- Cotswolds Signature Whisky (The Distillery's flagship product) [20]
- Cotswolds Core Whisky Range (Variation of Cask Expressions)
- Cotswolds Limited Releases (Hearts & Crafts, Harvest, Single Cask)
Gin
- Cotswolds Traditional Gin (Cotswolds Dry, Old Tom, Hedgerow (Sloe))
- Cotswolds Wildflower Series (1,2, and 3)
- Cotswolds Summer Cup (A Gin Sherry Liqueur Mix)
- Cotswolds Gin Essence (Low Alcohol)
Liqueur
- Cotswolds Cream Liqueur (Cream and Wheat Spirit)
- Cotswolds Amaro Liqueurs (1 and 2)
Visitor center
The Distillery has multiple facilities on it's site, including a Shop, Cafe and Visitor Centre. The Distillery offers multiple experiences including a tour and tasting, which has generated over 100,000[21] visitors per year.
The Distillery, in 2016, won Best Distillery Tour in the Distillery Experience Awards run by Drinks International. As well as Distillery Master award for Consumer Experience from the Spirits Business organisation.[22]
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.[23]
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.[24]
Awards
Distillery
Both the Cotswolds Distillery Gin and Whisky has been well received and accredited, with both winning a multitude of awards in various competition.[25][26]
The Distillery's core range of products has performed excellently, as well as subsequent releases winning medals at competitions including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition[27] and the International Wine & Spirit Competition.[28]
Awards
| Award | Date | Name of Product. | Competition Name | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World's Best London Dry | 2016 | Cotswolds Dry Gin | World Gin Awards | [29] |
| Best English Single Malt | 2018 | Cotswolds Signature Single Malt | World Whisky Awards | [30] |
| Gold Award | 2018 | Cotswolds Signature Single Malt | The Spirits Business Awards | [31] |
| Gold Award | 2019 | Cotswolds Signature Single Malt | International Wine and Spirit Competition | [32] |
| Gold Award | 2019 | Cotswolds Founders Choice Whisky | International Wine and Spirit Competition | [33] |
| Best English Single Malt | 2019 | Cotswolds Founders Choice Whisky | World Whisky Awards | [34] |
| Silver Award | 2019 | Cotswolds Dry Gin | San Francisco World Spirits Competition | [35] |
| Double Gold Award | 2020 | Cotswolds Founders Choice Whisky | San Francisco World Spirits Competition | [36] |
| Gold Award | 2020 | Cotswolds Peated Cask Whisky | The Spirits Business Awards | [37] |
| Best English Whisky | 2020 | Cotswolds Peated Cask Whisky | The International Whisky Competition | [38] |
| Best Old Tom Gin | 2020 | Cotswolds Old Tom Gin | ADI International Spirits Competition | [39] |
| Gold Award | 2020 | Cotswolds Old Tom Gin | The Spirits Business Awards | [40] |
| Gold Award | 2021 | Cotswolds Sherry Cask Whisky | The Spirits Business Awards | [41] |
| Double Gold Award | 2021 | Cotswolds Sherry Cask Whisky | San Francisco World Spirits Competition | [36] |
| Best in Category | 2021 | Cotswolds Wildflower 1 Gin | ADI International Spirits Competition | [39] |
| Gold Award | 2021 | Cotswolds Wildflower 2 Gin | ADI International Spirits Competition | [39] |
| Gold Award | 2021 | Cotswolds Hedgerow Gin | San Francisco World Spirits Competition | [36] |
| Best English Cream | 2021 | Cotswolds Irish[42] Cream Liqueur | World Whisky Awards | [34] |
| Best Old Tom Gin | 2022 | Cotswolds Old Tom Gin | World Whisky Awards | [34] |
| Gold Award | 2023 | Cotswolds Wildflower 3 Gin | The Spirits Business Awards | [41] |
| Gold Award | 2024 | Cotswolds Flaxen Vale: Harvest 2 | International Wine and Spirit Competition | [32] |
| Best Sherry Cask | 2025 | Cotswolds Sherry Cask Whisky | World Whisky Awards | [34] |
References
- ^ Carruthers, Nicola (5 April 2023). "Berry Bros invests in Cotswolds Distillery". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery 2014 Inaugural Release". whiskybase.com. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Cotswolds distillery wins waitrose listing for english whisky". thedrinksbusiness.com. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Meet the former City worker making whisky in the Cotswolds". Square Mile. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ Noble, Karyn (24 July 2023). "Meet the Maker: Cotswolds Distillery". British Travel Journal. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "The Cotswolds Distillery". crowdbnk.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ "From Finance to Fermentation: Dan Szor's Cotswolds Whisky Story". The Whiskey Scoop. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery presents its first single malt whisky". www.whisky.com. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery raises £500k for expansion". thespiritsbusiness.com. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery crowdfunding closes at £3m". thespiritsbusiness.com. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "The Cotswolds Distillery has surpassed its £1 million (US$1.3m) fundraising goal". thespiritsbusiness.com. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery". Edinburgh Whisky Academy. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "Erhebung: Das sind die 10 beliebtesten Whisky-Brennereien in Schottland, England, Wales und Irland • CaptainScotch.de". CaptainScotch.de (in German). 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ Hohwieler, Rupert (12 December 2023). "Illva Saronno to distribute Cotswolds Distillery spirits". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ O'Connel, Adam (7 March 2025). "The English Whisky GI: Why the Uproar?". Masters of Malt. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
- ^ "Forsyths – Cotswolds Distillery". forsyths.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ "Cold compounded gins – Beer, Wine and Spirits products". diffordsguide.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ https://www.cotswoldsdistillery.com/products/blended-malt-whisky-commemorating-dr-jim-swan. cotswoldsdistillery.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024
- ^ https://www.cotswoldsdistillery.com/products/grapefruit-bitters. cotswoldsdistillery.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky". cotswoldsdistillery.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery". bigfeastival.com. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
- ^ "The Distillery Masters 2016 results". thespiritsbusiness.com. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ Norris, Phil (27 May 2024). "Cotswolds whisky distillery named most popular in UK for second year running". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Hohwieler, Rupert (16 November 2023). "Cotswolds Distillery and Highgrove make whisky for the king". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ Greg (10 February 2018). "Cotswolds Distillery named Craft Producer of the Year". GreatDrams. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ Hargreaves, Rupert (3 October 2025). "Cotswolds Distillery releases limited edition Wychwood Harvest". City AM. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Results". The Tasting Alliance. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery | Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky | Spirit". IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "World Gin Awards 2016 - Winners". www.worldginawards.com. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "World Whiskies Awards 2018 - Winners". www.worldwhiskiesawards.com. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "The Spirits Business". The Spirits Business. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Cotswolds Distillery | Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky | Spirit". IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Cotswolds Distillery | Cotswolds Founder's Choice Single Malt Whisky | Spirit". IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d "World Whiskies Awards 2019 - Winners". www.worldwhiskiesawards.com. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Results". The Tasting Alliance. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ a b c "Results". The Tasting Alliance. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Kiely, Melita (2 December 2020). "The Spirits Business Awards 2020 winners". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "International Whisky Competition". International Whisky Competition. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ a b c "ADI 2020 Virtual". American Distilling Institute. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Kiely, Melita (2 December 2020). "The Spirits Business Awards 2020 winners". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ a b Kiely, Melita (19 November 2021). "The Spirits Business Awards 2021 winners". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Though it was an Irish cream at the time it won the award, the Cotswolds Cream Liqueur now uses fresh English Cream.