Cotswolds Distillery

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 is the largest producer of English Whisky.^[15]

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]

The distillery produces a range of whiskies, gins and liqueurs.^[18][19]

The distillery has multiple facilities on its 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]

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]