Bimber Distillery

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 25 October 2026

Britain has a booming craft distillery scene producing acclaimed single malt whiskies, gins, and other artisanal spirits.

### Top Craft Distilleries to Visit & Try

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 Distillery Closed Shipston-on-Stour Call Directions WebsiteCotswolds Distillery (Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire)

- Specialty: Award-winning English single malt whisky and craft gins made with locally grown barley and botanicals. - Experience: Guided tours, blending masterclasses, and an on-site shop and café.

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 Distillery Closed London Call Directions Website

- Specialty: The pioneer of the modern London Dry gin revival. - Experience: Intimate copper-still tours ("Mr. Swan"), gin tastings, and cocktail-making sessions.

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 Distillery Closed Filey Call Directions Website

- Specialty: The first single malt whisky distillery in Yorkshire, producing the acclaimed "Filey Bay" range. - Experience: Comprehensive distillery tours showcasing field-to-bottle production and tastings.

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 Distillery Closed London Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Artisanal single malt whiskies crafted with traditional methods, long fermentations, and direct-fired copper stills. - Experience: Small-group tours and exclusive cask tastings.

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![]( Porter's Gin Micro Distillery Distillery Aberdeen Directions Website

- Specialty: Cold-distilled modern gins blending classic botanicals with contemporary Asian ingredients. - Experience: Walk-through tastings and interactive experiences located right in the bar downstairs.

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 Distillery Closed Plymouth Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Historic working distillery operating in England's oldest active gin distillery building since 1793. - Experience: Gin-making masterclasses, bar experiences, and historical tours.

If you'd like to narrow down these options, tell me:

- What type of spirit you prefer (whisky, gin, rum, etc.) - Which region of the UK you want to visit - Whether you are looking for a bottle to buy or a distillery tour to book

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 25 October 2026

# Best craft spirits brands in the UK

The UK has a fantastic craft spirits scene, from small-batch gin and characterful whisky to contemporary English vodka, artisanal rum and botanical aperitifs. The best brands depend on whether you're looking for premium sipping spirits, standout cocktail ingredients, independent producers, or brands with strong retail and gifting appeal\.

Here's a shortlist of British craft spirits brands worth knowing, with an emphasis on provenance, distinctive products and brand identity.

## 10 craft spirits brands to put on your radar

!On Location: Cotswolds Distillery to bring English whisky to the global travel retail stage: Moodie Davitt Report

1\. Cotswolds Distillery

(Best all-rounder)

Cotswolds, England · Whisky and gin

Known for its English single malt whisky, botanical gin and strong regional identity. A great example of a craft producer turning local provenance into a premium brand. www.thewhiskyexchange.comwww.visitbritain.com

Explore: Official website

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!Sipsmith London Dry Gin (Abv 41.6%) 70cl - Morrisons Online Groceries & Offers

2\. Sipsmith

London · Gin

A pioneer of the modern craft gin movement, with a traditional London Dry style, copper-still heritage and excellent cocktail credentials. More established than a microbrand, but still an important reference point for British craft spirits. www.thewhiskyexchange.comwww.tripadvisor.com

Explore: Official website

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!Bimber Bourbon Cask Batch 4 Single Malt Whisky 51,2% 0,7l

3\. Bimber

London · English single malt whisky

A strong choice for whisky enthusiasts who value hands-on production, traditional methods and small-batch character. One of the more interesting names in London's whisky-making scene. www.tripadvisor.combest-whisky.co.uk

Explore: Official website

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!Nc'nean Organic (Bio) | 21242

4\. Nc'nean

Morvern, Scotland · Whisky

A modern, sustainability-led whisky producer with an organic ethos, distinctive contemporary packaging and a fruit-forward style. Especially interesting for consumers who want a premium spirit with a clear environmental story. www.tripadvisor.combest-whisky.co.uk

Explore: Official website

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![Browse Isle of Harris Gin Products - Isle of Harris Distillery](

5\. Isle of Harris Distillery

Outer Hebrides, Scotland · Gin and whisky

A standout for place-led branding. Its gin uses sugar kelp as a botanical, connecting the product to its island environment and community. Particularly compelling for premium gifting and design-conscious buyers. spiritsuk.co.ukwww.brewwho.com

Explore: Official website

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![Party Starter - East London Liquor Company](

6\. East London Liquor Company

London · Gin, whisky and rum

A contemporary urban spirits brand with a strong East London identity and a broad range suited to bars and cocktail culture. Worth investigating for a more modern, less traditional take on craft spirits. spiritsuk.co.ukwww.britishdistillersalliance.com

Explore: Official website

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![The Rum Collection - Two Drifters Distillery](

7\. Two Drifters

Devon, England · Rum

An independent rum producer known for foregrounding carbon-conscious production. A useful name to explore if you want a British-made alternative in a category historically dominated by imported spirits. www.britishdistillersalliance.combuybritain.com

Explore: Official website

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![All Products - Arbikie Distillery](

8\. Arbikie

Angus, Scotland · Gin, vodka and whisky

Its field-to-bottle approach and estate-grown ingredients make it a distinctive proposition. A good brand to consider when provenance, agricultural production and sustainability are central to the story. spiritsuk.co.ukwww.brewwho.com

Explore: Official website

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!Asterley Bros, London

9\. Asterley Bros

South London · Vermouth, amaro and aperitifs

A specialist worth knowing beyond the usual gin-and-whisky conversation. Its focus on British-made aperitivo products makes it interesting for cocktail bars, mixologists and drinkers exploring lower-key, bitter and herbal flavour profiles. spiritsuk.co.ukwww.brewwho.com

Explore: Official website

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!The Lakes Single Malt Whiskymakers Edition Iris 70cl - A Vivid Multi-Sensory Explosion of Fruit and Florals | Bottled & Boxed

10\. The Lakes Distillery

Cumbria, England · Whisky and spirits

A premium English spirits name to consider for its whisky-led range and polished presentation. Particularly relevant for people exploring the emerging English whisky category rather than looking only at Scotch. www.thewhiskyexchange.comwww.visitbritain.comwww.tripadvisor.comspiritsuk.co.uk

Explore: Official website

## Best brands by category

| If you're looking for… | Start with | |--------|--------| | Premium craft gin | Sipsmith, Isle of Harris | | English whisky | Bimber, Cotswolds, The Lakes | | Sustainability-led spirits | Nc'nean, Two Drifters, Arbikie | | Contemporary London spirits | East London Liquor Company | | Rum and cocktail innovation | Two Drifters, East London Liquor Company | | Vermouth and aperitifs | Asterley Bros | | Provenance and gifting | Isle of Harris, Cotswolds |

These are curated recommendations rather than a definitive quality ranking. The wider industry includes hundreds of producers; the UK Spirits Alliance and British Distillers Alliance directories are useful for discovering more independent names. spiritsuk.co.ukwww.britishdistillersalliance.com

## Want a more targeted shortlist?

The best answer changes considerably depending on what you need these brands for.

What are you researching?

Bottles to buy or taste

Trade, wholesale or distribution opportunities

Brand strategy, packaging and competitors

Premium gifts and special occasions

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Which spirits?

All spirits

Gin

Whisky

Rum

Vodka and aperitifs

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Preferred bottle price

Under £25

£25-£50

£50-£100

£100+

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What kind of producer?

Small, independent craft brands

Established premium brands

Emerging, niche and unusual brands

[Refine the shortlist]

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 25 October 2026

The best British spirits brands depend on the category, but these are excellent starting points:

- Whisky: The Macallan, Glenfiddich, Ardbeg, Johnnie Walker, Bimber, and Cotswolds. Cotswolds is a standout English single malt, while Bimber is a notable London craft distillery. - Gin: Sipsmith, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick's, The Botanist, and Cotswolds Gin. Tanqueray and Bombay Sapphire are established bestsellers; Sipsmith is a leading modern London-style gin. - Rum: Dead Man's Fingers, Ninefold, and Old Salt Rum. Old Salt is distinctive for being distilled and distributed entirely in the UK. - Vodka: Chase, Sipsmith, and Beeble. Beeble's honey-infused spirits offer a particularly unusual British take. - Liqueurs and aperitifs: Pimm's, The King's Ginger, Chambord, and Baileys. Pimm's remains one of Britain's most recognizable spirit brands.

Best overall shortlist: 1. Sipsmith - classic London Dry gin 2. Cotswolds - English whisky and gin 3. The Macallan - premium Scotch whisky 4. Hendrick's - distinctive modern gin 5. Johnnie Walker - dependable blended Scotch 6. Pimm's - quintessential British summer drink

For a gift, choose The Macallan or Johnnie Walker Blue Label; for cocktails, choose Sipsmith, Tanqueray, or Hendrick's. Johnnie Walker is described as a leading bestseller, while Tanqueray is noted for its balanced London Dry style.