The Lakes Distillery

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 25 October 2026

Britain is home to world-renowned distilleries, ranging from historic gin makers to modern single-malt whisky and craft spirits producers.

### Top British Distilleries & Experiences

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 Distillery Closed Shipston-on-Stour Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Single malt whisky and artisan gins crafted with locally grown barley. - Experience: Guided tours, blending masterclasses, and a tasting room set in the rolling Cotswold hills.

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 Tourist attraction Closed Whitchurch Call Directions Website

- Specialty: World-famous London dry gin. - Experience: Self-guided and hosted heritage tours housed inside dramatic glasshouses designed by Thomas Heatherwick along the River Test.

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 Distillery Closed London Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Small-batch copper-pot gin. - Experience: Intimate maker-focused tours, cocktail-making classes, and a deep dive into the revival of traditional London gin-making.

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 Distillery Closed Plymouth Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Protected geographical indication Plymouth Gin (operating continuously since 1793). - Experience: Historic building tours, gin-school distillation sessions, and the Refectory Bar.

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 Tourist attraction Closed Cockermouth Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Whiskies, gins, and vodkas shaped by the National Park environment. - Experience: Scenic tours, luxury tasting flights, and onsite bistro dining.

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 Distillery Closed Edinburgh Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Innovative modern Scotch whisky. - Experience: Scotland's first vertical distillery, offering panoramic views over Edinburgh alongside high-tech tours and tastings.

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 Distillery Closed Norwich Call Directions Website

- Specialty: Pioneering English single malt whiskies. - Experience: Comprehensive warehouse tours, grain-to-glass insights, and a well-stocked visitor shop.

If you have a preference, let me know:

- Which type of spirit you like best (whisky, gin, rum, or vodka) - Which region of the UK you plan to visit

I can recommend specific tours, tasting packages, or bottle recommendations.

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 craft distilleries depend on your preferred spirit, but these are excellent starting points:

- Cotswolds Distillery, Warwickshire - One of England's leading whisky producers, also known for its grapefruit-forward gin and attractive visitor centre. - Bimber Distillery, London - Small-batch English single malt made with barley from Hampshire; releases are highly sought after. - The Lakes Distillery, Cumbria - A strong choice for contemporary English whisky, alongside gin and vodka. - Oxford Artisan Distillery, Oxfordshire - Distils whisky, gin and vodka using distinctive ancient heritage grain varieties. - East London Liquor Co., London - A modern grain-to-glass producer making London rye whisky, gin, rum and vodka. - The Botanist at Bruichladdich, Islay - An excellent Scottish gin built around locally foraged botanicals. - Dunnet Bay Distillers, Caithness - Best known for Rock Rose Gin, using seasonal Highland botanicals. - Salcombe Distilling Co., Devon - Coastal-inspired gin and one of the better distillery-tour experiences in England. - Tarquin's / Southwestern Distillery, Cornwall - A respected independent gin producer with a distinctly Cornish identity. - Boatyard Distillery, County Fermanagh - A Northern Irish craft distillery producing award-winning gin from a converted boat shed. - Lochlea Distillery, Ayrshire - One of Scotland's notable newer whisky distilleries, set on a working farm. - Two Drifters Distillery, Devon - A specialist rum producer near Exeter, notable for its focus on lower-impact production.

Best short list: - Whisky: Cotswolds, Bimber, Lochlea - Gin: The Botanist, Tarquin's, Salcombe - Rum: Two Drifters - Distillery visit: Cotswolds, Salcombe, Oxford Artisan Distillery