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.
History The distillery was founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Daniel Szor, with the aim of producing premium English single malt whisky using traditional Scotch-style methods adapted to English ingredients and conditions.
Gin production began shortly after the distillery's establishment, allowing early commercial activity while whisky stocks matured. The first Cotswolds single malt whisky was released in 2017.
Between 2016 and 2020, the company undertook several crowdfunding rounds to support expansion, production capacity and maturing inventory. 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. In January 2020, the company raised £1 million.
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 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.
From January 2024, Illva Saronno became the exclusive distributor of Cotswolds Distillery products in the United Kingdom and Benelux markets.
Since March 2025, The Cotswolds Distillery is the largest producer of English Whisky.
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.
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.
Products The distillery produces a range of whiskies, gins and liqueurs.https://www.cotswoldsdistillery.com/products/blended-malt-whisky-commemorating-dr-jim-swan. cotswoldsdistillery.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024https://www.cotswoldsdistillery.com/products/grapefruit-bitters. cotswoldsdistillery.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
Whisky Cotswolds Signature Whisky (The distillery's flagship product) 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 centre 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 and the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Awards AwardDateName of Product.Competition NameCiteWorld's Best London Dry2016Cotswolds Dry GinWorld Gin AwardsBest English Single Malt2018Cotswolds Signature Single MaltWorld Whisky AwardsGold Award2018Cotswolds Signature Single MaltThe Spirits Business AwardsGold Award2019Cotswolds Signature Single MaltInternational Wine and Spirit CompetitionGold Award2019Cotswolds Founders Choice WhiskyInternational Wine and Spirit CompetitionBest English Single Malt2019Cotswolds Founders Choice WhiskyWorld Whisky AwardsSilver Award2019Cotswolds Dry GinSan Francisco World Spirits CompetitionDouble Gold Award2020Cotswolds Founders Choice WhiskySan Francisco World Spirits CompetitionGold Award2020Cotswolds Peated Cask WhiskyThe Spirits Business AwardsBest English Whisky2020Cotswolds Peated Cask WhiskyThe International Whisky CompetitionBest Old Tom Gin2020Cotswolds Old Tom GinADI International Spirits CompetitionGold Award2020Cotswolds Old Tom GinThe Spirits Business AwardsGold Award2021Cotswolds Sherry Cask WhiskyThe Spirits Business AwardsDouble Gold Award2021Cotswolds Sherry Cask WhiskySan Francisco World Spirits CompetitionBest in Category2021Cotswolds Wildflower 1 GinADI International Spirits CompetitionGold Award2021Cotswolds Wildflower 2 GinADI International Spirits CompetitionGold Award2021Cotswolds Hedgerow GinSan Francisco World Spirits CompetitionBest English Cream2021Cotswolds IrishThough it was an Irish cream at the time it won the award, the Cotswolds Cream Liqueur now uses fresh English cream. Cream LiqueurWorld Whisky AwardsBest Old Tom Gin2022Cotswolds Old Tom GinWorld Whisky AwardsGold Award2023Cotswolds Wildflower 3 GinThe Spirits Business AwardsGold Award2024Cotswolds Flaxen Vale: Harvest 2International Wine and Spirit CompetitionBest Sherry Cask2025Cotswolds Sherry Cask WhiskyWorld Whisky Awards
References
Footnotes