Ginposium 2015

Christopher Hayman, Hayman Distillers

Rachel Rees, Campden BRI

Mark Gamble, Union Distillers – Two Birds gins

John McCarthy, Adnams Distillers & Brewers, winner of the 2013 IWSC Gin Trophy

David T Smith, Leading author and owner of SummerFruitCup.com, he is also an international spirits competition judge.

Nate Brown, The London Bar Consultants

Professor Alex Speers, Heriot-Watt University

Dr Anne Brock, Jensen’s Distillery

Nik Fordham, Master Distiller at the Laverstoke Distillery, the home of Bombay Sapphire

Find out more about the Gin Guild:

Gin Specification

The Guild only recognises gin styles produced by distilling ethyl alcohol in stills traditionally used for gin, in the presence of juniper berries and other botanicals – provided that the juniper taste is predominant.

About the Gin Guild

The Guild operates as a limited company, with the board of directors being appointed by the Worshipful Company Of Distillers, who hold the shares, and include brand owners, master distillers, associated industry representatives and those with wide gin industry experience.

The titular head of the Guild is the Grand Rectifier. The four largest distilling companies are represented by Founder Wardens. Other gin distillers are represented by Warden Rectifiers. Individual Guild members are known as Rectifiers.

Gin Guild Membership

Membership is open to all (subject to gin distillers and brand owners meeting the Gin Guild Gin specification).

Applications for membership of the Guild should be addressed to the Gin Guild Director General (see contact details).

Benefits of Gin Guild Membership

Networking & events

A key benefit of Guild membership is the opportunity to network. The Guild has at least two formal functions a year, at which Guild installations take place. Both offer exceptional hospitality and opportunities for key guests to be invited.

The Spring Installation is combined with the Gin Industry Annual Dinner. Our Autumn Gin Guild Installation event is the more formal of our two installations. It is held at The Mansion House, in the heart of the City of London. Members and their guests are also invited to join our parent company, the Worshipful Company of Distillers, at their Annual Banquet, which follows the Guild Installation.

Guild events offer a quality and worthwhile entertaining programme and support to Guild members, alongside participation in other events (including those of our own creation), to a wider audience.

Prestige and Recognition

Join and be an active member in an organisation supported by many of the world’s leading gin brands, their distillers and colleagues, and celebrate and promote excellence in the distillation and promotion of gin.

Showcase

We provide opportunities, especially for smaller members, to have their products made available to a wider and focused market.

Industry Events

The Guild organises and hosts one of the highlights of the year, the annual Ginposium. This is a one-day trade and industry conference, with many cutting edge seminars on gin topics, from production to marketing. Open to trade, industry, distilling students, and others interested in the subject, these events have been a great success. See film footage of previous events on our website.

Awards

The Guild sponsors key gin awards within the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). These include the London Dry Gin of the Year and the Distilled Contemporary Gin of the Year.

The Gin Guild Website

The Guild website is an active resource, promoting events, lectures and member companies and brands. There is a members only section.

Gin-Note™

The significant growth in the number of distilleries producing gins means that there are now a growing and often confusing number of gin styles and tastes to navigate.

The Gin Guild, in consultation with over sixty brands, launched (copyright and Trade Mark), for use by brands.  Gin-Note™ is intended to be a simple flavour indicator of a gin. It is not intended to replace a brands own label but is intended to be a navigational aid. Gin Guild brands listed to date with Gin-Note entries: www.theginguild.com/the-ginopedia

Category Protection

The Guild, working in conjunction with Trading Standards (with whom a Primary Authority partnership exists via Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards), also has a material role in enforcement and protection of the category. It calls out and seeks correction by beverage brands who claim their products are ‘gin’, but which do not comply with the EU/UK regulations which cover spirit production and sale.

The Guild, in connection with the above, by way of assistance and clarification has already published two key guidance notes interpreting the above regulations. These provide information on how to label no and low alcohol products which emulate (but which are not gin), and gin liqueurs. This guidance is known as Approved Guidance and is formally issued by our Primary Authority partnership, and approved by DEFRA.