Ginposium 2023
9th June 2023, LONDON
The Gin Guild’s annual Ginposium gin industry event returned in 2023, at RSA House in London.
What is Ginposium?
The Leading Gin industry event, where some of the world’s most respected personalities and experts from the drinks and gin trade come together to discuss the state of the gin industry and share their knowledge and expertise on all things gin at this Gin Guild organised event.
Why come to Ginposium?
Ginposium is a fantastic opportunity, if you are a distiller or someone involved in the Gin industry at large, to network and learn about the pressing issues facing us today. Experts from around the world bring their knowledge and experience to share.
I wish that something like this had been around when I was starting up, the amount of knowledge, passion and enthusiasm in the room… people are generous with what they know, they love the category and want to see it succeed and grow, and be part of that its a fantastic, fantastic day.”
-Kathy Caton, Brighton Gin Founder
Great crowd, lovely, a really nice atmosphere about it, nice talks, you learn a lot but its not overwhelming, you pick up the key things you need to know coming into the industry, or even if you’ve been in the industry for a while – a really great get-together.”
-Rachel Sutherland, Warner’s Distillery
The Gin Guild is able to get everyone from the industry together to talk about the big issues we face”
– Ed Pilkington, Diageo USA
If you’ve not been to Ginposium before I think its definitely worth coming to, It’s not just that you see the speakers live, or taste the samples, it is the people here, these are the creme de la creme of the Gin Industry.”
-David T Smith, Summerfruitcup.com
Who was there?
Tom Nichol
Dr Anne Brock
Christopher Hayman
Desmond Payne MBE
Adam Cocker
And the following companies:
- Alcohols Ltd
- AS Liviko
- ATOM Brands
- Bacardi
- Beacon Commodities
- Berry Bros & Rudd
- Bombay Sapphire
- Chase Distillery
- Checkpoint
- Chivas Brothers
- Cross Border Ventures International
- Diageo
- Edelwhite Gin AG
- Feddie Ocean Distillery AS
- Gin-a-ding-ding
- Hayman’s Gin
- Heriot-Watt University
- ilGin.it
- Intercontinental Brands LTD
- IWSR
- Julu Gin
- Kimia / HG&Co
- Kräuter Mix GmbH
- London & Scottish (Juniper Green)
- London to Lima EIRL
- Masons of Yorkshire
- Milaco
- NAO Spirits
- Owens Illinois
- Perfidious Albion Limited
- Pernod Ricard
- Puddingstone Distillery
- Rademon Estate Distillery
- Redburn
- Seatrus Gin
- Sipsmith
- Starspice Ingredients
- Summerfruitcup.com
- Thames Distillers Ltd
- Trevethan Distillery
- Two Roads Distilling Co.
- Two Shores Gin
- Verallia UK
- Webb James
2023 Agenda at a glance:
Prof. Matthew Pauley, Heriot Watt University – Juniper research 2023 update
David Thompson, Milaco – Best distillery & DSEAR safety practices and learnings from other industries
Sandrine Ricard, Pernod Ricard – Pernod Ricard’s approach to sustainability
Networking and refreshments
Vanessa Piromallo and Julia Nourney – Salt (yes salt!) in Gin, the trend (with samples)
David Boyd-Armstrong, Rademon Estate Distillery – Critical points for responsible, sustainable Foraging
Chris Pitcher, Redburn – The State of the Gindustry
Lunch (included) and networking
Anand Virmani, NÄO Spirits – Growth in the Asian Gin market (with samples)
Desmond Payne MBE, Beefeater – interviewed by Gin Guild Chairman Christopher Hayman
Rosie Milsom, ATOM Brands & Sarah Miller, Gin-a-ding-ding – 2023 Sustainable packaging update
Networking and refreshments
David T. Smith, Summerfruitcup.com – Tutored Tastings: What’s New & Retro Revival (with samples)
Nolan Kane, Verallia UK (Allied Glass) – How the Glass industry is addressing sustainability in 2023
Keli Rivers, Sipsmith – The Rise and Rise of the Martini
Networking and G&Ts
“The Ginposium was a perfect blend of content – from professional advice to thought provoking new products”
Full Schedule of presentations:
8:50 Registration – with Coffee and Networking
9:25 Opening remarks and introduction to the Gin Guild
Pal Gleed, Director General of the Gin Guild
A 2023 Update on Juniper profiling research
Matthew Pauley, Assistant Professor at The ICBD at Heriot Watt University
Juniper is key to gin. The identification of specific markers for juniper. An update on Guild sponsored research.
Matthew’s research funded by the Gin Guild is part of industry leading work concerning the sensory performance of gin in association with the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, by using techniques usually applied to the field of medical research, he is able to look at the patterns of perception and look for signals, trends and, in time, correlations and causations within the data using algorithmic techniques previously out of the reach of this project just two years ago.
Best Distillery safety practices and learning from other industries
David Thompson, Director at Milaco
This session will highlight events that have occurred in other industries, particularly those involved in ethanol, to provide useful learnings for distillers. He will provide simple steps for new distilleries to ensure safety in a cost-effective way, and for established operators he will provide a framework that should be in place to ensure continued safety which can be easily managed.
David has 25 years experience focusing on hazardous areas. He’s been involved with numerous installations, specialising in risk analysis and area classification. He’s worked in high-risk offshore assets for oil companies.
Pernod-Ricard’s approach to sustainability
Sandrine Ricard, Deputy Director of S&R for Pernod Ricard in the UK
Sandrine was appointed Deputy Director of Pernod Ricard in the UK in July 2022. Previous roles include Head of Sustainability at Chivas Brothers where she spearheaded the implementation of Good Times from a Good Place strategy.
Previously, she was Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility at parent company Pernod Ricard where she helped create a centralised Sustainable department to generate wider impact, developed a new structured sustainable strategy, a CSR leaders network in all Pernod Ricard affiliates, as well as created a unique global event “Responsib’All Day” and new tools such as a global responsible drinking app.
Coffee and Networking
Salt In Gin (with samples)
Vanessa Piromallo, Founder of ilgin.it and Julia Nourney, Independent Spirits Consultant
Founder and Editor in Chief of ilGin.it, the most read Italian website about Gin, Vanessa has been writing about gin and spirits since 2014. With her company, That’s the Spirit, she founded GinShop.it (Best Online Retailer 2020 at the Icons of Gin Awards by Gin Magazine) and helped many producers and brand owners with the launch of their products in Italy. Read more…
Julia Nourney is an independent spirits consultant based in Germany who has been involved with spirits for 30 years. For the last decade Julia has been a spirit judge for both IWSC and ADI. She has a fantastic palate and she regularly co-teaches a Nosing for Faults seminar with Nancy Fraley. Julia is a Rectifier of the Gin Guild. Read more…
Sustainable and Responsible Botanical Foraging
David Boyd-Armstrong, Co-Founder of Rademon Estate Distillery
David gives an insight into have to ensure you respect the local environment, have consistent flavour and take into account any health and safety considerations when foraging for Gin botanicals. A regular contributor at spirits events around the world he is co-founder and Head Distiller at Rademon Estate Distillery, home of Shortcross Gin, Vice-Chair of Drinks Ireland and a Warden Rectifier of the Gin Guild.
The State of the Gindustry
Chris Pitcher at Redburn
Three years on from the pandemic, Chris’ presentation will map the performance of gin consumption, focus on the recent evolution in consumer trends by the key markets, and summarise where we are in the investment cycle.
While there are some compelling structural reasons for gin’s recent renaissance, he will also look at some of the challenges potentially facing the industry.
Lunch (included in ticket price) and Networking
The Rise of Asian Gins (with samples)
Anand Virmani, Chairman and Co-Founder, NÄO Spirits
Gin Guild Warden member Anand Virmani, of Goa based NAO Spirits & Beverages, presents a view on these new challengers, including those of his own company, from the country that launched the winning combination of gin and tonic.
Featuring:
- Saigon Baigur (Vietnam)
- Hapusa (India)
- Tanglin Gin (Singapore)
- Iron Balls (Thailand)
- Arc (Philippines)
- Peddler’s Gin (China)
- DOJA Gin (India/Japan)
- Ki No Bi Tea (Japan)
Meeting Desmond Payne Q&A
Christopher Hayman, Chairman of theGin Guild meets Desmond Payne, industry icon
50 years, eight gins, a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Gin Guild, an MBE and now the Ambassadorial role of Master Distiller Emeritus at Beefeater’s Gin, Desmond Payne still isn’t quite ready to put his feet up.
He started out as a 19 year old management trainee with Seager, Evans & Co, a London-based wine and spirits company which owned Plymouth Distillery which put him on a path to Beefeater Gin.
Sustainable packaging update 2023
Rosie Milsom, Global Head of NPD at ATOM Brands & Sarah Miller, founder of Gin-a-ding-ding
Sarah from Gin-a-ding-ding, a Gin-based blog and Rosie Milsom Global Head of NPD at ATOM Brands talks us through a hands on sustainable packaging and transport update. Sarah is founder of ginadingding.com which launched in 2016. She is a spirits judge – regularly joining panels at the World Drinks Awards, the IWSC and The Global Spirits Masters – and also writes for The Gin Magazine, Spirits Beacon and Club Oenologique.
Rosie Milsom is Global Head of NPD at Atom Brands and Scrum Master for Atom Labs, with a demonstrated history of working in the spirits industry. Self-confessed packaging geek and flavour enthusiast, delighted by beauty, functionality and taste. With more than 10 years of dedicated service at Atom Brands, taking ideas from simple concepts through to award winning physical products.
Tutored tasting of Gin 2023, What’s New and Retro Revival (with samples)
David T Smith, Spirits Author and Gin Judge, Summerfruitcup.com
Not requiring an introduction to many Ginposium regulars, David leads his annual tasting of what’s new and looks at a retro revival in the world of gin. It’s a fast-paced environment with constant innovation and there have been many new releases since last year’s Ginposium. This session looks at some of the more interesting new releases, as well as older Gins being revived on which to keep an eye.
Featuring:
- El-Bart Gin
- Booth’s Gin
- Beefeater Crown Jewel Gin
- Hayman’s Singapore Airlines Gin
- Greater Than Broken Bat Gin
- Warners X Four Pillars Harrington Shiraz Gin
- Four Pillars X Warners Green Apple & Rhubarb gin
- Hernö Slow Sloe Gin
How the Glass industry is addressing sustainability in 2023
Nolan Kane, Head of emerging brands at Verallia UK (Allied Glass)
Nolan will discuss how the glass industry and the Verallia Group are working towards a lower carbon footprint, and will talk about some very exciting developments throughout the group around sustainability. Heading up the Verallia UK Emerging Brands team, Nolan works with some of the industry’s most exciting brands, creating sustainable iconic glass packaging from UK manufacturing sites in Yorkshire.
Exploring the heritage and future of the Martini (with samples)
Keli Rivers, Senior Brand Ambassador at Sipsmith
Giving a potted history and the future of the Martini, it would be humble to say that Keli Rivers has been very lucky in her gin immersed career – from curating the largest gin and genever collection in the Americas for San Francisco mecca, Whitechapel to being named by Gin Magazine’s Iconic Awards; Gin Ambassador of the Year (2021) for the pioneering craft brand; Sipsmith – but honestly, she has worked her butt off to get to where she is.
16:50 Gin & Tonic and networking
18:20 Close
For films of previous events and more
See www.theginguild.com
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.