ShakespeareDistillery
Welcome to
Shakespeare Distillery
Established in 2015 we are an artisan spirit producer based in Stratford upon Avon creating carbon neutral spirits with a twist of history.
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- Shakespeare Distillery -
About Shakespeare Distillery
Spirits with a Twist of History
Situated in Stratford upon Avon, the home of William Shakespeare, we are an artisan carbon neutral spirit producer, established in 2015. Inspired by the Tudor period, we take time, attention and passion to produce carefully handcrafted spirits in small batches.
At Shakespeare Distillery, we fuse traditional and, in some cases, forgotten ingredients with modern techniques to create exciting new spirits, inspired by the Tudor period. We produce a range of premium, handcrafted gins and rums made entirely onsite, including the award-winning Stratford Dry Gin and Jester Rum.
Our Locations
Explore our distillery just outside town, visit our high street shop in the heart of Stratford upon Avon, or enroll in 'Judith’s School of Spirits' to savor our diverse and award-winning experiences.
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Judith's No.1 High St - Tasting Room
Judith's No.1 High St - Tasting Room
Judith's No.1 High St - Rum School
Judith's No.1 High St - Rum School
Judith's No.1 High St - Shop
Judith's No.1 High St - Shop
Shakespeare Distillery - Gin School
Shakespeare Distillery - Gin School
Shakespeare Distillery - Cafe and Lounge
Shakespeare Distillery - Cafe and Lounge
Shakespeare Distillery - Distillery
Shakespeare Distillery - Distillery
Our Locations
Based at the distillery just outside town, we opened our doors as a visitor centre in 2019; here you can enjoy distillery tours and gin schools, as well as visit our distillery shop and our coffee and cocktail lounge. Our visitor centre has won a number of Gold and Silver awards from the 2020 and 2022 West Midlands Tourism Awards and a Travellers’ Choice Award by Tripadvisor for the last two years running.
We have a shop in the heart of Stratford upon Avon and, above it, you will find ‘Judith’s School of Spirits’ where we offer rum schools, cocktail masterclasses and gin tasting experiences.
In the summer, we also take to the River Avon and run our popular gin tasting cruises in partnership with Avon Boating.
Small Batch Gin
Award-Winning Gin
Inspired by Tudor knot garden botanicals, our gin is produced in small handcrafted batches with traditional ingredients used in Shakespeare's day.
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Award-winning rum
British Made Rum
Fermented and double distilled, Jester Rum is made from scratch right here at our distillery, making it 100% British rum.
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Limited edition
Distillery Specials
We love to create quality spirits and to experiment with ingredients. This results in limited edition distillery specials, including limoncello, citrus vodka, Judith's gin and a series of barrel-aged spirits.
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Gin, Rum, Specials
Hand-Crafted Sprits
Using slow distillation and a select cut, we create beautifully complex spirits smooth enough to be sipped neat or delightfully enjoyable with mixers and unique enough to stand out from the crowd.
Inspired by Tudor knot garden botanicals, our gin is produced in small handcrafted batches with traditional ingredients used in Shakespeare's day.
Using slow distillation and a select cut, we create beautifully complex spirits smooth enough to be sipped neat or delightfully enjoyable with mixers and unique enough to stand out from the crowd.
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Small Batch
Artisan Gin
Small batch, artisan gin
Inspired by Tudor knot garden botanicals, our gin is produced in small handcrafted batches with traditional ingredients used in Shakespeare's day.
Our Gin
Hover over one of our gins to learn more...
Jester Rum
British Made Rum
British Made, Jester Rum
Fermented and double distilled, Jester Rum is made from scratch right here at our distillery, making it 100% British rum. The name is inspired by the famous sculpture of a Jester which sits just yards from Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
Jester
Rum
CURATED COCKTAILS
Our Cocktails & The Perfect Serve
CURATED COCKTAILS
Cocktails & Serves
At Shakespeare Distillery, we believe that a great cocktail is more than just a drink, it's an experience. That's why we've carefully curated our cocktails to highlight the unique character of each spirit.
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Mulled Peppermint Punch
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Tudor Tom Collins
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Mulled Peppermint Punch
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Our Experiences
Award - Winning Experiences
Award-winning
Experiences
Our visitor centre has won a number of Gold and Silver awards from the 2020 and 2022 West Midlands Tourism Awards and a Traveller's Choice Award by Tripadvisor for the last two years running.
So much fun! Definitely do this! We received the Gin School voucher as a gift for a significant birthday and the experience was absolutely fantastic! The site is just a short 7min ride away from the... read moreWe received the Gin School voucher as a gift for a significant birthday and the experience was absolutely fantastic! The site is just a short 7min ride away from the centre of Stratford (Uber was a very efficient way to get there) and the facilities are modern, stylish and well equipped. The staff were so welcoming and they just oozed passion for their Gin (and rum!). The start was relaxing, informative and well practiced. We then went into the “school” which is much more of a potions class. Reliving all your favourite school chemistry classes you get to make your own gin! The whole experience was great fun for all adults and we left with a very professional bottle to enjoy in a couple of weeks. I couldn’t fault the experience at all and I would recommend it anyone. read less
28/11/2023
Gin experience extraordinaire Far exceeded our expectations and drinking capacity! This was a gift from our daughter and we didn't know what to expect. However, the team were very friendly and... read moreFar exceeded our expectations and drinking capacity! This was a gift from our daughter and we didn't know what to expect. However, the team were very friendly and informative and gave a very in-depth insight into gin making. We tasted several gins complete with various mixers. We were encouraged to mix our own variety of gin which was bottled, labeled and put in a beautiful presentation box to take home. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will definitely return another time. Well worth a visit and highly recommend. read less
27/11/2023
Great tour and tasting! The tour was fantastic! From the moment we got there until the moment we left, everyone we had contact with was incredibly friendly and engaging. We loved how they not... read moreThe tour was fantastic! From the moment we got there until the moment we left, everyone we had contact with was incredibly friendly and engaging. We loved how they not only told us the history of gin but also their history (sprinkled with natural humour). The tour and explanation of the gin and rum process was very interesting and personal which led nicely on to the tasting. Again, a great session, with lots of top gin making tips (and fantastic tastings!). You even got a little mini to take away if you were the designated driver (lovely touch)! Highly recommend a trip if in the area (or make a trip there if you aren’t!). read less
26/11/2023
Excellent distillery tour, well worth a visit. We spent an enjoyable and informative 90 minutes with some very enthusiastic people at their craft distillery. Katherine gave us a brief and amusing history of gin making and drinking,... read moreWe spent an enjoyable and informative 90 minutes with some very enthusiastic people at their craft distillery. Katherine gave us a brief and amusing history of gin making and drinking, after which we were handed over to David to learn about the production process. Jack came next with instructions on how to bottle and label the final product.The visit was rounded off with a gin and rum tasting session followed by a drink of our choice. Well with a visit. read less
26/11/2023
Great fun experience This was a Christmas present. The best Christmas pressie I've had. Absolutely fantastic experience. Both brothers (sorry forgot names must be gin) were very informative. Got... read moreThis was a Christmas present. The best Christmas pressie I've had. Absolutely fantastic experience. Both brothers (sorry forgot names must be gin) were very informative. Got to taste lots of different gins. Can't wait to taste our own gin (suggested to wait 2 weeks). It is a really good fun afternoon. Thoroughly recommend it. read less
26/11/2023
Gin-tastic time! What a fantastic experience! Funny and informative, lovely guides, incredible gin - the gift shop discount came in very handy!
26/11/2023
Great fun Gin School A great all round experience in a small group, 3-hour, gin distilling school. It was great fun and we came away with our personalised flavoured gin. A good balance of... read moreA great all round experience in a small group, 3-hour, gin distilling school. It was great fun and we came away with our personalised flavoured gin. A good balance of learning, sampling, and brewing/distilling. read less
21/11/2023
Highly recommend This was such a good experience and really interesting, finished off with a fab tasting session. Catered for the drivers too. Definitely recommend. Would make a nice gift.
20/11/2023
Brilliant distillery tour We had a lovely afternoon (bought as a Virgin Experience Days gift). Very knowledgeable and entertaining presenters. Small distillery, rural setting, delicious gins! Glad I bought the cancellation insurance (£3),... read moreWe had a lovely afternoon (bought as a Virgin Experience Days gift). Very knowledgeable and entertaining presenters. Small distillery, rural setting, delicious gins! Glad I bought the cancellation insurance (£3), as I had to cancel my original booking due to illness. Thanks for a wonderful visit! read less
19/11/2023
Great tasting Gin's Excellent tour, great team and amazing Gin's and Rum.Well worth a visit and would absolutely recommend.
17/11/2023
5*- hidden gem! Well worth a tour! Amazing place, great speakers and it was so engaging. I love the gin and rum, i was happily tipsy. Great branding too.
12/11/2023
Definitely worth a visit Fun and informative distillery tour. Katherine and Sam were very welcoming and knowledgeable and the 10% in store discount was very welcome
12/11/2023
Great time at the gin school! We had a really great time at the Gin school - Same, Claire and Catherine were all really friendly and informative. We learnt a lot and definitely enjoyed making our... read moreWe had a really great time at the Gin school - Same, Claire and Catherine were all really friendly and informative. We learnt a lot and definitely enjoyed making our own gins. We would definitely recommend the gin school experience to others. read less
12/11/2023
Great afternoon of gin making Went to the Shakespeare Distillery tour and gin making experience on the 10th November with my mother. We had a great afternoon learning about the history of gin and then... read moreWent to the Shakespeare Distillery tour and gin making experience on the 10th November with my mother. We had a great afternoon learning about the history of gin and then producing our own gin in our copper still and taking home 70cl to enjoy. Had lots of fun and enjoyed three complimentary G&Ts as well as tasting some of their other spirits/flavours. We really enjoyed the experience and have recommended it to friends. All of the staff were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Just remember to book a taxi to get you home!! read less
11/11/2023
Highly recommend A fabulous experience led by Katherine. Informative and fun. Lovely gins and entertaining. Would really recommend
11/11/2023
news & events
Our Latest News
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Posts
Our Blog
Sam, our Brand Ambassador at Shakespeare Distillery, has a love of spirits which extends well beyond his work life. This, combined with his experience in distilleries and his training in the mixology world, lends itself perfectly to writing a series of blogs about spirits and their production.
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News & Events
Blog Posts
Sam, our Brand Ambassador at Shakespeare Distillery, has a love of spirits which extends well beyond his work life. This, combined with his experience in distilleries and his training in the mixology world, lends itself perfectly to writing a series of blogs about spirits and their production.
