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10 Years of Shakespeare Distillery
our story, sip by sip
We’ve come a long way since our first gin! At the heart of everything is our close-knit team, recognised by our visitors as knowledgeable and incredibly passionate about all we do.
Our small team has expanded significantly in recent years, as has our range of spirits, experiences and premises. We are proud of that growth but we remain an independent family business, small enough to do everything within our own distillery, passionate about what we do and patient enough to create beautifully complex spirits.
Here’s a look at how the last decade has unfolded for us – from Tudor gardens to rum barrels, gin schools to global awards. Ready? Let’s rewind…
We’ve come a long way since our first gin! At the heart of everything is our close-knit team, recognised by our visitors as knowledgeable and incredibly passionate about all we do.
Our small team has expanded significantly in recent years, as has our range of spirits, experiences and premises. We are proud of that growth but we remain an independent family business, small enough to do everything within our own distillery, passionate about what we do and patient enough to create beautifully complex spirits.
Simon & Peter
Founders
Our timeline
10 Years of Shakespeare Distillery
Here’s a look at how the last decade has unfolded for us – from Tudor gardens to rum barrels, gin schools to global awards. Ready? Let’s rewind…
Explore our timeline
Autumn 2015
Where it all began
After 2 years of development, founders Simon and Peter launched our first spirit: Stratford Dry Gin, inspired by Tudor Garden botanicals.2
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2016
2016
First taste of victory
Stratford Dry Gin scooped an IWSC Silver Outstanding – not bad for our first year on the scene!
2016 - 2019
New flavours, more fans
Mulberry Gin Liqueur, Rhubarb Gin and Elderflower & Quince Gin joined the family – fruity nods to our Tudor heritage. Shop Our Gin
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2019
March 2019
We moved location (and got bigger!)
We opened our shiny new distillery and visitor centre at Drayton Manor Farm – and launched our Distillery Tours and Gin Schools! Book a Tour
Summer 2019
Cruises, but with gin
Our seasonal Gin Tasting Cruises set sail on the River Avon with Avon Boating. Book a Gin Cruise
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2020
February 2020
First major tourism award
Winner of the New Tourism Business Award at the West Midlands Tourism Awards – thank you, judges!Spring 2020
Pivoting with purpose
When the world paused with the Covid pandemic, we made sanitiser for the NHS and launched at-home gin tasting kits to keep spirits high at home!Jul 2020
Bigger still, better chill
We expanded the distillery to create a larger production area and opened our very own Coffee & Cocktail Lounge for visitors to enjoy.November 2020
Our town centre shop pops up
We opened our first shop at 1 High Street – once home to Shakespeare’s daughter, Judith! As well as our spirits, we proudly stock local goodies from fellow producers. #SupportLocal
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Enter Jester Rum
We launched Jester White Rum, made entirely from scratch – one of the few British rums truly born here and winning IWSC Silver – making it the highest-ranking British Rum that year. Spiced Rum followed the same year!Shop Our Rum
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2022
September 2022
Judith’s School of Spirits
Our pop-up shop became permanent, and we launched Judith’s Tasting Room & Rum School upstairs. Introducing Judith’s Pink Gin – a Distillery Special turned customer favourite, named in honour of Shakespeare’s daughter! Visit Judith's
November 2022
Sustainable spirits
We were officially certified Carbon Neutral. Since then, we’ve reduced our CO₂ emissions by over 45%! Our green efforts earned us Stratford’s Best Green Business award 3 years in a row – proof that sustainable spirits really do taste better. Learn More
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2023
Throughout 2023
Still winning
Named one of the UK’s Top 10 Gin Distillery Experiences and more WMTA accolades for Experience of the Year and Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. Not stopping there, we also won Best Independent Retailer, Top Attraction and to top it off, Stratford Business of the Year. Cheers to that!
December 2023
Our first Aged Rum
Hello, Cask Aged Jester Rum! Aged for 30 months in bourbon casks, this first small-batch release marked a bold new chapter. Shop Cask Aged
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2024
March 2024
Best in the region!
We were crowned Experience of the Year for our Gin School at the West Midlands Tourism Awards.August 2024
Award-winning spirits
Stratford Dry Gin scooped IWSC Silver, while Judith’s Pink Gin brought home IWSC Bronze — proof that our gin continues to impress the judges.
Throughout 2024
Year of collaborations
We believe in working with and celebrating other incredible local producers, so we teamed up with a few to craft a line-up of deliciously unique spirits including Aged Coffee Rum, Marmalade Vodka, Chocolate Cream Liqueur and Aged Honey Rum. Shop Distillery Specials
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2025
February 2025
Rum Tastings at Judith’s
We launched dedicated Rum Tastings at our High Street hub — a chance for rum fans to sip and savour our Jester Rum. Book a Tasting
April 2025
Going global
Our Jester Aged Rum (Sherry Cask) won a World Rum Awards medal – and put Stratford upon Avon on the global spirit map.
Ongoing
Still innovating
From royal celebrations to summer inspiration, we’ve loved getting creative with new product releases over the years, from Jubilee Gin and Tropical Spiced Rum to handcrafted Cello’s and Vodkas. Most recently we’ve launched our very first 0% spirit, Stratford Zero, reimagining our award-winning Stratford Dry Gin with all the flavour and none of the alcohol. Visit Distillery Shop
Ten years, countless cheers
From a tiny startup to award-winning spirits and unforgettable experiences, we’re so proud of how far we’ve come. To every visitor, customer, gin-lover, and rum fan who’s been part of the journey — thank you.
Here’s to the next 10 years of crafting, tasting, and raising a glass together!
