The Gin Guild celebrates over 600 members and welcomes Charles Maxwell as Grand Rectifier at its Autumn Installation
17th October, 2025
The Gin Guild celebrated a significant milestone at its Autumn Installation and Annual Banquet, held on 17 October 2025 at London’s Mansion House, as it welcomed 30 new members from around the world, bringing its total membership to 612.
Members: Log in to see the full photo gallery
The new intake represents the Guild’s most international cohort yet, with members joining from Australia, Bermuda, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the USA, and the UK.
Among them are a leading Japanese mixologist, the Apprentice to Master Distiller Lesley Gracie at Hendrick’s Gin, a botanicals expert with six decades of experience, and senior executives from Diageo and Bacardi.
“When we began in 2012, we thought we’d do well to reach 250 members, so to breach 600 this year shows that the Guild has relevance to a worldwide audience.”
– Charles Maxwell
The evening saw Rob Dorsett, Master Distiller at Alcohols Ltd’s Langley Distillery, presented with the Gin Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of 35 years dedicated to gin distilling. It also marked a leadership transition at The Gin Guild as Desmond Payne MBE, the long-serving Master Distiller of Beefeater Gin, concluded his two-year term as Grand Rectifier, passing the baton to Charles Maxwell, tenth-generation distiller at Thames Distillers and a founding director of The Gin Guild.
Desmond, who will retire from Pernod Ricard later this year after a remarkable sixty-year career in the drinks business, was presented with a Gold Gin Guild Sprig in recognition of his service to both the Guild and the wider gin community.
“I’d describe [gin] like a chameleon. Whether it’s enjoyed as a classic gin and tonic or a sophisticated cocktail, it changes its character to suit its surroundings – and that’s why gin is here to stay.”
– Desmond Payne MBE
Charles, who received the Guild’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and whose family history in gin stretches back to 1681, said: “It’s a great honour to follow in the footsteps of Desmond Payne and the Grand Rectifiers before him. The Guild plays a vital role in bringing the global gin community together, and I’m proud to continue that work, supporting innovation, promoting quality, and ensuring we are here for all those involved in the gin trade large or small.”
Reflecting on the Guild’s growth, he added: “As a founding director, it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come. When we began in 2012, we thought we’d do well to reach 250 members, so to breach 600 this year shows that the Guild has relevance to a worldwide audience.”
Mr Payne said: “Over the past two years I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming many new members to the Guild. It’s been huge fun, and a wonderful way to finish my career – a real privilege. I wish Charles the best of luck; he has more knowledge of the gin industry than most people put together.”
Offering a parting reflection on the industry, he said: “One of the great things about gin is its ability to adapt. I’d describe it like a chameleon. Whether it’s enjoyed as a classic gin and tonic or a sophisticated cocktail, it changes its character to suit its surroundings – and that’s why gin is here to stay.”
Pal Gleed, Director General of The Gin Guild, remarked:
“The Autumn Installation is always a highlight in the Guild calendar, and this year was particularly special as we thanked my friend Desmond Payne for his outstanding contribution as Grand Rectifier, and to the gin category altogether as he moves into a well-earned retirement.
Pal continued: We celebrated Rob Dorsett’s exceptional career with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and it was an honour to welcome Charles as the new Grand Rectifier – I very much look forward to working with him as we continue to support our members.”
Membership of The Gin Guild brings together individuals and organisations involved in gin distillation, production, promotion, and service. Members benefit from professional networking, shared expertise, and opportunities to shape the future of the gin industry through collective initiatives, from the introduction of its flavour guidance framework, Gin-Note™, to the launch of the Sustainability Toolkit earlier this year as part of its #TenGreenBottles campaign, helping the sector embed sustainability into every stage of production.
The Full list of new members joining the Guild was as follows:
Founder nominations:
- Patricia Borges, Global Managing Director of Gins & Rums, Diageo
- Héctor Martinez Flores, UK Supply Director, Bacardi
- Scott M. Northcutt, Global Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Bacardi
- Steve Young, General Manager – UK & Ireland, Bacardi
- Jeremy Violino, Senior Manager, Procurement, Bacardi
- Perry Spanyol, Global Chief Information Security Officer, Bacardi
- Jennifer Young, Packaging and Innovation Team Manager, Bacardi
- Federico Trumpy, Owner, Webb James, Webb James Sponsored by Bacardi
- Úrsula Mejía Melgar, GB Marketing and Innovation Director, Diageo
- Kerry Easter, Category Head for Europe Spirits, Diageo
- Thomas Taylor, Apprentice Master Distiller, Hendrick’s Gin
- Faye Macintyre, Hendrick’s Gin Palace Event Coordinator, Hendrick’s Gin
- Andrew Hainey, Hendrick’s Operator, Hendrick’s Gin
- Duncan Iredale, Global Brand Ambassador – Malfy Gin, Pernod Ricard
- Reiko Otsuki, Bar OPA, Tokyo Sponsored by Pernod Ricard
Existing corporate memberships:
- Vedran Milosevic, Global Managing Director, Cygnet Distillery
- Bradley Adnams, Head of Spirits Sales, Adnams plc
- Rhys Johnson, Sales Director UK & Europe, Cygnet Distillery
- George Nodder, Chief Operating Officer, Nyetimber
- Ockju Lee, Head Distiller, Thames Distillers Ltd
New corporate memberships:
- Alex Bartolucci, Master Distiller, Distilleria Mezzanotte
- Junio Carchini, CEO and Founder, Himbrimi Gin
- Nicholas Malaczynski, Chief Executive, Shivering Mountain Distillery
- Kate Sinfield, Chief Executive, Sin Gin Distillery
- Jeffrey Cole, Distiller/Liquid Management Lead, WanderFolk Spirits
- Thomas Hasenböhler, CEO and Founder, The Desert Rose Gin Co
- Giacomo Bracci, Designer, Distilleria Mezzanotte
- Oliver Drew, Brand Ambassador, Martin Miller’s Gin
- Fran Richards, Chief Operating Officer, Shivering Mountain Distillery
Installed in their own right:
- Terri Hudson, Business Development Manager, Mainline Spirits Co
You may also be interested in:
Diageo
Diageo plc is a British multinational alcoholic beverage company, with its headquarters in London, England. It operates over 100 sites around the world and is a major distributor of Gins,
Bacardi
Bacardi Limited is the largest privately held, family-owned spirits company in the world. Originally known for its Bacardí brand of white rum, it now has a portfolio of more than
William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons Ltd is an independent, family-owned Scottish company that distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is a French multinational beverage company and one of the world’s largest producers of wines and spirits. Established in 1975 through the merger of Pernod and Ricard, the
WanderFolk Spirits
WanderFolk Spirits is based in the heart of historic downtown Guthrie, Oklahoma. Formerly Prairie Wolf Spirits, WanderFolk is Oklahoma’s first legal distillery, established in 2012. WanderFolk is a blend of
Adnams plc
The Adnams distillery, called the Copper House, sits within the Adnams brewery complex in Southwold in Suffolk, and many of the same ingredients – local barley, rye, wheat and oats
Sin Gin Distillery
Sin Gin was started in 2016 when Kate Sinfield and Mark Harris decided that there was nothing more to life than Gin! “Since then, we’ve been through heaven and hell
Cygnet Distillery
Cygnet Gin is based in Wales. Welsh Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins OBE established it in 2022. The idea came in 2021 after she discovered a unique Welsh spirit. Her goal
Shivering Mountain
Shivering Mountain distillery is located in the heart of the UK’s Peak District National Park. Their premises sits in the beautiful Hope Valley, overlooked by Mam Tor, the majestic peak
Hendrick’s Gin
Brainchild of 5th generation distillers William Grant & Sons, Hendrick’s Gin spearheaded the gin renaissance when it launched in 1999. Hendrick’s is the number one super premium gin in the world.
Beefeater
In the urban heart of London it dates back to 1820 when a pharmacist, James Burrough used his skills in chemistry to invent a recipe of exceptional quality which inspired
Tanqueray
Tanqueray Gin has a rich heritage with a history that spans over 180 years from when Charles Tanqueray first began crafting the world’s finest gin in 1830. Breaking family tradition
Gordon’s Gin
Over 250 years ago in 1769, Alexander Gordon started his distillery in London and set about creating the recipe for a brilliant tasting gin. Gordon’s high quality and distinctive juniper
Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire, home to former Gin Guild Grand Rectifier Dr Anne Brock, is the world’s number one premium gin by value and volume (IWSR). Based on a 1761 recipe, Bombay
Distilleria Mezzanotte
Distilleria Mezzanotte is a young, artisanal distillery based in Pesaro, on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Founded in 2021 by Master Distiller Alex Bartolucci and Art Director Giacomo Bracci, the distillery takes
Himbrimi Gin
In 2013, Icelandic artist Óskar Ericsson created a homemade gin. Intended to be the perfect fishing companion he used to take it along on fishing trips in the Icelandic wilderness.
Desert Rose Gin Co. Sagl
EMBARK ON AN UNFORESEEN JOURNEY Desert Rose gin’s distinction emanates from a sophisticated blend of dates and saffron, meticulously crafted to form a flavoir profile that transcends convention. With each
Martin Miller’s Gin
Launched in 1999, Martin Miller’s Gin is distilled in pot stills in England and shipped to Iceland, where it is mixed with Icelandic spring water. Martin Miller’s Gin was one
Lakes Distillery
Following a £9m investment and three years in development, The Lakes Distillery opened in December 2014 in The Lake District National Park (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with the vision of producing
Thames Distillers
Founded in 1996 by 10th generation Master Distiller Charles Maxwell, Thames Distillers is an independent gin rectifier, spirits processor and bottler across its two sites in London. Thames Distillers also
Mainline Spirit Co
Located on the Mainline railway between London and Penzance, Mainline Spirit Co create beautiful Gin using only the finest hand picked botanicals from the rolling landscapes, following the path of
Desmond Payne MBE, Beefeater
50 years, eight gins, one Lifetime Achievement Award from The Gin Guild, and now an MBE, Beefeater’s Master Distiller Desmond Payne still isn’t ready to put his feet up. We chat to ‘Mr Beefeater’ about spending five decades in the gindustry.
Charles Maxwell, Thames Distillers
As a young boy, Charles Maxwell wanted to be the next Jackie Stewart and become Formula 1 racing world champion. When a test session around the Brands Hatch proved that might not be his true calling, he turned his attention to being the eleventh generation of his family to become a distiller.