Welcome to The Gin Guild
We are the global home of gin producers, experts and enthusiasts committed to upholding excellence, protecting the spirit’s heritage and shaping the future of gin.
We represent the gin industry as a whole. Supported by the major founding gin producers, Bacardi, Diageo, William Grant and Sons and Pernod Ricard, The Gin Guild brings together distillers, brand owners, trade professionals and partners from across production, distribution, marketing and hospitality. Our mission is to foster quality, inspire innovation and protect the integrity of gin worldwide.
We aim to promote the gin category across the globe, enhancing its image and widening its appeal to worldwide consumers.
We don’t promote individual brands; we want to bring together the broadest range of products and producers, as well as everyone associated with the wider industry, to create a forum for all those involved in gin production, sales, marketing, distribution and the bar trade.
Our Leadership Team
The Gin Guild’s Board of Directors brings together industry professionals from craft distillers to legacy brand specialists, united by a commitment to quality, heritage, sustainability and community across the global gin sector.
At the head of the Board is Christopher Hayman, who is also chairman of family company Hayman Distillers. Other long‑standing members include Charles Maxwell, with a deep family heritage in gin distillation, and Martin Riley who contributes expertise in brand management and global distribution, supporting the Guild’s strategic developmen. Jim Long’s experience in marketing, product development and botanicals also offers broad industry insight.
Recent additions reflect the Guild’s evolving, global outlook. Sophie Best of Silent Pool Gin and Andrew Parsons, Master Distiller at Sky Wave Gin, bring energy, entrepreneurial experience and commitment to supporting emerging distillers and industry-wide initiatives like distillation apprenticeships.
Also represented are Dr Anne Brock of Bombay Sapphire, combining scientific rigour and distillation expertise, and Kathy Caton MBE, emphasising governance and representation of smaller producers alongside larger houses.
Together, this leadership team ensures The Gin Guild remains a broad, inclusive forum for distillers, brand owners and trade stakeholders – blending tradition, modern craft, sustainability, technical expertise and global perspective to guide gin’s future worldwide.
Our History
Gin has a colourful and storied past – from its early beginnings in European apothecaries to the thriving global category it is today. The Gin Guild’s story is closely intertwined with that heritage.
The spirit’s origins can be traced back to the 1450s, when German distillers produced a juniper berry brandy, while housewives crafted spirits from beer and juniper berries at home.
By 1476, German chemist Michael Puff von Schlick published a distillation manual featuring a juniper spirit, followed in 1500 by Hieronymous Brunschwig’s publication of distillation recipes. In 1527, Lauren Andrewes translated Brunschwig’s work into English as The vertuoseboke of distyllacyon of the waters, bringing juniper spirits to London.
Following the founding of the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries of London in 1617, its 1618 standards manual included a distillate called aqua juniper ex granis or water of juniper.
By 1638, the Worshipful Company of Distillers was established to monitor commercial distillers and its 1639 manual, The Distiller of London, contained 34 recipes plus 16 variations, including one called aqua fructum – a spirit closely resembling modern gin.
Gin flourished over the centuries – from 18th-century London booms to the 19th-century rise of London Dry styles, followed by a mid-20th-century decline. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw a renaissance, driven by innovation, craft distillers, and renewed consumer interest.
Amid this revival, the Gin Guild was founded in 2012, uniting the four founding companies with the Worshipful Company of Distillers.
The Grand Rectifier
At the heart of the Guild’s leadership sits the ceremonial head – the Grand Rectifier. This distinguished role is held by respected figures from the founding companies or leading members of the industry.
The Grand Rectifier presides over Guild installations, represents the Guild on formal occasions and embodies our values of excellence, integrity and fellowship. Working alongside the Board and the Director General, the Grand Rectifier supports the Guild’s mission and helps guide its work.
Traditionally, the role is held for a two-year term and has been held by industry heavyweights including
- Christopher Hayman, Hayman’s Distillers
- Ed Pilkington, Diageo
- Martin Riley, Pernod Ricard
- Dr Anne Brock, Bombay Sapphire
- Lesley Gracie, Hendrick’s
- Desmond Payne MBE, Beefeater
- Charles Maxwell, Thames Distillers
The Gin Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
The Gin Guild Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour bestowed by the Guild.
It recognises individuals whose careers have made an exceptional and enduring contribution to gin distillation, whose influence extends beyond their own brands or businesses, and whose dedication has helped shape the global reputation of gin.
Awarded sparingly, the accolade celebrates not simply longevity, but impact – honouring those whose expertise, leadership and advocacy have strengthened the craft of gin and inspired others within the industry. Recipients are individuals who embody excellence in distillation and whose work has left a lasting legacy on the category.
Since its introduction, the award has been presented to a small and distinguished group of industry figures, each representing a different chapter in the modern renaissance of gin. Their collective contribution spans heritage, innovation, mentorship and global advocacy.
Our Strategic Pillars
The Gin Guild’s activities are shaped by five strategic pillars which guide our work and ensure we continue to support the industry and protect the future of the gin category.
Association – Bringing together gin professionals globally to share knowledge, build relationships and collaborate on industry-wide initiatives.
Recognition – Honouring outstanding contributions, innovation and leadership across distillation, production and category development.
Education & Research – Offering technical resources, training, seminars and research to raise standards and understanding across the industry.
Promotion – Championing gin worldwide through communication, public engagement and showcasing the diversity and quality of gin.
Custodianship – Safeguarding gin’s identity and regulatory integrity, ensuring it remains defined by authentic distillation practices and honest labelling.
Membership and What We Offer
Membership of The Gin Guild provides unique benefits for distillers, brand owners, trade professionals and suppliers with a connection to gin.
As a member you gain access to:
- A global network of industry peers
- Invitations to formal dinners, installations and networking events
- Educational initiatives, masterclasses and technical seminars
- Opportunities to showcase products and innovations
- Advocacy and representation in regulatory and category-defining conversations
Membership is a mark of recognition – of professional contribution, commitment to quality and shared dedication to the gin category.
Sustainability and Responsibility
The Gin Guild is committed to driving sustainable and responsible practices across the global gin industry.
Our Sustainability Toolkit provides practical guidance for distillers of all sizes, covering areas such as water and energy efficiency, sustainable sourcing, packaging innovation and supply-chain transparency.
The Guild’s #TenGreenBottles campaign encourages collective action for greener, more responsible production. This initiative has already received recognition within the international drinks sector.
For The Gin Guild, sustainability is a core responsibility – a commitment to protecting the heritage and future of the gin category for generations to come.
Get Involved or Contact Us
Whether you are a distiller, brand owner, supplier, bartender, educator or gin enthusiast – if you believe in gin’s legacy and future, The Gin Guild welcomes you.
Join us in shaping the future of gin with respect for its past, commitment to excellence and a shared vision for sustainability, education and collaboration.