Lifetime Achievement Award #4 Christopher Hayman

Christopher Hayman was presented with the Gin Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award on 11th October 2019 at the Annual Banquet of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, the Guild’s parent company, held in the City of London.

The award was bestowed in recognition of Christopher’s remarkable 50 years of dedicated service to the gin industry. Fittingly, the presentation took place at the Banquet of the Distillers Company – an organisation with which Christopher has long and distinguished associations.

Few figures in modern gin embody its history and continuity as profoundly as Christopher Hayman. A member of the Burrough family – custodians of the Beefeater brand for generations – he is steeped in gin heritage. This lineage, combined with a lifetime of professional commitment, has given him a perspective on the category that bridges tradition and contemporary revival.

In 2018, Christopher founded Hayman Distillers, returning his family name to distilling and reaffirming his belief in the enduring character and integrity of classic London Dry gin. The creation of Hayman’s marked both a personal and professional milestone – an expression of independence grounded in centuries of accumulated knowledge.

Christopher is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and served as Master in 2005. He also holds a unique place in the history of the Gin Guild as its inaugural Grand Rectifier, playing a pivotal role in shaping the Guild’s early direction and championing its mission to promote excellence in gin distillation worldwide.

Described by many as someone in whom “gin runs in his veins”, Christopher Hayman’s career reflects not only longevity, but influence. Through stewardship, leadership and advocacy, he has contributed significantly to the preservation of gin’s standards and the strengthening of its global reputation.

In presenting this Lifetime Achievement Award, the Gin Guild honoured a distiller, founder and industry statesman whose half century of service has left an indelible mark on gin.