Membership of the Gin Guild

Membership is open to a wide range of gin industry players and we always welcome support and participation from new members.

Gin Guild members are international and include those from the following countries, with more on the way:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Peru, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Wales.

Apply to join the Gin Guild

There are various types of membership:

Founder Rectifiers, one person appointed by each of the four founding companies of the Gin Guild: Pernod Ricard, Diageo, Bacardi and William Grant & Sons.
Warden Rectifiers, one person from each company involved in distilling or a brand owner.
Rectifiers, made up of members of the Founder and Warden companies and others involved in the wider gin industry including leading individual bartenders, spirits journalists, supply chain, as well as educators and as those working in production, distribution and media.

Corporate Membership

Brand owners and producers (subject to minimum net annual gin sales of £50,000 per annum), are eligible to join in the corporate rank of Warden Rectifier.

Warden Rectifier status entitles the corporate holder to also nominate one person (free of charge) employed by the Warden’s company, as a Rectifier (which additional membership will continue for so long as the status of Warden Rectifier is maintained and the relevant fees are paid).

The Gin Guild fees for Warden Rectifiers are based on sales, on a variable scale, reflecting both branded and own label sales.

The basic annual fee for Warden Rectifiers is £750. The basic fee covers net gin sales up to £1m. Fees are expressed net of VAT.

Please note that the sales/financial information (on which the scale fees are based), are confidential and will only be known to the Guild Director General and if necessary to the Guild Hon. treasurer – neither of whom work for a gin industry company. This is as prescribed by the Gin Guild board.

Individual Membership

Individual members join the Gin Guild as Rectifiers.

To be eligible for membership, a nominee must have had a material service or association with the gin industry and have made a positive contribution to the management, promotion, development, production, sales, marketing or distribution of gin, or its academic study and spirits industry training.

Details of an applicant’s service or association with the gin industry, giving details and dates, will be provided to the Guild Management Committee to ascertain whether the applicant is eligible for the honour of Guild membership.

Applications for the Gin Guild membership also require support from two suitable industry referees who must have known the applicant for not less than two years (these do not need to be Guild members). Both referees will be required to complete their details and also sign the application.

Individual applicants have the option of paying a one-off fee of £750 for life membership or an annual fee of £200. All individual members pay a joining fee of £125.

All fees are expressed excluding VAT.

What our members say

Since my first interaction with Gin Guild members I have been overwhelmed by the welcoming atmosphere and true adherence to the mission of a Guild. This is a remarkable group of friends and colleagues joined in the mission of advancing the business and culture of gin.

Tom Allan, Master Distiller, Madrona Distillery

As a representative of family distiller William Grant and Sons it’s a great honour to be in a position where we have the opportunity through The Gin Guild to really help nurture the industry as it continues its exciting growth and explosion in innovation. We’re committed to driving excellence in the way that gin is served, as well as in the way it is distilled – because it’s integral that one supports the other.

Duncan McRae, UK Brand Ambassador, Hendrick's Gin

The Gin Guild not only unites the gin community across discipline— distillers and other industry leaders— but it unites the gin community across the world. I'm based in the U.S. but I feel part of a global community united through gin. Since joining in 2019, it's been amazing to see how educational events like Ginposium have transformed the way we share knowledge and the way we just talk about gin as professionals! Gin is truly in!

Aaron Knoll, Author & Spirits Communicator, The Gin is In

Meeting the stalwarts in the industry and answering and asking key questions is one of the best features of membership. It's the "peer" group association that is priceless. Friends and experts for life. This factor is often missed when folks attend courses, conferences and events. It is one reason that live events rather than online seminars will continue to be the best avenue for organisations. Plus the invites to visit members at their distilleries are most welcome!

Gary Spedding, Ph.D, Analytical Chemist, Brewing and Distilling Analytical Services, LLC

When I was inducted into The Gin Guild in 2018, I didn’t fully grasp how meaningful that moment would become, not just for me personally, but for American gin more broadly. At the time, the United States was still finding its footing in the global gin conversation. Being welcomed into a community so deeply committed to connection, education, and the shared passion for this category was incredibly grounding. Gin is a spirit that thrives on creativity, precision, and personal vision. The Guild is a unique forum where those qualities are celebrated across borders and across generations. It does not merely preserve the past; it fuels our desire to elevate the category side by side. As interest in gin continues to grow here in the United States, having access to this kind of global insight and camaraderie is invaluable. The Guild reminds us we are part of a wider community of makers and dreamers, and it is in our shared commitment that we find our greatest inspiration.

Melissa Katrincic, CEO & Co-Founder, Durham Distillery

I am fascinated by the gin industry as it is so dynamic and diverse. Joining The Gin Guild has enabled me to connect with like-minded people in the industry and opens up an array of opportunities.

Ibolya Bakos-Tonner, Caorunn Brand Manager, International Beverage

I cannot recommend membership of the Gin Guild highly enough; the access to networking, education, debate and information on legislative and production related issues as well as on trade and marketing topics is above the standard of any other industry body I know. And don’t doubt your eligibility for membership: if you are reading this, you are very likely not just eligible to join us, but would be a welcome addition to the Guild, which grows in numbers each year, adding members from new countries each time.

Philip Duff, Director, Liquid Solutions On Premise Consulting

I love gin. I would like to expand the gin market in Japan. Being part of this membership will help me remain motivated. It will also mean I’m in a good place to educate customers and bartenders more about gin and what I learn from The Gin Guild. And this should ensure customers will respect gin more than they used to.

Hisashi Kishi, President, Japan’s Nippon Bartenders Association

The Gin Guild is an important institution and I think everyone agrees how beneficial this network is to all of us personally and professionally, as well as to the continued success of the gin category.

Lesley Gracie, Master Distiller, Hendrick’s Gin

The Guild is the heart to which we are connected as Gin distillers, regardless of where we are in the world.

Anand Virmani, Founder & CEO, NAO Spirits (Hapusa Himalayan Gin)

Joining the Gin Guild has been one of the most rewarding decisions I have made both personally and for Alpine Distilling as a business. The Guild offers a remarkable community of passionate, knowledgeable professionals who are committed to excellence in gin. From sustainability initiatives to educational resources and industry advocacy, the support and opportunities have been invaluable. It’s an organisation that truly elevates and unites the global gin community.

Sara Sergent, CEO and Master Botanical Distiller, Alpine Distilling

The Guild connects us all, it protects us, and it enhances our business. It is a hub for regulatory guidance, support, information, introductions, and the ability to apply pressure in the right places!

Sam Galsworthy, Co-Founder, Sipsmith

The Gin Guild has been instrumental in guiding and protecting this splendid and rapidly expanding spirit, and it has also given us all the opportunity to get to know each other and enjoy the fruits of our labours.

Desmond Payne MBE, Master Distiller Emeritus, Beefeater Gin

I have never in my career seen such a gathering of gin industry players.

Christopher Hayman, Chairman, Haymans Distillers

I greatly enjoy being a member of the Gin Guild. The network of gin friends and professionals is exceptional and a huge benefit not only to me personally but for the gin community of the spirits industry at large. Since joining in 2019 I have appreciated being included in both the educational initiatives and social opportunities this incredible group provides.

Charlotte Voisey, Executive Director, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

The Gin Guild has provided a community that I am proud to be a part of. I feel like by joining I actually became part of a family that provides constant support.

Daniel Szor, Chairman, The Cotswold Distilling Company

Membership benefits

A key benefit of Gin Guild membership is the opportunity to network within the industry. The Guild hosts at least two formal dinners each year, during which new members are installed. Both occasions offer exceptional hospitality and valuable opportunities for members to invite key guests.

The Spring Dinner, held in April or May, is complemented by the more formal Autumn Installation and Banquet, traditionally held at the Mansion House in the heart of the City of London each October.

In addition to these formal occasions, the Guild organises a range of informal events designed to provide members with engaging, high-quality experiences. These activities aim to strengthen connections within the Guild community and extend participation in other events, including those created by the Guild, to a wider audience.

Prestige

Join and be an active member in an organisation supported by many of the world’s leading gin brands, their distillers and colleagues and celebrate and promote excellence in the distillation and promotion of gin.

Education

The Guild is working with other key players in the industry, including the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and Herriot Watt University in Edinburgh to organise educational events for the trade, industry students and consumers.

Showcase

We provide opportunities, especially for smaller members, to have their products made available to a wider and focused market. These include showcasing a range of gins at events under the Guild’s banner, as well as at Gin Guild events where brands can get feedback from other members.

The Guild sponsors a number of key gin trophy awards including the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) and ADI’s International Spirits Challenge, focusing on championing the London Dry Gin category around the world.

Industry events

The Ginposium, the annual gin industry seminar organised by the Guild, is for the gin industry by the gin industry. The Guild hosts presentations by some of the world’s most respected gin distillers and experts sharing their knowledge of gin, botanicals and more.

Join the Gin Guild

If you would like to join the Gin Guild, explore the options available, either as an individual or corporate member.