Desmond Payne MBE, Master Distiller Emeritus at Beefeater Gin has been installed as Grand Rectifier as The Gin Guild reaches new corners of the global spirit market with focus on mixologists

The Gin Guild has installed Desmond Payne MBE as its new Grand Rectifier at a memorable member installation event which saw the Guild welcome distillers from India, Australia, and for the first time, Chile.

The Gin Guild’s 21st London member installation saw 40 members swear the oath of the gin industry’s global body – taking the Guild’s total number of members installed to 492.

The event also included new international memberships from across three continents – including The Gin Guild’s first corporate members in Australia and Chile, Four Pillars and Gin Provincia.

Four Pillars were fresh from winning International Gin Producer of the year 2023, sponsored by the Gin Guild, for a record third time at the 2023 IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) awards. The Victoria-based producer’s Co-Founder Cameron Mackenzie, spoke about attending the event for the first time, saying:

“The Gin Guild Autumn Installation at Mansion House exceeded all expectations. It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the presence of so many gin legends from Desmond Payne and Lesley Gracie to Anne Brock and Jared Brown. I cannot wait to attend again.

“From start to finish the evening was incredible and my installation will remain a highlight of my 10 years distilling this wonderful spirit. The Gin Guild is a must for anyone who makes, mixes or represents the world’s most important aromatic spirit (in my humble opinion!).”

The annual event, held at the prestigious Mansion House on October 20, 2023 and graced by the presence of the Rt Hon, the Lord Mayor, Nicholas Lyons, also saw Head Spirits Buyer from Waitrose John Vine, along with celebrated Mixologists such as Salvatore ‘The Maestro’ Calabrese, Rich Woods a.k.a. The Cocktail Guy, Hiroshi Komoriya and Erik Lorincz join the ranks, further enhancing the diverse and dynamic nature of The Gin Guild’s membership.

Simon Ford, Founder of Fords Gin, was thrilled to welcome such prestigious names to the Guild. He says, “This year the Gin Guild installed two of the bartending world’s biggest legends, Salvatore Calabrese and Erik Lorincz, whose influence has been recognised globally and whose contribution to the promotion of gin can’t be underestimated.

“The bartender has played an integral role in promoting the gin category over the last two centuries and continues to do so today. There are arguably more classic cocktails made with Gin than any other spirits category driving presence for the category internationally and each decade more gin drinks are added to the ever-growing list”

Desmond Payne MBE, Beefeater Gin Master Distiller Emeritus, who has received not one but two lifetime achievement awards for his work in the industry, was appointed as Grand Rectifier following Lesley Gracie, Master Distiller of Hendricks Gin’s two-year term in office.

Mr Payne said: “It is an honour to be installed as the new Grand Rectifier of the Gin Guild but it is also a pleasure and a delight to take up this position after a lifetime spent in the production and promotion of this fine spirit.”

Pal Gleed, Director General of The Gin Guild added: “Being an active part of The Gin Guild means joining a fantastic network of gin experts and industry colleagues. This expansion solidifies The Guild’s position at the heart of the global gin industry, dedicated to fostering excellence and camaraderie.

“The welcoming of these new members, including our first corporate members from Australia and Chile, has demonstrated our dedication to promoting international collaboration and recognising the global appeal of our timeless spirit.

“I’d like to thank the Desmond for accepting the role of Grand Rectifier, and would like to pay tribute to our wonderful outgoing Grand Rectifier Lesley Gracie for her fantastic support during her time in office”

Members installed were: 

Founder Rectifiers:

  • Murielle Dessenis, Global Vice President of Marketing Gins, Pernod Ricard
  • Pedro Mendonça, Global Reserve Managing Director, Diageo

 

Founder Nominated Rectifiers:

  • Carlotta Colkin, Global Brand Director, Plymouth Gin & Malfy Gin
  • Grégory Chevillat, Black Forest Distillers;
  • Hiroshi Komoriya, Bar Capri Tokyo (Sponsored by Pernod Ricard)
  • Alessandro Garneri, Master of Botanicals, Bacardi
  • Marc Plumridge, Global Head of Advocacy, Bombay Sapphire;
  • Rich Wood aka The Cocktail Guy (Sponsored by Bombay Sapphire)
  • Keith Hogg, VP – HR & Supply Chain, Bacardi
  • Jeremy Lindley, Global Design Director, Diageo
  • Luca Lupini, Global Head of Research & Development, Diageo
  • Vance Henderson, USA National Brand Ambassador, Hendrick’s
  • Muiris Ó Riada, Global Brand Director, Hendrick’s
  • Gary McNeill, Distillery Process Operator, Hendrick’s
  • Mattias Dylan Horseman, US West Coast Ambassador, Hendrick’s Gin

 

Warden Rectifiers:

  • Jared Brown, Co-Founder and Master Distiller, Sipsmith (re-sworn as Warden Rectifier)
  • Khalil Bachooali, Co-Founder and Distiller, Adventurist Spirits Distillery
  • Cameron Mackenzie, Co-Founder and Chief Distiller, Four Pillars Gin
  • Gustavo Carvallo, Co-Founder and Master Distiller, Gin Provincia
  • Kirsty Taylor, Commercial Director, The Lakes Distillery

 

Warden Nominated Rectifiers:

  • Devika Bhagat, Co-Founder, Adventurist Spirits Distillery
  • Sarah Prowse, Head Production Distiller, Four Pillars
  • Cristián Silva, Brand Director & Co-Founder, Gin Provincia
  • Kai Kilpinen, Co-Founder and Master Distiller, The Helsinki Distilling Company
  • Siddharth Girimon, Distiller, NÄO Spirits
  • Abhinav Rajput, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, NÄO Spirits
  • Sarah Burgess, Distiller, The Lakes Distillery
  • Gloria Hallaste, Brand Manager – Crafter’s Gin AS Liviko
  • Charlie Molin, Gin Ambassador and Marketing Director, Spirit of Hven
  • Emma Thornton, Chief Brand Quintessential G&J
  • Rachel Sutherland, Liquid and Innovation Manager, Warner’s Distillery
  • Adam Willmore, Business Unit Manager – Distillery, Alcohols Ltd
  • John Vine, Spirits Buyer, Waitrose (Sponsored by Warner’s Distillery)
  • Salvatore Calabrese, Donovan Bar and others (Sponsored by Fords Gin)
  • Erik Lorincz, Kwānt Bar (Sponsored by Fords Gin)

 

Rectifiers in their own right:

  • James Young, Founder and CEO, Old Young’s
  • Kai Reeves, Managing Director, Cambridge Distillery
  • Anistatia Miller, Director; Mixellany
  • Anicca O’Nions, Co-Founder, Thunderflower Distillery

 

For media or other enquiries please contact Pal Gleed, Director General of The Gin Guild at 020 33 97 87 47.

 

About The Gin Guild

The Gin Guild is a spirit industry member funded body, supported by its members, including the four major gin distilling companies, Bacardi, Diageo, William Grant and Sons and Pernod Ricard, and representing the gin industry as a whole. It aims to promote the distilled gin category across the globe, enhancing its image and widening its appeal to worldwide consumers. It is the natural home of Gin innovation, including new start-ups and craft distillers and craft distilled gin.

The Gin Guild membership is international and includes those from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA.

The Gin Guild brings together gin distillers and industry leaders involved in the production, promotion, distribution and consumption of gin. It promotes and encourages commitment to excellence in gin distillation and industry custodianship of the spirit category. Guild membership stands at over 490, with the members representing, through their respective companies, thousands involved in the gin industry.

The Guild is an industry association. It does not seek to promote any particular branded product or products but aims to bring the widest range of products and their producers and those associated in the wider industry, together in order to provide a valued forum for all those involved in gin production, sales, marketing and distribution.  For more information visit. www.theginguild.com

 

 

Guild Membership

Membership is open to a range of gin industry players. The classes of membership are as follows:

Founder Rectifiers, one person appointed by each of the four founding companies.

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.

Applications for membership of the Guild should be addressed to the Guild Director General, Pal Gleed. For more information, please call 020 33 97 87 47 or email pal.gleed@theginguild.com