What did you do before establishing The Shropshire Distillery? Before launching the distillery, Gareth worked in the motor vehicle and motorcycling industries, including time as a professional racer, and later as a test rider for a British motorcycle manufacturer. He also worked in chemical engineering. Emma worked for Local Government within the Education Authority and then the NHS, before moving full time into the distillery. What made you decide to create your distillery and gins? We’ve always had a genuine love of gin and enjoyed discovering new bottles — but over time, we realised that not all were as local or crafted as they appeared. That sparked the idea to create something ourselves, rooted in authenticity, honesty and transparency. We were also ready to build a business that offered more creativity, flexibility, and purpose — something we could shape on our own terms, with products we were truly proud of. Can you tell us more about your distillery? The distillery has a modern industrial feel with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It often surprises first-time visitors — people are always commenting on the layout, the vibe, and the attention to detail in the space. It’s a working distillery with everything under one roof: production, a relaxed bar area, and space for our gin school and experiences. It’s designed to be both functional and engaging, and it really comes to life when we open the doors to guests.
Can you tell us more about your distillation process? At The Shropshire Distillery, Jean and Anne, our hardworking copper pot stills, create our spirits using the traditional ‘one shot’ method. This means everything goes into the pot, and what comes out is what we bottle—capturing the essence of our botanicals in every drop. We also have our own Reverse Osmosis system to purify water on-site, which we use to reduce the ABV of our distilled spirits to bottling strength. Our hands-on approach ensures that we’re involved in every step, from skilfully blending botanicals to carefully and slowly distilling, resulting in an honest spirit of the highest quality. Can you tell us more about the botanicals you use? Our gins are crafted using a carefully curated selection of botanicals, sourced from three trusted suppliers to ensure consistency and quality. Our core blend includes juniper, English coriander, orris root, and angelica root, but each gin has its own unique recipe. Some of the botanicals we use across our range include citrus peels, cassia bark, rose petals, cubebs, cardamom pods, soured cherries, pink peppercorns, and American Cascade hops, among others.
What can people expect and experience if they visit the distillery? Visitors can look forward to engaging experiences such as our Gin School, where they can craft their own gin, as well as guided tours and cocktail-making sessions. Our monthly bar nights offer a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy our range of spirits, often accompanied by a local food producer. We also have a retail shop at the distillery, featuring our full range of spirits, plus a refill station for those looking to stock up. At The Shropshire Distillery, honesty and transparency are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring you always know exactly what goes into our products. You'll receive a warm welcome, learn something new, and leave with an unforgettable experience.
What have been the biggest achievements so far? We’ve been honoured with multiple awards recognising the quality of our spirits, including accolades at the IWSC Awards and LSC Awards for our gins. We’ve also been recognised in the industry with titles such as Distillery of the Year and Best Small Business. Our relocation to a larger, more accessible facility in Ellesmere has enabled us to expand our offerings and significantly enhance the visitor experience. Additionally, we’re proud to be rated 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Google, reflecting the positive feedback from our guests. Another major achievement is the success of our Experiences and the growing popularity of our monthly bar nights, which have become a key part of our distillery’s vibrant community.
Which gins would you always have on your gin shelf (other than your own of course!)?
We love exploring craft gins rather than mass-produced options, and we’re always on the lookout for locally produced gins during our travels. Gins like Merywen, based just down the road in Wales, are some of our favourites, as well as Forest Gin, a husband and wife team who started distilling at home—something we can really relate to from our early days. These gins showcase the craftsmanship and unique botanical blends we truly admire What's next for The Shropshire Distillery - any exciting plans? Looking ahead, we're excited to expand our presence at festivals and events, reaching new audiences and sharing our spirits with more people. We also have the flexibility to explore new spirit categories, allowing us to experiment with small batch releases at the distillery. This adaptability means we can offer unique flavours and create limited edition spirits that capture the imagination of our visitors. Rather than just adding to our core range, we have the freedom to try new ideas and see what resonates, ensuring every release feels fresh and exciting. You Might Also Like...
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