Turncoat Distillery to permanently close

English spirits producer Turncoat will close for good this December after six years of operation.

In an announcement on Facebook, founding director Terry Langton said the distillery would run its final distillation this month. The Turncoat bars are now closed.

Turncoat is located in Liverpool, England. It started in a garage and grew to employ more than 40 people with almost £1 million (US$1.2m) annual turnover.

Langton’s statement said: “It’s been a rollercoaster since we started and a privilege to have the best customers, both bars and loyal fans.

“Personally I won’t be returning to craft production after 12 years in the sector, I’m off to grow up and get a proper job. Sadly I don’t think the country treats small business and entrepreneurs very well.”

Turncoat produced a range of spirits, including Our Man in Sicily, a Sicilian lemon gin. Its portfolio also included a 60% ABV navy-strength gin, and Albert Dock Gin, at 40% ABV.

Earlier this month, California-based vodka brand Hangar 1 announced it would close its distillery this month (December). It will continue to be made at the brand’s partner distillery in the Bay Area.

Meanwhile in November, English producer Burleighs Gin temporarily shut its distillery before it was put up for sale.