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Renais Gin raises £4.95m investment

Emma Watson’s Renais Gin has raised £4.95 million (US$6.18m) to support further international expansion and its continued growth in the US.

Renais Gin
Renais is made from leftover pressed grapes from the Watson family’s wine estate in France

Launched in May 2023 by siblings Emma and Alex Watson, Renais currently has a presence in 11 countries, including the UK, Italy, Germany and Australia, with distribution agreed in 22 markets.

In the UK, the brand gained more than 100 listings in less than 10 months, including at Selfridges, Soho House, The Savoy, Scarfes Bar, and Gaucho.

In July, Renais became available direct-to-consumer across 40 US states and in selected California retailers. It also released a limited edition sleeve exclusive to the US.

Its latest fundraise will enable the brand to focus on distribution to new US states and create fresh marketing campaigns.

Upcoming international launches in 2025 include France, Spain, Dubai and Canada.

Alex Watson, CEO and co-founder of Renais Gin, said: “It’s been an exciting year for Renais and this new raise is a key milestone in the brand’s growth. The raise will support expansion in the US off the back of our successful California and New York launch, as well as our continued focus on content and community engagement.

“As consumers’ preference for premiumisation and a desire to drink less but better continues to grow, we are in a unique position in the gin category to capture their attention and tell our story of heritage, craftsmanship and provenance.

“I am also excited to have some of the foremost drinks experts on board as investors – their experience will be invaluable to Renais to reach its full potential.”

Investors include strategic drinks industry experts, such as US-based InvestBev and Jean-Sebastien Robicquet of Maison Villevert.

Brian Rosen, general partner at InvestBev, said: “We are thrilled to support Renais Gin in its journey to become a globally recognised brand. The premium gin category continues to demonstrate remarkable potential, and Renais Gin’s quality and sustainability credentials align perfectly with our strategic investment focus. We believe our capital – coupled with our deep industry expertise and network – will amplify Renais Gin’s ability to reach new consumers and markets.”

Renais has also bolstered its board with ex-Laithwaites Group CFO Jimmy Weir, who will join other drinks industry veterans including ex-Diageo European chief Andrew Morgan, and Alex Staartjes, former global marketing director at Pernod Ricard.

Renais is made from leftover pressed grapes from the family’s wine estate. The gin is sustainably distilled and married with all-natural native botanicals, including juniper, Grand Cru grapes, cubeb berries, Kimmeridgian stone, acacia honey, linden flower, lemon peel, lime, angelica root, rock salt, and coriander seed.

In addition to minimising waste using recycled grape skins, Renais has a solar-powered distillery and its gin is certified carbon-neutral. The bottle comes in 100% compostable packaging made with mycelium by the Magical Mushroom Company.

To learn more about Renais, listen to the eighth episode of The Spirits Business Podcast with Alex Watson.

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