Gin Guild welcomes 24 new global members

The UK’s Gin Guild has welcomed an additional 24 new members from across the industry, bringing its total membership to over 100.

At its biannual inauguration, held at Mansion House in London, the 24 new members, who hail from across the world, swore an oath to protect and promote quality gin production.

Members of the Gin Guild include distillers, marketing directors, bartenders, brand managers, writers and journalists.

Nicholas Cook, director general of the Gin Guild, said: “The Guild is the natural home of gin innovation, including new start-ups, craft distillers and craft distilled gin, and it was a great pleasure to welcome our new members.

“These came from large companies, craft distillers and others in the trade, including those from the UK, as well as America, Japan and Russia, joining our existing UK and international members. Gin is enjoyed world-wide and the Guild is reaching out internationally.”

In addition to the inauguration, the Gin Guild bestowed its first Lifetime Achievement Award on Thames Distillers owner, Charles Maxwell, for his “dedication to the production and promotion of the highest-quality gin”.

The 24 new members of the Gin Guild are:
J C Iglesias, global marketing director, gins, Chivas Brothers
Duncan McRae, William Grant & Sons
Martin Riley, group chief marketing officer, Pernod Ricard
Bob Rishworth, former chairman, Halewood International
Ibolya Bakos-Tonner, Inver House Distillery, Caorunn
Andrew Adamson, Inver House Distillery
Vince Wilkins, Spirit of the Lakes
Francisco Lola, Spain brand ambassador, Beefeater
Nick Van Tiel, Pernod Ricard
Hisashi Kishi, president of Japan’s Nippon Bartenders Association
Ilia Astafev, co-owner of Gin Tonic cocktail bar, St Petersburg
Evgeny Gorbunov, co-owner of Gin Tonic cocktail bar, St Petersburg
Steven Evans, Plymouth Gin
Enrique Candela, duty free consultant, Heathrow Airport
Natalie Mary Wallis, Alcohols Limited and The Langley Distillery
Jamie Walker, EWG/G’Vine
Dr Elizabeth Anne Brock, Bermondsey Distillery/Jensen’s
Gordon Barker, Spirit of the Lakes
Daniel Szor, founder and owner of Cotswold Distilling Company Ltd
Alexander Wolpert, founder of East London Liquor Company
John O’Dowd, Liverpool Gin
D T Smith, gin specialist and spirits writer
Michael Houghton, Beacon Commodities
Tommy Houghton, Beacon Commodities