5 Market Buildings, Maidstone, ME14 1HP,UK
Maidstone Distillery Exclusive Gorgeous Gins
ABOUT
Our Spirits
We are honest, inspired by our past and determined to contribute to over 235 years of Maidstone’s important distilling heritage in a positive way. We want to create spirits which inspire, which resonate with the world today, speak of our past, our surroundings and of our vibrant future. We want you to be proud of this Distillery.
Pride In Our Spirit Since 1785
OUR VISION
Bringing Dreams To Life
We have lovingly restored our distillery in the heart of our town. Set in a beautiful building where our visitors can learn about our rich legacy, we have created a place where people can see our spirits being made first hand and experience the art of distilling in a fun and exciting way.
We have dreamt of this place – a place where people can relax and enjoy a drink in modern surroundings, while still engaging with the rich history of the building and our past. We have a great team behind us, award-winning products, plenty of innovative, fresh ideas and lots of ambition. Here’s to the future!
OUR PROMISE TO YOU…
COMMUNITY
& IDENTITY
We are determined to do our part in re-establishing a sense of identity for Maidstone, and to embrace and nurture the people who support our cause. We treasure your participation and we will support your engagement and make sure you stay connected with our story.
QUALITY PRODUCTS
We continuously strive to be masters of our craft, embracing both traditional techniques and innovation. We use botanicals from the local area, reclaimed recipes from the past as well as exotic ingredients from around the world. We create remarkable products which are distinct and unforgettable.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
We create unique, interactive and engaging experiences for our customers. We want you to experience our passion, the love of our craft and the sheer adventure we enjoy creating remarkable spirits. We will always put you, our customer, at the heart of all decisions we make as a business.
OUR
History & Legacy
Provenance of our past plays a pivotal role in inspiring our future. Maidstone has a rich a vibrant legacy of spirit making that has played out on a national stage. It inspires us every day. We want you to step inside our world and to also be inspired and enriched by the modern interpretation of this great legacy.
THE TEAM
Who We Are
DARREN
FOUNDER & HEAD DISTILLER
The quiet adventurer putting down roots in his home town. Not prepared to daydream any more, he wanted to create a Distillery that the community feels proud of and part of. A lover of all spirits he has one eye on the future and the other exciting spirits we have to offer.
SAM
FOUNDER & TRADE SALES MANAGER
Adding the artistic flair, the balance and calm. With a nose for good flavour and a sense of fun, she can be found planning the many of our upcoming events. A gin lover at heart she has been key in developing the subtle flavours of our contemporary gin.
LUCIE
MARKETING MANAGER
A customer turned team-member, Lucie is passionate about telling the stories of Maidstone’s history through our products. Often found singing along to the radio whilst researching more stories to tell, Lucie is also an enthusiastic trainee mixologist at our Bishop’s Bar.
BREN
DISTILLERY ASSISTANT
Focused and meticulous, Bren almost single-handedly labels every single bottle of our spirits. When he isn’t working on the production line, Bren is a skilled mixologist, creating beautiful serves every Saturday.
SANDRA
FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER
Quiet, calm and considered, Sandra steers the Front Of House ship with aplomb. She has hand-picked our selection of beers, wines and nibbles and Bishop’s Bar, and takes great pride in delivering the best experience for everyone who walks through our door.
GERARD
CONSULTANT & MASTER DISTILLER
A recognised gin specialist and botanical expert, Gerard brings 10 years’ experience as a Master Distiller and has designed some of the most successful spirits decorating shelves today. Gerard consulted on the development of our first three spirits.
ALEX
ASSISTANT FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER
Energetic and enthusiastic, Alex is a ray of sunshine in the Distillery. A keen distiller-in-training, Alex is often found assisting Darren in our production. When not sporting her production-hairnet, Alex enjoys running our excellent experiences.
LIMITED EDITION FIRST BATCH GEORGE BISHOP GIN
£50.00
A unique offering. Own one of the first 1,000 bottles of George Bishop London Dry Gin to be distilled at the Maidstone Distillery.
This limited edition bottle is lovingly presented in our attractive eco gift wrap, alongside a hand-finished Certificate of Authenticity signed by our head distiller. Each bottle is finished by hand, with handwritten batch and bottle number.
A fitting tribute to our Founding Father, George Bishop, who installed the first Maidstone Distillery in the County Town in 1785. This award-winning, modern interpretation of the classic London Dry style is bold and complex.
Traditionally crafted and distinctly smooth, George Bishop London Dry Gin is a perfect balance of 15 distinct botanicals. Warm Mediterranean orange and lemon combined with exotic spice. Sweet citrus notes from coriander and soothing chamomile are balanced with tellicherry pepper, cinnamon bark and ground almond.
- Great Taste Award Winner
- Gold Award in the London Spirit Competition
- Winner of a Silver Award from the International Wine and Spirits Competition
- Kent Spirit of the Year
DELUXE GIN GIFT HAMPER
£65.00 – £68.00
Our Deluxe Gin Gift Hampers are the perfect way to experience our award-winning craft gins. This beautiful hamper contains everything you’ll need to create our signature G&T serves and includes a 70cl bottle of either George Bishop, Ranscombe Wild or Kipsi Rosé Gins, two gorgeous Vintage Gin Goblets and Engraved Copper Jigger – all presented in an attractive Eco Gift Box.
GEORGE BISHOP LONDON DRY GIN
A fitting tribute to our Founding Father, George Bishop, who installed the first Maidstone Distillery in the County Town in 1785. This award-winning, modern interpretation of the classic London Dry style is bold and complex.
Traditionally crafted and distinctly smooth, George Bishop London Dry Gin is a perfect balance of 15 distinct botanicals. Warm Mediterranean orange and lemon combined with exotic spice. Sweet citrus notes from coriander and soothing chamomile are balanced with tellicherry pepper, cinnamon bark and ground almond. Each bottle is finished by hand, with handwritten batch and bottle number.
George Bishop London Dry Gin Essence
LOW ON ALCOHOL, FULL ON FLAVOUR
George Bishop London Dry Gin Essence is a botanically enhanced expression of our multi-award-winning George Bishop London Dry Gin.
Traditionally distilled with over ten times the botanical concentration of our signature London Dry Gin, just 5ml of George Bishop Gin Essence is required to provide the same bold flavour as 50ml of our regular spirit. What’s more, our recommended serve contains less than 1.2% ABV and only 45 calories!
Each 100ml bottle of Essence contains enough spirit to create twenty full flavoured gin and tonics.
AWARDS
“An invigorating and complex spirit with a coriander dominant character. The palate is bright with supporting notes of juniper, angelica and citrus, all which linger on the finish. Well-blended and bracing.”
2022 International Wine and Spirit Competition Judges
OUR RECOMMENDED SERVE:
Adding just one 5ml capful of Essence to 200ml of Tonic Water, garnished with orange, creates a low alcohol and lower calorie serve that is uncompromising on flavour. Our recommended serve contains less than 1.2% ABV, only 45 calories and each 100ml bottle of Essence can create twenty full flavoured gin and tonics!
Tasting Notes
Nose
JUNIPER, HINTS OF CINNAMON AND ORANGE.
Taste
BOLD, POLISHED SPIRIT. WOODY AND SWEET. FRESH WITH CITRUS, WITH HINTS OF VANILLA.
Finish
A DISTINCTLY SMOOTH FINISH AND WARMING SENSATION, LEAVING BEHIND DELICATE FLORAL SWEETNESS AND CITRUS.
CASTLE FARM SMALL BATCH LAVENDER GIN
We were delighted when Castle Farm approached us to design a bespoke gin to showcase their famous lavender. We are proud to distil Castle Farm’s bespoke Small Batch Lavender Gin, a beautifully floral and soft gin, distilled with Kentish hedgerow botanicals and of course, the flavour of Castle Farm’s own Lavender.
“This was our absolute BEST SELLER in the summer (we sold out three times!)” – Castle Farm
Playful floral notes combine delicate perfumed lavender and meadow flowers, balanced with earthy herbal tones of wild marjoram, poppy seed and bay. A smooth long finish evokes pleasant soft lavender and evergreen forests.
Castle Farm Small Batch Lavender Gin is best served with premium tonic water, garnished with a sprig of lavender or rosemary.
Available in 5cl, 20cl, and 70cl bottles, Castle Farm Small Batch Lavender Gin can be purchased exclusively through Castle Farm’s website; follow the link to be taken straight through to the correct page.
KIPSI ROSÉ GIN
King Henry VIII was so impressed by the fruits of Kent, that he named it “The Garden of England”. These delicious soft fruits were harvested in wicker baskets known locally as a “Kipsi”. Kipsi Rosé Gin is distilled with fruity botanicals and aged in ex-Bourbon oak casks to add sweet vanilla, creamy and delicate spice notes. Blended with Kentish Morellos, Dark Cherries, Strawberries and Raspberries to create a wonderfully sophisticated rosé gin.
Kipsi Rosé Gin is best served with premium tonic water, garnished with soft fruits.
RANSCOMBE WILD SMALL BATCH GIN
Ranscombe Wild was carefully designed to reflect the spontaneity of Nature itself.
Foraging excursions to Ranscombe Farm play an exciting role as the distinctive local flora of the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty shine in this unique, zesty and herbaceous contemporary gin. A burst of playful floral notes on the nose are deceptive, as that first sip descends into dark pine forest notes, the juniper is warmed with exotic tangerine and jasmine. A tang of citrus bites, backed by herby notes of bay, lavender and then that first sweet explosion of fresh mint and meadow flowers tantalise the mouth. Impossible to restrict to just one Martini, robust enough for the perfect G&T.
Proudly supporting Plantlife – Speaking up for Wild Plants. We donate over 2.5% from the sales of Ranscombe Wild to support their important conservation work. You can learn more about our sustainability pledges here.
Creating Ranscombe Wild Small Batch Gin
As passionate advocates for sustainability and protecting our environment, we wanted to create a spirit that captures the heart of the British countryside and celebrates our natural landscape.
Working with our charity partner, Plantlife, we identified a wide variety of distinctive and delicious wild botanicals that can be sustainably hand-foraged from their flagship nature reserve at Ranscombe Farm in Kent. These plants adorn our labels on Ranscombe Wild Small Batch Gin, lovingly hand-drawn by our co-founder Sam.
Sweet beech leaves, floral red clover and perfumed jasmine are balanced by the herby wild marjoram. A refreshing kick from zesty corn-mint brings a liveliness to this playful and bright gin, transporting you to summer meadows.
Each year, we invite our local community to join us in foraging the wild plants that make Ranscombe Wild Gin and to learn about Plantlife’s work at the Reserve. In 2023, we were joined by more people than ever before. We foraged for our wild botanicals, before enjoying a refreshing Ranscombe Wild Gin and Tonic in the sunshine! We can’t wait for this year’s Annual Community Foraging Event; we hope to tell you more about how you can get involved in the next few months.
Proudly supporting Plantlife – Speaking up for Wild Plants. We donate over 2.5% from the sales of Ranscombe Wild to support their important conservation work. You can learn more about our sustainability pledges here.
Tasting Notes
Nose
PLAYFUL FLORAL NOTES THAT DESECEND INTO DARK PINE FOREST.
Taste
JUNIPER WARMED WITH EXOTIC TANGERINE AND JASMINE, BACKED BY HERBY NOTES OF BAY AND LAVENDER WITH AN EXPLOSION OF FRESH MINT AND MEADOW FLOWERS.
Finish
SMOOTH LONG FINISH OF SPICE, PEPPER AND SWEETNESS.
AWARDS
EXPERIENCES
COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS & CANAPÉS
From: £40.00
- 2 HOUR SESSION OF SPIRITED FUN
- THREE PREMIUM COCKTAILS TO ENJOY
- SET IN THE HEART OF OUR ACTIVE DISTILLERY
- ONLY 50 MINUTES FROM CENTRAL LONDON
Come and discover TripAdvisor’s number 1 Thing To Do In Maidstone at our multi-award-winning Visitor Centre. Our Distillery won the Silver Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Beautiful South Tourism Awards and is consistently rated 5 stars on both TripAdvisor and Google Reviews and we can’t wait to share our passion for craft-distilling with you.
We invite you to join us here at the distillery for a hands-on Cocktail Masterclass evening with Canapés. Get to grips with the art of mixology and learn how to create three delightful classic cocktail serves using our award-winning spirits. Shake, muddle and stir your way to becoming a master of mixology at this immersive Distillery experience. With the lights dimmed and a selection of wonderful Canapés from Frederic’s Bistro on offer, Maidstone Distillery is the perfect setting for an evening of spirited fun!
For bespoke bookings and corporate events, please click here.
Please note: We are pleased to offer non-alcoholic alternatives for guests who wish to not consume alcohol. Guests making mocktails will enjoy learning how to craft three non-alcoholic drinks with a variety of mixology techniques. Please notify us using the order notes / message field during checkout if you would prefer to make non-alcoholic cocktails.
If you have any allergies or special dietary requirements, please notify us using the order notes / message field during checkout so that we can ensure your canapés are suitable.
GUIDED GIN MAKING EXPERIENCE
From: £105.00
- 2.5 HOUR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
- DRINKS INCLUDED
- INCLUDES A 70CL BOTTLE OF BESPOKE GIN
- ONLY 50 MINUTES FROM CENTRAL LONDON
Come and discover TripAdvisor’s number 1 Thing To Do In Maidstone at our multi-award-winning Visitor Centre. Our Distillery won the Silver Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Beautiful South Tourism Awards and is consistently rated 5 stars on both TripAdvisor and Google Reviews and we can’t wait to share our passion for craft-distilling with you.
Join us for a hands-on session of spirited fun, as we guide you through the craft of distilling and assist you in creating your very own bottle of fine spirit.
We will warmly welcome you into the distillery with a drink at our bar, before we take you through to our experience room where you will learn the art of distillation on your personal mini copper pot still. Here we delve into the fascinating craft, and learn about the processes we use to create our fine artisan spirits. You will get to use our beautiful miniature stills and, over the course of two hours, design and create your very own 70cl bottle of spirit to take home with you. Choose from over 60 exotic botanicals and perfect a recipe to your own personal taste.
For bespoke bookings and corporate events, please click here.
Guests must be 18+ and due to the nature of this experience, we are unable to admit children. You may postpone or reschedule your booking no later than 10 working days before the date of the event. We reserve the right to make amendments to your booking and may ask you to change to an adjacent time slot if necessary.
DISTILLERY TOUR & TASTING
From: £25.00
- 90 MINUTE FULL ACCESS TOUR OF OUR MODERN FACILITY
- EXPLORE THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF GIN
- DRINKS INCLUDED THROUGHOUT
- MULTI-AWARD-WINNING VISITOR CENTRE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
- ONLY 50 MINUTES FROM CENTRAL LONDON
Come and discover TripAdvisor’s number 1 Thing To Do In Maidstone at our multi-award-winning Visitor Centre. Our Distillery won the Silver Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Beautiful South Tourism Awards and is consistently rated 5 stars on both TripAdvisor and Google Reviews and we can’t wait to share our passion for craft-distilling with you.
Situated in the historic market buildings of Maidstone town centre, our beautiful still and equipment sit at the heart of our distillery, nestled beneath grand arches dating back to the 1800’s. Guests are warmly welcomed with a double George Bishop gin and tonic at our bar before being guided through to our experience room to start the tour.
Here we delve into the fascinating story of distilling right here in the county town of Kent that spans over 200 years, and demonstrate the processes we use to create our fine hand crafted spirits today. Enjoy a mini-cocktail as you see our beautiful still and equipment up close, exploring behind-the-scenes in our state-of-the-art production facility. Finally, explore three of our award-winning spirits in a tutored tasting as we share the stories that inspired our spirits.
You are then welcomed into Bishop’s Bar, where you can enjoy our luxury cocktail menu, local beers, select wines and assorted non-alcoholic drinks, as well as our selection of delicious nibbles.
For bespoke bookings and corporate events, please click here.
Guests must be 18+ and due to the nature of this experience, we are unable to admit children. You may postpone or reschedule your booking no later than 10 working days before the date of the event; a rebooking fee will incur if you need to reschedule your Experience within 10 working days of the date of your event. We reserve the right to make amendments to your booking and may ask you to change to an adjacent time slot if necessary.
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