Contract Distilling UK & Scotland
Let’s create a spirit you’ll be proud to put your name on.
Award-winning contract distilling
Why choose us for contract distilling in Scotland
Let’s create your next standout spirit — made in small batches, with a hands-on, family-run partner in Clackmannan.
If you want a practical, transparent route to market, we’ll guide you from brief → trials → production. Whether you need bulk (unbottled) spirit supply or a fully finished, bottled private label product, we keep the process clear, the costs upfront, and the quality consistent.
- Small-batch development: recipe creation, refinement, and pilot runs before you scale
- Flexible supply: bulk/unbottled spirit, bottled runs, or full-service production
- Gin + vodka expertise: clean, balanced profiles built to your brief (including custom botanicals)
- Transparent costing: clear breakdowns (including duty considerations) so your margins stay realistic
- Quality & consistency: repeatable specs, documented process, and QC checks
Confidential by default: your recipe, brand, and plans stay protected
Awards & recognition (proof you can click):
Our spirits have earned:
- Bronze Medal — London Spirits Competition 2025,
- Silver Medal — Spirit Masters
- Finalist — The Gin Cooperative Awards 2025 New Gin of the Year, Navy & Flavoured
To date, these are the only three spirit competitions we’ve entered — and every one has resulted in recognition.
In short: if you’re looking for contract distilling UK with a genuine Scottish, small-batch approach — plus the option of bespoke recipe development or white/private label — you’re in the right place.
UK duty & how this affects costs
In the UK, excise duty is a major part of the cost of gin and vodka. That’s why we talk you through the numbers early — so your pricing and margins stay realistic.
How duty is calculated
Duty is charged on Litres of Pure Alcohol (LPA):
- LPA = Bottle size (litres) × ABV (as a decimal)
- Duty per bottle ≈ LPA × the current UK spirits duty rate (per LPA)
20cl @ 40% ABV (example)
- Bottle size: 0.20L
- LPA:
0.20 × 0.40 = 0.08LPA - Duty: ~£2.62 per bottle (illustrative — rate dependent)
70cl @ 40% ABV (example)
- Bottle size: 0.70L
- LPA:
0.70 × 0.40 = 0.28LPA - Duty: ~£9.18 per bottle (illustrative — rate dependent)
Note: Exact duty depends on the current HMRC rate and your final ABV. Duty rates can change — always confirm
the latest rate at the time you price.
current HMRC Duty Rates here.
What we can produce
- London Dry Gin (classic, citrus-led, floral, herbaceous)
- Navy Strength Gin (bolder profile, higher ABV)
- Vodka (clean, smooth, with optional flavour direction)
- Flavoured Vodka (e.g. apple and other fruit-led profiles)
- Other white spirits (talk to us about your brief)
Routes to market - Two ways to launch your own brand spirits
1) White Label (fast track)
Choose from our proven house recipes, then apply your own label and brand. This is the quickest route to market and ideal for first launches.
- Lower development time
- Predictable lead times
- Great for testing the market
2) Bespoke / Custom (build your own)
We develop a spirit around your brief — flavour direction, botanicals, texture, finish — then run trials and lock the recipe before production.
- Recipe development & trials
- Final sign-off sample before bottling
- Best for brands that want something truly unique
Indicative costs (worked example)
Example only: 70cl @ 40% ABV, target sell-through price £40. Final pricing depends on bottle/closure, labels, quantities, and the current HMRC duty rate at time of production.
| Cost driver | What it covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Duty | UK excise duty (LPA-based) | Quoted using the current HMRC rate at the time of production. |
| Spirit + production | Distillation/blending, dilution, filtration, QC | Varies with recipe complexity and yield. |
| Bottle + closure | Glass bottle and cork/screw closure | Large swing factor depending on supplier and finish. |
| Labels | Front/back (and neck if used) | Foils/embossing increase unit cost and lead time. |
| Packing | Case packing / cartons / inserts | Depends on format (6s/12s) and presentation. |
| VAT | Applied where relevant | Shown clearly on your quote (ex/in VAT). |
What’s included
- Production (distillation and/or blending depending on spirit)
- Dilution to bottling strength using quality water
- Filtration and stability checks
- Bottling, closures, labelling and case packing (if required)
- ABV accuracy (we work to a sensible tolerance, typically within guidance)
Minimums & lead times
- Minimum order quantities: These depend on bottle size, packaging format (stock vs bespoke), label finishes, and whether you’re using our standard recipe or a custom development. We’ll confirm the minimum once we’ve reviewed your brief.
- Pilot runs: For recipe development and tasting, we can usually start with a smaller pilot run before moving to a full production batch.
- Lead times: Timelines vary depending on approvals (label/artwork), compliance checks, glass availability, and packaging delivery. If you have a target launch date, tell us early and we’ll plan backwards from it.
- Fastest route: Using our stock bottle options and a straightforward label is typically the quickest way to get to market.
Tip: If you already have a bottle, closure, and label design in mind, share the specs up front — it helps us confirm minimums and timings faster.
Lead times depend heavily on bottle/closure/label supply — we’ll tell you what’s realistic before you commit.
How pricing works
To keep it simple, the main cost drivers are:
- Alcohol & duty (largest variable at 40%+ ABV)
- Bottle + closure (glass, cork/screw, supplier)
- Labels (front/back/neck, foils, finishes)
- Cartons / cases (if used)
- Labour (bottling, labelling, packing)
- Recipe complexity (botanicals, maceration time, yield)
Quality, compliance & traceability
- Batch records and traceability
- Label sense-checks (ABV, volume, required info)
- Consistent cuts and QA checks
Get a quote
Tell us what you’re making and we’ll come back with a clear, itemised outline.
- Spirit: Gin / Vodka / Other
- Target ABV: 40% / 43% / 57% (or your target)
- Bottle size: 70cl / 50cl / 20cl / Other
- Supply type: Bulk / Bottled & sealed / Corked / Fully finished
- Quantity: (pilot + full run)
- Target launch date (approx.): [Month, Year]
Include any hard deadlines (events, retail launches, press dates).
What does recipe development include?
We take your idea (or build one from scratch) and develop the liquid through botanical selection, balance, mouthfeel, aroma, and finish. Once you approve the direction, we lock in a repeatable production spec so the spirit stays consistent batch to batch.
Can you develop a gin recipe from a flavour brief?
Yes. Tell us the style you want (for example: citrus-led, juniper-forward, floral, coastal, or spice-warmed) and we’ll create a recipe that hits your brief while staying distinctly yours.
Do you offer pilot batches before a full run?
Yes — we start with small development batches so you can taste, give feedback, and approve the direction before we scale to production.
Can you refine an existing recipe?
Absolutely. If you already have a recipe, we can refine clarity, balance, texture, and consistency, then document it properly so it can be produced reliably.
Can you create an award-winning spirit through development?
We develop spirits to a competition-ready standard using the same care and process we apply to our own award-recognised spirits. Awards can’t be guaranteed, but we can build a liquid that’s clean, balanced, and distinctive.
What does “competition-ready” actually mean?
Clean distillation, a well-structured flavour profile, tight ABV control, and a consistent, repeatable spec — so the spirit tastes the same bottle after bottle and stands up to judging.
Will the recipe taste the same when scaled up?
Yes. Once approved, we finalise a production spec (botanical weights, timings, cut points, ABV targets, and QA checks) so it scales reliably and stays consistent.
Is recipe development confidential?
Yes — your brief, samples, and final spec are treated as confidential by default, and we can put that in writing.
What are your minimum order quantities (MOQs)?
MOQs depend on whether you’re doing bulk supply, white label, or fully bespoke, plus your bottle/closure/label choices. Share your target quantity and we’ll recommend the best route and confirm the minimum.
Do you help with compliance and label checks?
Yes. We’ll guide you on the usual requirements (ABV, volume, and mandatory info) and flag common issues before print. Final responsibility sits with the brand owner, but we’ll help keep you on the right track.
Can you help with bottling, labels, and packaging?
Yes. We can support bottling and QA, and help you avoid common packaging pitfalls. If you already have suppliers, we can work with your chosen bottle, closure, and label specifications.
Can you supply bottled product as well as bulk?
Yes — we can supply finished bottled spirit ready for sale, or bulk/unbottled supply if you’re bottling elsewhere.
Ready To Launch Your own range of Spirits ?
Tell us what you’re making and we’ll reply within 1–2 working days with next steps, lead time and an initial estimate
