Originally published in 2016. Retained as part of our early distillery archives.
In 2011 we began producing our own apple brandy (Aeppel Drenc), and by 2014 we had acquired our first still — Velocity — which allowed us to expand into malt spirit. By 2016, it felt like the right moment to push further, increase our capacity, and create a dedicated brand for our growing range of artisanal spirits and liqueurs. To make that leap, we turned to crowdfunding.
Crowdfunding had already become a powerful tool for start‑ups and established brands alike. The idea is simple: individuals, groups, or companies pledge money to a project in exchange for a reward — anything from a thank‑you to a bottle to a share in the business. Beyond raising funds, it creates a direct connection with supporters, giving them a genuine sense of involvement in something new and exciting.
At Virtual Orchard, our journey into spirits began with apple brandy, made exclusively from locally grown apples. In 2015 we collaborated with two local breweries — Concrete Cow Brewery and Silverstone Brewing Company — to produce malt spirit (an unaged whisky) using their own unique malted barley. The success of these small‑batch spirits, made in our copper pot still, encouraged us to broaden the range even further.
By early 2016 we had several new spirits and liqueurs in development: orange chocolate liqueur, dark rum, vodka, limoncello, and a series of fruit liqueurs including plum and apricot. Milton Keynes’ first whisky was already maturing and scheduled for release as a limited edition of 100 bottles in December 2018.
Although Virtual Orchard’s roots were firmly in cider, we knew we needed a new identity under which to bring these spirits to life. We chose the name Wharf Distillery, reflecting both our heritage and our location at Galleon Wharf — an historic site beside the Grand Union Canal in Old Wolverton. Work on the new website was about to begin, and the crowdfunding project was our way of inviting people to join us at the very start of this new chapter.
This was the moment that helped put Milton Keynes' — and Buckinghamshire’s first distillery — firmly on the map. It marked the transition from a cider‑led business to a fully fledged craft distillery with ambition, curiosity, and a growing portfolio of spirits.
This post captures a moment from our early journey. Today, Wharf Distillery continues to grow, innovate, and produce small‑batch spirits with the same independent spirit that shaped our beginnings.
