Distillery Blog | Whisky, Gin & Craft Spirits Insights

Insights from the Still Room

News, stories and practical wisdom from more than a decade of independent distilling.

We’ve never kept a formal diary, but over the years we’ve shared the odd rambling, update and bit of practical guidance. This blog brings those pieces together: notes and reflections shaped by more than a decade of independent distilling and over three decades in the craft drinks industry.

BEHIND THE SCENES

NEWS

KNOWLEDGE

Wharf Whisky: the way we work, the spirit we make

April 15, 2026

People often ask me what makes our whisky different. The truth is, there’s no great secret. No clever trick. No marketing angle. It’s just the way we work: the same...

The Whisky Imposter

October 28, 2018

YOU WON'T FIND US ON ANY WHISKY MAP, and that’s always suited us fine. From our early days making apple brandy to the moment we decided — perhaps foolishly, perhaps...

The Threat to Traditional Cider and the 35% Juice Conundrum

November 26, 2017

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, announced in the budget a new tax on ‘white cider’ over 7%, to create a new duty band for cider between 7 and 7.5%. So what...

The Writing on the Wall

November 14, 2017

Like a revered piece of Banksy grafitti, the writing had been on the wall for a couple of years and was beginning to fade, so it was inevitable that we would...

Still Time to Expand

March 24, 2016

In 2011 we began producing our own apple brandy, and by 2014 we had acquired our first still — Velocity — which allowed us to expand into malt spirit. By...

Historic Site Under Threat from Development

February 3, 2016

Change looked likely for us in early 2016 as our landlords began exploring redevelopment plans for the historic Galleon Wharf site — the place that had been our home, our...

Groundrush

August 21, 2013

There’s always a long list. On that list are all the jobs that need doing now; all the jobs that need doing soon; and all the things I’d really like...

8 Months in 8 Minutes

March 23, 2013

I’ll admit it: I’m probably not the world’s best blogger. I actually enjoy writing these posts, but time always seems to get the better of me. What felt like a...

Virtual Orchard Goes Large

July 27, 2012

First of all, apologies for the long silence since the last harvest. Poor form, I know — but a lot has happened, and I’ve been more than a little pre‑occupied....

Hot Off the Press

September 5, 2011

What a great start to the season. Three quarters of a tonne of hand-picked apples from nine different orchards and, 6 hours later, 500 litres of glorious juice. Everything didn’t...

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Contract Distilling Partner

March 15, 2022

If you’re exploring contract distilling for the first time, the process can feel opaque. Every distillery promises quality, flexibility, and expertise — but the reality varies wildly. These five tips...

8 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN STARTING YOUR OWN SPIRITS BRAND: PART 1 - DO I NEED TO BE A LIMITED COMPANY?

January 31, 2019

DO I NEED TO BE A LIMITED COMPANY? We work with clients in every form: private individuals, sole traders, partnerships, charities, community groups, and limited companies. You don’t need to...

Gintroducing…. Safine Drenc!

February 27, 2018

It was never going to happen. We never planned to do it. In fact, it wasn't even on the list of things to do. So why, you may ask, are...

That First Real Taste

June 26, 2011

It’s always a worry. You put it off as long as you can, as if the delay will make everything taste that much better. Of course, it may not taste...