National Distillery Day: Happening This Friday, 1st August
National Distillery Day is this Friday, 1st August, and distilleries across the UK will be opening their doors to celebrate authentic craft and the people behind it. This is the perfect opportunity to meet the makers, take a look behind the stills, and experience what it means to be Actually Made In. A Day for Real Craft National Distillery Day is about more than just enjoying a great drink. It’s a day that shines a spotlight on the process, the provenance, and the passion behind every bottle. Distilleries nationwide are inviting the public to come and experience what they do, with free tours, tastings, and special events. What’s Happening This Friday? From gin tastings to live distilling demos, here’s a snapshot of what some verified distilleries are offering: And that’s just a handful of what’s happening across the country. How to Join In Search #NationalDistilleryDay on Instagram to find more distilleries near you that are taking part. Whether you’re looking to learn how your favourite spirit is made or just want to enjoy a drink straight from the source, National Distillery Day is the perfect reason to get out and support real, independent makers.
WHICH CRAFT DISTILLERIES ARE ACTUALLY MAKING THEIR OWN SPIRITS IN WALES?
Here’s 7 distilleries making world-class spirits across the country Wales is home to a distinctly proud community of distilleries. From the rugged edges of Anglesey to the rolling hills of Flintshire and the castle grounds of South Wales, these makers are producing gin, whisky and vodka with clarity, care and real connection to place. Here are 7 verified distilleries Actually Made In Wales, each one producing on-site, independently run, and proud of what it means to make something real. Hensol Castle Distillery – Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan A destination distillery inside a historic castle. Hensol Castle Distillery offers tours, tastings and a full visitor experience. Llanfairpwll Distillery – Anglesey, North West Wales Llanfairpwll Distillery takes its name from the famously long village title, but it’s their gin that deserves the spotlight. Distilled and bottled on the island, their spirits are as distinctive as the location — built around clarity, local identity and a sense of Welsh pride. The Gower Gin Company – Port Eynon, South Wales The Gower Gin Company creates small-batch spirits inspired by the natural beauty of the Gower Peninsula. Their GWYR range reflects the coast’s wild and refreshing character, and everything is made on-site in Port Eynon. Lost Dutchman Spirits – Ruthin, North Wales Founded by two Dutch gin lovers, Lost Dutchman Spirits launched in 2023 with a precision-led approach to distilling and a clear sustainability focus. Their Cask-Aged Gin was named World’s Best Matured Gin at the 2024 World Gin Awards. Wild Moon Distillery – Wrexham, North East Wales Also known as Welsh Witch, Wild Moon brings bold energy to the Welsh craft scene. Their gin is expressive and creative, often inspired by nature and folklore. Clwydian Range Distillery – Flintshire, North East Wales Clwydian Range Distillery produces small-batch spirits shaped by the landscape of the Clwydian Hills. Known for their precision and patience, they’re a great example of what slow craft can look like when done with purpose. Why it matters All of these distilleries are verified as Actually Made In. That means production happens where the name suggests, no third-party bottlers, no smoke and mirrors. Just genuine craft from real places. Whether you’re looking for a distillery to visit, a gin with a story behind it, or a deeper understanding of the Welsh craft scene, this list is the perfect place to start.
3 GIN COCKTAIL RECIPES FROM ACTUALLY MADE IN DISTILLERIES
Craft cocktails deserve craft spirits. When a distillery creates a cocktail using its own gin, it brings out the full potential of the spirit, enhancing its character rather than masking it. Each of the serves below was developed by the same people who distil the spirit itself. Every measurement has been tested, tasted and balanced to suit the flavour profile of their own gin. The result is a cocktail that fits the spirit, and not the other way around. Bergamot Bee’s Knees – Cairngorm Gin This bright, mountain-strength twist on a classic pairs the boldness of Cairngorm’s Mountain Strength Gin with the floral clarity of Italicus. Recipe: Shake with ice, strain into a Nick and Nora glass and garnish with a strip of orange peel. The result is sharp, elegant and perfectly balanced. Breakfast Martini – Three Wrens Gin This take on the Breakfast Martini is built around Three Wrens’ Bloody Apricot Gin. The apricot notes round out the citrus and bring a soft stone fruit edge to this brunch-ready serve. Recipe: Shake hard with ice, fine strain into a cocktail glass and serve straight up. The marmalade ties the drink together with just the right amount of richness. Vulcan Twist – Igneous Gin Made on the Isle of Skye, Igneous Gin has an earthy, mineral profile that stands out in spirit-forward serves. This one combines it with Cocchi Americano and orange for a bold but clean finish. Recipe: Stir over ice and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with a strip of orange peel. Every element is designed to let the gin lead. These cocktails are a reminder of what happens when the people who make the spirit also shape the serve. No outsourcing. No one-size-fits-all templates. Just well-made spirits in well-made drinks. All #ActuallyMadeIn.
5 Spirits You Need to Try: Actually Made In the Scottish Isles 🌍
The Scottish Isles are producing some of the UK’s most distinctive spirits. From small-batch gins to island single malts, each bottle listed here is made on-site by a distillery that does its own distilling, blending and bottling. If you’re exploring what’s being made off the mainland, these five are a great place to start: Misty Isle Vodka – Isle of Skye Distillers A smooth, clean vodka made from local potatoes and distilled entirely on the Isle of Skye. Crisp and well-rounded, it’s a reflection of the island’s character in liquid form. Barra Atlantic Gin – Isle of Barra Distillers This gin is made with locally harvested carrageen seaweed, giving it a mineral edge and a distinctly coastal finish. Clean, bright and balanced. The Hearach Single Malt Whisky – Isle of Harris Distillers The first whisky ever to be released from Harris. Complex, layered and thoughtfully crafted, it captures the island’s sense of place and commitment to quality. The Dràam Single Malt Whisky – Isle of Raasay Distillery Lightly peated and matured in ex-rye casks, this single malt is built for relaxed drinking. It’s smooth, subtle and distinctly Raasay. Stornoway Hebridean Dry Gin – The Lews Distillery Distilled in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, this is a classic dry gin with a clean botanical profile and a fresh, coastal lift. Confident and uncluttered. All five spirits are Actually Made In the Scottish Isles. Nothing outsourced, nothing passed off—just distilleries making their own products from the ground up. #ActuallyMadeIn 🏅
National Distillery Day Returns
National Distillery Day, 1 August 2025 On Friday 1 August 2025, distilleries across the UK will be opening their doors for the second annual National Distillery Day. Created to celebrate the distilleries that make their own spirits, this day invites the public to step inside and see exactly how those spirits are made—from the stills and ingredients, to the teams who bring it all together. Entry is free, and every distillery will take part in their own way. Some will offer tours, others will run tastings, and many will use the day to show the work that goes into making spirits by hand. If you’re curious about craft distilling, this is your chance to go behind the scenes and meet the people who do it every day. Each distillery’s plans will be different, so make sure to follow your favourites on social media for updates in the run-up to the day 🥂 #ActuallyMadeIn #NationalDistilleryDay Current Participating Distilleries: York Gin | The Spirit of Manchester Distillery | Stockport Gin | Cariad Gin | Maidstone Distillery | Naughty Hare Distillery | Sandgrown Spirits | Wharf Distillery | Elsham Wold Distillery | Llanfairpwll Distillery
5 Brand New Spirits from Actually Made In Distilleries 📣
5 Brand New Spirits: Spring/Summmer 2025 Looking to try something new? These five recently launched spirits come from UK distilleries that make their products from start to finish. Each one is verified by Actually Made In and reflects the kind of quality, independence and innovation that comes with making your own. Here’s what to look out for: Wonky Strawberry Gin – Penrhos Spirits Made using surplus strawberries from their family-run farm in Herefordshire, this gin is bright, fruit-forward and rooted in a low-waste approach. A great pick for summer G&Ts. “Made with Arbikie Barley” 2025 – Isle of Raasay Distillers This new single malt uses barley grown on Arbikie’s coastal farm in Angus. Distilled and matured on Raasay, it shows how collaboration can support provenance and traceability across every stage of production. Jester Aged Rum Sherry Expression – Shakespeare Distillery Aged in Oloroso sherry casks and released in a limited run of just 120 bottles, this small-batch rum is soft, rich and layered. Bottled by hand and full of character. Manchester Gin Rhubarb & Elderflower – The Spirit of Manchester Distillery A fresh twist on a proven favourite. Floral, sharp and balanced, this new release is designed with long drinks in mind and fits perfectly into the distillery’s core gin lineup. Exmoor Gold Gin – Wicked Wolf Distillery Created in collaboration with Exmoor Ales, this is a London Dry gin distilled with the award-winning Exmoor Gold beer as a botanical. Malty, dry and unmistakably rooted in the region. All new. All Actually Made In.#ActuallyMadeIn
Actually Made In Distilleries Recognised at The Gin Guide Awards 2025
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5 Spirits You Need to Try: Actually Made In Cornwall
Actually Made In Cornwall Cornwall is home to a number of distilleries producing high-quality spirits on site, using their own stills, recipes and methods. Each of these bottles is verified by Actually Made In. If you’re looking to discover something genuinely local, these five delicious spirits are a great place to start: Seafarer’s Gin – Rosemullion Distillery Distilled near the Helford River, this coastal gin is rich in classic juniper and soft citrus. It’s smooth, balanced and easy to enjoy. Connie Glaze Pink Grapefruit Vodka Liqueur – Tarquin’s of Cornwall A bright, zesty liqueur that brings sharp grapefruit and gentle sweetness together. Made for spritzes and long summer pours. Lantic Gin Summer Foraged – Skylark Distillery This seasonal release is distilled with foraged coastal botanicals. Fresh, wild and unmistakably Cornish. Gun Point Vodka – Padstow Distilling Clean, crisp and cut with Cornish spring water. A vodka made with precision and a focus on purity of flavour. Cornish Dry Gin – Trevethan Distillery A classic London Dry, built on the distillery’s original 1929 recipe. Smooth and versatile, with just the right lift from local botanicals.
Actually Made In: News, Releases & Features
Your source for news, releases and features from distilleries that make their own spirits Actually Made In is a campaign built by distilleries who believe that making your own spirits is something worth shouting about. We believe that when consumers know where their spirits come from, and how they’re made, they’re more likely to support producers who value quality, independence and craft. Founded by The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, Tarquin’s Cornish Gin, Masons of Yorkshire and Brighton Gin, the aim has always been clear: to support and celebrate distilleries that produce their spirits in-house, using their own stills, recipes and hands-on methods. From today, this platform will be the place to follow what’s happening across the Actually Made In community. We’ll be sharing:• New product launches and limited editions• Distillery news, builds and milestones• Collaborations and awards worth knowing about• Stories from the people behind the spirits Most of what we feature will be from distilleries across the UK. You’ll also find updates from a number of international producers who meet the same standards of transparency and hands-on production. Whether you’re in the industry, trade or just enjoy knowing what you’re drinking, this is where to find the latest from the producers who are doing things properly. If it’s verified, you’ll find it here.#ActuallyMadeIn