The judges said, “We were impressed with how Shakespeare Distillery has addressed sustainability in every aspect of its business. Across the board, from their manufacturing processes, supply chain and distribution right through to their customer experience and even their garden, the company has focussed on sustainability. Taking all this into account, together with their commitment to undertake research into reducing the environmental footprint of their glass bottles, Shakespeare Distillery is a very worthy winner of Best Green Business 2024”.
Peter Monks, Director at Shakespeare Distillery said “We are absolutely delighted to have won Best Green Business for the third year running. It was always our plan from the outset to minimise our impact on the environment, such as our choice of energy efficient stills to produce our spirits and following COP26 in Glasgow, we decided to formalise our strategy to reduce our emissions. An initial Carbon Footprint Assessment in 2022 identified key areas to focus on, resulting in a 30% reduction in equivalent CO2 emissions year on year. We continue to make changes this year which will see a further reduction in this and future years, for example reducing the weight of glass in our bottles. Winning this award is testament to how hard the entire team works all year round with an environmental focus throughout our production and visitor experiences we offer. Everyone is proud to be recognised for playing our small part in minimising our environmental impact in Stratford”.
Andy Veale, editor of the Stratford Herald, said “Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s awards and huge congratulations to all our winners and finalists. We have an amazing business community across the Stratford district. We love hearing the stories behind these firms and charities and finding out about the people who make them tick. We look forward to hosting the awards again in 2025.”
Shakespeare Distillery, which was founded in 2015 by Simon Picken and Peter Monks, is Stratford-upon-Avon's only working distillery and produces a series of sprits including their signature Stratford Gin, Jester Rums, and distillery specials. But the experience doesn't end there, Shakespeare Distillery offers daily Tours, Cocktail Masterclasses, and River Avon Gin
Tasting Cruises, ensuring there's something to delight every discerning spirit enthusiast. With their latest addition of a shop, Tasting Rooms, and Rum School nestled in the historic 1 High Street – once the residence of Judith, William Shakespeare’s daughter, and her husband, Thomas Quiney – visitors can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Shakespearean history while savouring the finest spirits the town has to offer.
Shakespeare Distillery is no stranger to receiving accolades, in 2020, 2022 & 2024 the company won gold twice and silver in the West Midlands Tourism Awards for their destination distillery experiences. A TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award winner, they were also voted as ‘Stratford’s Top Attraction’ in the Herald Business & Tourism Awards in 2023 and 2022 and named by the Spirits Business magazine in the top 10 UK gin distillery experiences in 2023.
For more information about Shakespeare Distillery please visit http://www.shakespearedistillery.com/
