Small-batch gin brand made at a partner distillery
Create your own gin recipe and brand, made on an existing distillery's still, and sell it locally and online.
- £6k-25k
- Side hustle
- Online
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
701 active UK companies have “gin” in their name, 17% registered since 2024
Name search “company names containing “gin””. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You develop your own gin recipe and brand, then have it made in small batches at an established distillery that offers contract production or hire of still time. You focus on recipe, branding, bottling and selling, without buying your own still.
Your first three steps
- Contact several small distilleries to compare minimum batch sizes, costs and whether they let you join the distilling
- Trial two or three recipes in small test batches and gather feedback from friends and local stockists
- Get a bottle, label and brand name designed, then check the name and legal labelling details before printing
Who pays
Local shops and delis, pubs and bars, gift buyers, event and wedding customers, and online shoppers.
How it makes money
Selling bottles at markets and online, wholesale to independent shops and venues, and gift sets or seasonal editions.
Skills that help
- Taste and recipe development
- Branding and design sense
- Selling and social media
- Organising production runs and stock
Watch out for
- Check who holds the duty and licensing responsibilities in your arrangement, as this depends on the contract and HMRC rules
- Selling to other businesses may need registration under HMRC's Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme, so check
- Selling at markets or events may need a licence or a licensed organiser, and online sales have age-check rules, so check with your council
- Labelling and strength rules apply, so check with Trading Standards
- Check your trade mark and name before investing in branding
- Minimum batch sizes tie up cash in stock before you have sold it
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: small-batch gin brand made at a partner distillery
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
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