I Wanted To Build A Legacy
The story of how Henstone came to be — and where we're heading next.
After more than 40 years working in telecoms and IT, I saw an opportunity to build a legacy....so I took it. I wanted to create something tangible, something people could visit, enjoy and remember. That opportunity I saw in 2016 became Henstone Distillery.
Our 1,000-litre still, Hilda, being commissioned in November 2017
What began as an ambitious and perhaps rather whacky idea has grown into a true family business. Our son, Henry, now serves as Sales Manager and Director, while one of our daughters, Flo, is an important part of the distillery production team. Together we've turned Henstone into what it is today.
From the beginning, quality has always come before quantity. We have never tried to be the biggest distillery, only the best we can be.
Like many businesses, the journey hasn't always been straightforward. There have been challenges, setbacks and plenty of lessons learned along the way. But there have also been some wonderful moments and achievements that we could never have imagined when we first started.
I am incredibly proud of what we have built and, along the way, we've been fortunate to receive some wonderful recognition for our spirits. Most recently, being recognised by The Gin Guide as the “most awarded distillery to date”, followed by our Ex-Bourbon Cask Aged Single Malt Whisky being awarded a star in the 2026 Great Taste Awards, really was the icing on the cake.
Following the business restructure in 2023, we moved to our new home in 2024. Our small team not only designed and supported the build of our distillery BUT dismantled, moved and re-built our stills, transported all our whisky stock AND had our new facility up and running from scratch within six months!!
Henry (left) overseeing parts of Hilda being prepared for transport to her new home in April 2024
We have continued to develop and release new products and have another two whiskies planned for release before the end of this year! One of the biggest surprises along the way has been the success of our gins — particularly as they weren't even in my original business plan!! That story is for another day.
None of this would have happened without some very important people, so I'd like to thank the following for supporting me and my whacky idea:
- My wife Alexandra for putting up with me thinking Henstone 24 hours a day. She is also responsible for producing the artwork on our labels (she painted the chicken on the front label and the image of our still on the back label).
- Our son Henry for believing in Henstone so much that he packed in his previous career with JCB to join me. He’s my rock and sounding board.
- Our daughter Flo for joining me and taking on the distilling and production responsibilities. She has also been a godsend in taking over the HMRC stuff as I have a real aversion to form filling!
- Dave, who joined us in April 2024 and now does most of the distilling, bottling and wash production. He’s also the master at giving distillery tours and has received amazing feedback.
- Mike and Rhi Harris for believing in the idea of Henstone and supporting us so much since mid-2023, as well as providing the wonderful farm location we now call home.
Alexandra's original chicken painting, digitised for the Henstone brand
The team – from left to right, Flo, me, Henry and Dave
As for the future, we're certainly not finished yet.
We have some pretty ambitious plans. The first is a second distillery, in another country. I think we've mentioned this before, but the idea of having a distillery in England and another in Wales, on the same site, is enormously appealing to us — and, we hope, to our customers too.
The second is to construct our own purpose-built English whisky distillery.
They're serious ambitions, but then Henstone started with a rather whacky idea too.
I started Henstone because I wanted to build a legacy. Ten years on, I think we're well on our way — although there's still plenty more I want us to achieve.
And I'd better get a move on — I reach the ripe old age of 70 this December!
Finally, thank you to everyone who has bought a bottle, a cask, visited the distillery, come to an event or simply followed our journey. You are all part of the Henstone story too.
Thank you, as always, for your support,
Chris
