G&J Distillers, the world’s oldest continuous gin distillery based in Warrington for over 250 years, has this week celebrated 40 years of service from its longest-standing employee, Site Services Assistant, Ian Devonport.
Ian was today honoured by parent company, Quintessential Brands Group, with Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Warren Scott, presenting him with a cheque and special gifts to mark his impressive career milestone, in front of G&J Distillers’ colleagues and Ian’s closest family members.
Ian joined G&J Distillers in October 1978, following in the footsteps of his father who also worked for the company. Ian comments, “I have so enjoyed the last 40 years at G&J Distillers – it’s been a privilege to watch the changes and developments over the years but more than anything, it’s been an honour to follow in my father’s footsteps and make him proud.”
A proud Warrington institution, going from strength the strength
G&J Distillers was acquired by Quintessential Brands Group in 2011 and since then, the distillery has gone from strength to strength, as demonstrated by the many awards it has won in recent years, including the prestigious International Spirits Challenge Gin Distiller of The Year Trophy which the company has won three times since 2014, including this year.
At the heart of the global gin phenomenon
When Quintessential Brands Group co-founders, Warren Scott and Enzo Visone, bought G&J Distillers in 2011, they had a clear vision to put G&J Distillers at the heart of the gin resurgence that was beginning to emerge. Seven years later, the company is producing some of the fastest-growing gin brands in the world at G&J Distillers – including flagship brand Greenall’s, which recently achieved its biggest ever sales success, selling over 400,000 9 litre cases in a year for the first time ever. Other gin brands in the portfolio include the award-winning Opihr, BLOOM, and Thomas Dakin, all of which are contributing to the continued growth of gin around the world.
Award-winning brands and private label products
In addition to its award-winning brands, G&J Distillers is also a leading producer of private-label white spirits, distilling some of the most popular supermarket favourites such as the Co-op’s Imperial Vodka, which won a Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge 2018, and Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Blackfriars Gin, which was last week revealed by Which? as the Supermarket Own-Label Best Buy following an expert taste test. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Blackfriars Gin was a stand-out favourite, scoring an impressively high score (83%) with judges praising its “exuberant aroma and freshness” as well as its “complexity and balance”.
Warren Scott, CEO and co-founder of Quintessential Brands comments; “I’m delighted to be here today to celebrate Ian’s milestone anniversary at G&J Distillers with him, his family and so many of his colleagues at the distillery. Since the day we acquired G&J Distillers, I have been grateful and touched by the support and commitment the team have shown and no one exemplifies this great G&J spirit more than Ian. He’s become a real institution in the business and is much loved by everyone in the business for his great stories from years gone by and his ability to always put a smile on anyone’s face. I’m looking forward to hopefully many more years of his stories at G&J Distillers as we continue our mission to make G&J Distillers the most revered white spirits distillery in the world.”
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ABOUT QUINTESSENTIAL BRANDS
Quintessential Brands owns an award-winning portfolio of world-class spirit brands, which is powered by a strong entrepreneurial vision and passion for innovation, backed by centuries of handcrafted distilling expertise.
Quintessential Brands Group was established in 2011 with the acquisition of G&J Distillers, the UK’s foremost gin distillery, which evolved from Thomas Dakin’s original 1761 operation and now produces an unrivalled quality gin selection. In Ireland, Dublin Liberties Distillery is our home of modern Irish whiskeys and First Ireland Spirits in Abbeyleix crafts award-winning Irish creams. Our French hub, L&L France, creates fine French fruit liqueurs, cognacs, brandies and vodka.
For more information, please contact the communications team at Quintessential Brands by e-mail: [email protected]
