WL Distillery Celebrates Five Spirited Years with Five Landmark Achievements for 2025
- gracebell7
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
Two National Awards, a partnership with the UK’s largest light art festival Lumiere Durham, Gifting Partner at London Fashion Week, and a Festive Showcase at Fenwick - FIVE really is the perfect number for WL Distillery.
Known for its bold flavours, striking botanicals and collaborative endeavours, multi-award-winning gin producer, WL Distillery is raising a glass to another hugely successful year as the distillery marks their fifth year in business.
Hot on the heels of London Fashion Week as gifting partner for The Little Italy UK Fashion Show, the distillery was appointed as the Official Gin Sponsor of Lumiere Durham 2025, a collaboration which brought together two celebrated Northern brands—one illuminating the city with world-class creativity, the other raising the bar for premium craft spirits.
Throughout 2025 the distillery has benefited from substantial growth, new product innovations, and exciting retail partnerships — including being selected to feature in Fenwick’s prestigious Festive Showcase.
The presence of the brand in-store will offer shoppers the chance to discover and purchase the distillery’s handcrafted gins throughout the festive period, and the partnership places the brand alongside some of the region’s most celebrated artisan producers and reinforces its growing reputation in the North East.
Scott Wilson-Laing, Founder and Managing Director, WL Distillery said:
“Reaching our five-year milestone is both humbling and energising, what started as a dream in owning a small distillery has grown into something we never could have imagined.
To then be selected for the Festive Showcase is a huge moment for us, Fenwick is an iconic North East retailer, and to have our gin showcased there during the busiest and most festive time of year means the world to our small team. Paired with our growth and award wins this year, it really feels like we’re hitting our stride.”
With an explosion of flavours, their inspiration comes from their Northern roots, ensuring a fresh and classic authentic gin experience for customers. Ingredients have always taken centre stage at WL Distillery and each bottle is infused with nature using handpicked and measured botanicals to ensure the freshest, most authentic taste.
As the distillery prepares to wrap up 2025, founder Scott was honoured to win Great British Entrepreneur of the Year for the Maker & Creator Category at the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards in London, alongside taking home an accolade in the Food, Catering and Beverage category in The Forty Under 40 Awards UK 2025.
Scott added:
“I’m incredibly proud to have won two prestigious awards and to be nominated alongside so many outstanding entrepreneurs. The awards aren’t just about me, they reflect years of hard work, resilience, setbacks, small wins, big leaps and the unbelievable support from those around me.
To my partners, customers, friends and everyone who’s believed in what we’re building thank you - as we celebrate year five, you’ve all shaped the journey.”
WL Distillery began with a simple vision: to create a gin that reflects the unique character of the North East region, using locally sourced botanicals and time-honoured distilling techniques. Five years on and the brand has earned many notable accolades including gold at The Gin Masters, listed in the London Spirits Top 100 spirits, through to making Vogues ‘Hot List’, GQ’s ‘Cocktail Club’ and being featured at London’s world-famous Science Museum, and the awards just keep hitting for WL Distillery.
With a number of flavours now under their belt WL Distillery have established themselves as a key player in the UK gin market, both regionally and nationally. Vibrant creations and continuous innovations are key at the County Durham based Distillery. The product portfolio range has grown immensely over the years increasing to six flavours including limited edition festive and Valentine ranges alongside their popular Garden Gin and Watermelon and Liquorice Gin.
WL Distillery now firmly have their sights on 2026, Scott added:
“The future is looking very bright, and here at the distillery we are focused on expanding our product line, growing our sustainable practices, nurturing, and forging partnerships, alongside exploring international markets following our exploratory visits to India and the UAE.
We are excited for what’s in the pipeline. We’re just getting started.”
