About the Company

The Worshipful Company of Distillers is a Livery Company of the City of London dating back to the reign of King Charles I.

There are over one hundred City Livery Companies, each numbered according to precedence, primarily based on the date of foundation, our ranking being 69th.

Coat of Arms

The arms consist of the sun, with a cloud distilling drops of rain above a double armed still with two worms and receivers, with a crest consisting of a barley “garbe” wreathed by a vine branch bearing grapes. The arms are flanked by supporters, described in the grant as a “Russe” and an “Indian savage”.

Whilst the symbolism is unclear, the “Russian” is thought to represent Baltic rye and barley; and the “Indian savage” the source of the exotic “botanicals” (namely: cardamom, coriander seed and other herbs and spices) which were imported to Britain from the islands of the East Indies to be mixed with the spirit according to the distiller’s special recipe.