A petition to Parliament in 1621 described a commercial spirits distilling industry supplying “those that be aged and weak in time of sudden qualms and pangs” and the “King’s ships and merchant ships “for use shipboard and for the sale to foreign nations”.

When this ancient Company was granted its Royal Charter in 1638, by Charles I, it was given the power to exercise a monopoly and regulate the distilling trade within 21 miles of the cities of London and Westminster.

The Company had difficulty establishing control of the London distillers but soon became active in the regulation of the trade at grass roots level. It lobbied Parliament to defend the interest of distillers against unfair legislation. The Gin Act of 1736 imposed a duty on spirits at a prohibitive rate of £1 a gallon. More workable legislation was finally put in place in the mid 18th century.

The Apothecaries’ Society considered the Distillers to be a rival organisation and objected to our application for livery of the City of London. The Company struggled for twenty years to have its Royal Charter enrolled by the City but eventually achieved success in 1672 and became established in the City. In 1774 the Court of Common Council passed an Act recognising the Distillers’ Company in the City.

The Company’s role as regulator and spokesman for the industry began to change and today our role is a combination of good works for charity and a significant involvement in trade education initiatives and scholarships.

In addition we are able to bring together members of the livery and their guests in an atmosphere of good fellowship, in convivial surroundings.

Today there are over 270 members of the livery and the vast majority is either from the spirits industry, wine trade or in some way connected to the drinks business.

Liverymen find these functions excellent opportunities to discuss trade issues and entertain guests, particularly those involved in the industry. Once a year the Company holds a Livery and Ladies Banquet at the Mansion House, usually in the presence of the Lord Mayor.

Networking is a modern term but nothing new to the Distillers’ Company, where there are countless friendships between colleagues and rivals in business who mix happily with suppliers, customers and those in associated trades.

The activities of the Company are more fully described in our Aims and Objectives