On October 16th, Stephen Gould of Golden Moon Distillery became the first American distiller to be named as a Warden of the Gin Guild.
Mr. Gould’s appointment to the Gin Guild signifies the growing importance of American Craft Distilled Gin in England and elsewhere in the global spirits industry.
Stephen Gould and Karen Knight founded Golden Moon Distillery, located in Golden Colorado, in 2008. Golden Moon Distillery currently produces over 18 different products including Golden Moon Gin and Golden Moon Port Cask Reserve Gin.
Mr. Gould has been distilling off and on for over 24 years. He is a member of the Board of the Colorado Distiller’s Guild, a small distillery member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and a member of the American Craft Spirit Association (ACSA). Mr. Gould lectures and teaches courses on the production of gin, use of botanicals in the production of gin and other liquors and liqueurs, and the history of gin and other spirits. He is also involved in legislative issues related to the spirits industry at the State and Federal levels.
The evening saw 21 industry experts become members of The Gin Guild (two Wardens and nineteen Rectifiers) including distillers, producers, suppliers and brand owners from the UK, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Holland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and included installing the first Warden Member from America (Mr. Stephen Gould).
Additionally, Desmond Payne, Master Distiller of Beefeater Gin and creator of Beefeater 24, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, in celebration of his outstanding work and success in the industry. This prestigious award has only been presented to two other industry figures.
The Gin Guild is a subsidiary organization of The Worshipful Company of Distillers, founded in London in 1638. The Gin Guild is a spirit industry member funded body which is also supported by the four major gin distilling companies, Bacardi, Diageo, William Grant and Sons and Chivas Brothers, but representing the gin industry as a whole. It aims to promote the gin category across the globe, enhancing its image and widening its appeal to worldwide consumers. It is the natural home of Gin innovation, including new start-ups and craft distillers and craft distilled gin.
The Gin Guild brings together gin distillers and industry leaders involved in the production, promotion, distribution and consumption of gin and promotes and encourages commitment to excellence in gin distillation and industry custodianship of the spirit category.
The Guild is a trade association. It does not seek to promote any particular branded product or products but aims to bring the widest range of products and their producers and those associated in the wider industry, together in order to provide a valued forum for all those involved in gin production, sales, marketing and distribution.
The historical role of The Worshipful Company of Distillers – one of London’s old historical livery bodies – was to hold key responsibilities for the control and regulation of early gin distillers. That provides a unique historical link to the gin industry that places London at the historic heart of the modern gin category and industry, though the industry is now worldwide. The Worshipful Company of Distillers aims, via the work of The Gin Guild, its subsidiary, to provide and facilitate a wider opportunity for those involved in the gin industry to participate in a modern convivial industry forum, yet reflecting and including many of the traditions of the City.
