Award-Winning Distillery Enters Liquidation Less Than a Year After Being Named UK’s Best Gin Producer

(Photo: Secret Garden Distillery)

Secret Garden Distillery, less than a year after being named the UK Gin Producer of the Year at the IWSC, has entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation and ceased trading, according to a company statement and filings with Companies House, which were reported on by The National Scot.

The Edinburgh-area distillery confirmed on its website that “Secret Garden Distillery Limited has entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation and is no longer trading.” The National first reported the closure.

Companies House records show the company has appointed Gareth David Wilcox and Mark Harper of Opus Restructuring as joint liquidators, while a public filing states that shareholders passed a special resolution for the company to be wound up voluntarily.

Located on Old Pentland Road outside Edinburgh, Secret Garden Distillery built its reputation on producing premium gin using botanicals grown in its own gardens. The family-run business described its philosophy as putting nature “at the heart of everything” it created.

Founded in 2012 by two sisters, the company transformed what it described as a derelict plot into a sprawling botanical garden that eventually became home to more than 600 varieties of plants. Many of those botanicals were harvested on-site for use in its gin portfolio.

The distillery emphasized sustainable production methods, saying it relied on natural ingredients without preservatives, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

The closure comes shortly after one of the company’s biggest achievements. In 2025, Secret Garden Distillery was named UK Gin Producer of the Year by the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) and Club Oenologique, an award judged solely on the quality of the spirits themselves.

The producer also earned multiple industry accolades in recent years, including two Design & Packaging Master Gold awards from The Spirits Business in 2024, as well as Gold and Silver medals at the publication’s Gin Masters competition.

No reason for the liquidation was provided in the company’s statement or public filings.

The closure marks another casualty for the premium spirits sector, which has faced mounting financial pressure in recent years amid slowing consumer spending, rising production costs and softer demand across parts of the global drinks industry. According to The National, the company has now ceased all trading operations.