The Gin Guild Celebrates Over 600 Members and Welcomes Charles Maxwell as Grand Rectifier at its Autumn Installation
UNITED KINGDOM, October 20, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Gin Guild celebrated a significant milestone at its Autumn Installation and Annual Banquet, held on 17 October 2025 at London’s Mansion House, as it welcomed 30 new members from around the world, bringing its total membership to 612.
The new intake represents the Guild’s most international cohort yet, with members joining from Australia, Bermuda, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the USA, and the UK. Among them are a leading Japanese mixologist, the Apprentice to Master Distiller Lesley Gracie at Hendrick’s Gin, a botanicals expert with six decades of experience, and senior executives from Diageo and Bacardi.
The evening saw Rob Dorsett, Master Distiller at Alcohols Ltd’s Langley Distillery, presented with the Gin Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of 35 years dedicated to gin distilling. It also marked a leadership transition at The Gin Guild as Desmond Payne MBE, the long-serving Master Distiller of Pernod Ricard’s Beefeater Gin, concluded his two-year term as Grand Rectifier, passing the baton to Charles Maxwell, tenth-generation distiller at Thames Distillers and a founding director of The Gin Guild.
Mr Payne, who will retire from Pernod Ricard later this year after a remarkable sixty-year career in the drinks business, was presented with a Gold Gin Guild Sprig in recognition of his service to both the Guild and the wider gin community.
Mr Maxwell, who received the Guild’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and whose family history in gin stretches back to 1681, said: “It’s a great honour to follow in the footsteps of Desmond Payne and the Grand Rectifiers before him. The Guild plays a vital role in bringing the global gin community together, and I’m proud to continue that work, supporting innovation, promoting quality, and ensuring we are here for all those involved in the gin trade large or small.”
Reflecting on the Guild’s growth, he added: “As a founding director, it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come. When we began in 2012, we thought we’d do well to reach 250 members, so to breach 600 this year shows that the Guild has relevance to a worldwide audience.”
Mr Payne said: “Over the past two years I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming many new members to the Guild. It’s been huge fun, and a wonderful way to finish my career – a real privilege. I wish Charles the best of luck; he has more knowledge of the gin industry than most people put together.”
Offering a parting reflection on the industry, he said: “One of the great things about gin is its ability to adapt. I’d describe it like a chameleon. Whether it’s enjoyed as a classic gin and tonic or a sophisticated cocktail, it changes its character to suit its surroundings – and that’s why gin is here to stay.”
Pal Gleed, Director General of The Gin Guild, concluded: “The Autumn Installation is always a highlight in the Guild calendar, and this year was particularly special as we thanked Desmond Payne for his outstanding contribution as Grand Rectifier, and to the gin category altogether as he moves into a well-earned retirement. We celebrated Rob Dorsett’s exceptional career with the Lifetime Achievement Award. And it was an honour to welcome Charles Maxwell as the new Grand Rectifier – I very much look forward to working with Charles as we continue to support our members.”
Membership of The Gin Guild brings together individuals and organisations involved in gin distillation, production, promotion, and service. Members benefit from professional networking, shared expertise, and opportunities to shape the future of the gin industry through collective initiatives, from the introduction of its flavour guidance framework, Gin-Note™, to the launch of the Sustainability Toolkit earlier this year as part of its #TenGreenBottles campaign, helping the sector embed sustainability into every stage of production.
ENDS
Editor’s notes:
* The Gin Guild is a not-for-profit international membership body supported by The Worshipful Company of Distillers. It promotes excellence in gin distillation, production, and promotion, supporting members across the global industry. For more information visit www.theginguild.com
* The Autumn Installation and Annual Banquet was held on Friday, 17 October 2025 at London’s Mansion House
* Please find photographs of the Autumn Installation attached.
Image captions:
1 – Guests enjoying the banquet in the Egyptian Hall at Mansion House
2 – Gin Guild members assembled for the Installation of 30 new members and new Grand Rectifier Charles Maxwell
3 – Charles Maxwell and Pal Gleed oversee the installation of 30 new members in front of the assembled Gin Guild members.
4– Desmond Payne MBE gets the ceremony underway for the final time
5 - Desmond Payne MBE addresses the Gin Guild for the final time as its Grand Rectifier
6 – Charles Maxwell is presented with his Grand Rectifier certificate by Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, Nicholas Carr.
7– Charles Maxwell and Pal Gleed oversee the installation of 30 new members in front of the assembled Gin Guild members.
8 – Charles Maxwell addressing the Gin Guild for the first time as its 7th Grand Rectifier
9 – Charles Maxwell presenting the Past Grand Rectifier’s Gold Sprig to Desmond Payne MBE
10 – New Members preparing to swear the Gin Guild oath with a handful of juniper berries
11 – Rob Dorsett is presented with the Gin Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award by new Grand Rectifier Charles Maxwell
Press enquiries: Nikki Logan, The Gin Guild PR Team, Email: nikki@twi.agency, Tel: 01473 326907
The new intake represents the Guild’s most international cohort yet, with members joining from Australia, Bermuda, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the USA, and the UK. Among them are a leading Japanese mixologist, the Apprentice to Master Distiller Lesley Gracie at Hendrick’s Gin, a botanicals expert with six decades of experience, and senior executives from Diageo and Bacardi.
The evening saw Rob Dorsett, Master Distiller at Alcohols Ltd’s Langley Distillery, presented with the Gin Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of 35 years dedicated to gin distilling. It also marked a leadership transition at The Gin Guild as Desmond Payne MBE, the long-serving Master Distiller of Pernod Ricard’s Beefeater Gin, concluded his two-year term as Grand Rectifier, passing the baton to Charles Maxwell, tenth-generation distiller at Thames Distillers and a founding director of The Gin Guild.
Mr Payne, who will retire from Pernod Ricard later this year after a remarkable sixty-year career in the drinks business, was presented with a Gold Gin Guild Sprig in recognition of his service to both the Guild and the wider gin community.
Mr Maxwell, who received the Guild’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and whose family history in gin stretches back to 1681, said: “It’s a great honour to follow in the footsteps of Desmond Payne and the Grand Rectifiers before him. The Guild plays a vital role in bringing the global gin community together, and I’m proud to continue that work, supporting innovation, promoting quality, and ensuring we are here for all those involved in the gin trade large or small.”
Reflecting on the Guild’s growth, he added: “As a founding director, it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come. When we began in 2012, we thought we’d do well to reach 250 members, so to breach 600 this year shows that the Guild has relevance to a worldwide audience.”
Mr Payne said: “Over the past two years I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming many new members to the Guild. It’s been huge fun, and a wonderful way to finish my career – a real privilege. I wish Charles the best of luck; he has more knowledge of the gin industry than most people put together.”
Offering a parting reflection on the industry, he said: “One of the great things about gin is its ability to adapt. I’d describe it like a chameleon. Whether it’s enjoyed as a classic gin and tonic or a sophisticated cocktail, it changes its character to suit its surroundings – and that’s why gin is here to stay.”
Pal Gleed, Director General of The Gin Guild, concluded: “The Autumn Installation is always a highlight in the Guild calendar, and this year was particularly special as we thanked Desmond Payne for his outstanding contribution as Grand Rectifier, and to the gin category altogether as he moves into a well-earned retirement. We celebrated Rob Dorsett’s exceptional career with the Lifetime Achievement Award. And it was an honour to welcome Charles Maxwell as the new Grand Rectifier – I very much look forward to working with Charles as we continue to support our members.”
Membership of The Gin Guild brings together individuals and organisations involved in gin distillation, production, promotion, and service. Members benefit from professional networking, shared expertise, and opportunities to shape the future of the gin industry through collective initiatives, from the introduction of its flavour guidance framework, Gin-Note™, to the launch of the Sustainability Toolkit earlier this year as part of its #TenGreenBottles campaign, helping the sector embed sustainability into every stage of production.
ENDS
Editor’s notes:
* The Gin Guild is a not-for-profit international membership body supported by The Worshipful Company of Distillers. It promotes excellence in gin distillation, production, and promotion, supporting members across the global industry. For more information visit www.theginguild.com
* The Autumn Installation and Annual Banquet was held on Friday, 17 October 2025 at London’s Mansion House
* Please find photographs of the Autumn Installation attached.
Image captions:
1 – Guests enjoying the banquet in the Egyptian Hall at Mansion House
2 – Gin Guild members assembled for the Installation of 30 new members and new Grand Rectifier Charles Maxwell
3 – Charles Maxwell and Pal Gleed oversee the installation of 30 new members in front of the assembled Gin Guild members.
4– Desmond Payne MBE gets the ceremony underway for the final time
5 - Desmond Payne MBE addresses the Gin Guild for the final time as its Grand Rectifier
6 – Charles Maxwell is presented with his Grand Rectifier certificate by Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, Nicholas Carr.
7– Charles Maxwell and Pal Gleed oversee the installation of 30 new members in front of the assembled Gin Guild members.
8 – Charles Maxwell addressing the Gin Guild for the first time as its 7th Grand Rectifier
9 – Charles Maxwell presenting the Past Grand Rectifier’s Gold Sprig to Desmond Payne MBE
10 – New Members preparing to swear the Gin Guild oath with a handful of juniper berries
11 – Rob Dorsett is presented with the Gin Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award by new Grand Rectifier Charles Maxwell
Press enquiries: Nikki Logan, The Gin Guild PR Team, Email: nikki@twi.agency, Tel: 01473 326907
Nikki Logan
The Gin Guild PR Team
+44 1473326907
nikki@twi.agency
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