Our Story
35 years in the making...
1981
Andrew Wilson, an aspiring merchant, passes his Wine & Spirit Education Certificate thus opening his mind to the marvels of the industry.
Clare on the other hand, had vowed to never drink gin again. A bad experience at a party to blame. The vow was to last a long time. Joshua was not even a twinkle back then.
Our story has only just begun...
1988
Andrew is now working for brewers Bass and is one of the 'champions' of New World wine - spending lots of time organising tastings to showcase how great these new imports can be.
Gin is considered a 'pedestrian' product served in pubs with a slice of 'plastic lemon'.
Clare is never going to drink gin and Joshua is still nowhere in sight.
1993
Andrew takes up the role of Commercial Manager for Chateau Lascombes near Bordeaux, and fine wine is at the top of his agenda.
Gin is a bog-standard drink 'drowned' in tonic.
It didn't matter which brand you drank, and if you were lucky, you'd maybe get a slice of lime.
Joshua is two years old and Clare still won't drink gin.
1998
Andrew and Clare go into business together and AW Wines is born - supplying wine to the trade.
A year later, the world's largest soft drinks company buys Britain's biggest tonic water manufacturer and somehow a gin and tonic just didn't taste the same.
2005
The School House at Tittensor is taken over as a base for the Wilson's retail business.
Spirits are introduced including a small selection of 'premium gins'. It took a further decade to persuade customers the discernible difference in the taste of a quality G&T.
Joshua joins the business part-time whilst continuing his studies. Clare still won't have anything to do with gin.
2008
Old School Wines takes part in its first ever gin tasting event at Wedgwood Museum, Barlaston.
Tutored by renowned spirits expert Neil Monyard, around 20 guests attended and eight different gins were served. It was quite a revelation.
At the time there are only 23 distilleries in England.
2013
The 'birth year' of the new gin phenomenon.
Old School Wines are early adopters and host their first 'full-blown' G&T event at Sugnall Walled Garden. The range of gins stocked at The School House rises to 40.
The first new distillery for 200 years opens in London. HMRC changes the rules governing the opening of micro-distilleries and the number doubles to 46.
2014
More distilleries open and Andrew launches a tasting event to showcase these new 'craft' gins. He names it 'Gin Jamboree'. The range of gins stocked at The School House rises to 100.
During 2014 a phenomenon occurs, a Rep persuades Clare to give gin another try.
What had she got to lose after 33 years avoiding the stuff?
2015
Gin Jamborees increase in popularity with hundreds attending each event, which Joshua now 'fronts'. A fourth member of the family, youngest son Jaca, joins the Gin Jamboree team.
Clare's knowledge of gin surpasses anyones as the range of gin at The School House hits 200.
The Wilson's acquire the business of Sugnall Walled Garden, which provides the botanical inspiration for their first range of gin.
2016
Gin Jamborees get bigger and more frequent.
In November, the Guinness World Record for the Largest Gin Tasting is broken at Stoke's Kings Hall, with over 500 people attending.
The rhubarb crop at Sugnall becomes the basis of Old School Gin's first production.
Launched on the night of their World Record Gin Jamboree, perhaps you can see how Old School Gin was 35 years in the making?
HOMEGROWN
Inspiration for Old School Gin is taken from the produce grown at our Walled Garden, designed and built over 275 years ago.
We then infuse the finest botanicals from around the world, such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, vanilla and cinnamon.
Old School Gin is made in small batches, at a futuristic distillery in the heart of rural Staffordshire.