In the misty valleys of England's Lake District, where rugged hills meet serene waters, a small distillery is quietly rewriting the rules of whisky making. Grasmere Distillery, tucked away on the shores of its namesake lake, has just unveiled The Pioneers Club—a bold invitation for true whisky lovers to claim a piece of history with the first releases of its inaugural English single malt.
This isn't your everyday membership drive. It's a chance to own something rare and personal, straight from the heart of a startup that's all about pushing boundaries without the backing of big corporations. Picture this: just 1,000 bottles released each year, each one uniquely numbered and presented in a handsome gift box. Club members get one delivered right to their door every Christmas, starting in 2027, then 2028, and wrapping up in 2029. And these aren't pulled from some massive warehouse stock—each annual release comes from one of only six carefully selected casks hitting the market that year.
Word is spreading fast, and it's no wonder. Over a third of those spots have already been snapped up in the early rush. If you're the type who appreciates the thrill of getting in on the ground floor, now's the time to move before they're all gone.
What sets Grasmere's whisky apart is the team's relentless focus on flavor above all else. They experiment with different mash bills, fermentation techniques, and barley types to create spirits that burst with character. Then, they bring it all together using a unique Solera maturation process in charred oak casks, ensuring every sip delivers that perfect balance of depth and smoothness. It's the kind of craftsmanship that reminds you why small-batch operations can outshine the giants— no corners cut, just pure dedication to what ends up in the glass.
Joining up costs £335, but it's more than just the whisky you're getting. Members score a free bottle of the distillery's award-winning single-origin Rioja cask rum, which is slated for wider release in 2026 at a retail price of £45. That's a nice bonus to tide you over while the malt matures. On top of that, there's a lifetime 10% discount at the Grasmere Tap Room—perfect for those trips across the pond where you can kick back and sample the goods. Throw in a complimentary distillery tour for you and three buddies, plus first dibs on any future limited-edition releases, and a slew of other exclusive perks, and it's clear this club is built for folks who value the long game in their spirits.
Image credit: Grasmere Distillery
Behind it all are co-founders Paul and Beth Abbott, a husband-and-wife duo who've poured their souls into this venture. Over the last three years, they've turned a couple of humble barns into one of the UK's tiniest yet most charming distilleries. It all kicked off in 2021 with an intense push to get things rolling. By 2022, they had Grasmere Gin and Vodka on shelves, using the profits to scale up and fire up their first batches of single malt whisky.
From the start, their mission was straightforward: make whisky that's all about taste, not turning out truckloads of the stuff. They distill from rich, full-flavored beer instead of bland neutral spirits, opening the door to wild experiments with various grains, yeast strains, and cask finishes that bigger outfits might shy away from. Their casks come straight from the renowned Speyside Cooperage, featuring tried-and-true options like ex-bourbon, brandy, and red wine barrels. But they don't stop there—they season some in-house with their own Grasmere Rum or even cider, blending oaks from France, America, Scotland, and right there in England for that extra layer of complexity.
Paul Abbott, the co-founder and head distiller, puts it best: “We have been amazed by the positive response: hundreds of people backing us and cheering us on, joining our Pioneers Club in just the first two weeks. It is incredible. We are a tiny startup distillery without big resources, so we rely totally on the whisky-lovers out there to help us bring our single malt to the market. The Pioneers Club represents the very beginning of our whisky journey. We wanted to offer something unique to those brave few who have supported us from the start. Every bottle reflects our commitment to flavour, craftsmanship and curiosity. We’re excited to share these first releases with people who value small-batch whisky.”
It's stories like this that make you appreciate the grit it takes to chase a dream in the spirits world. Grasmere isn't chasing trends or mass appeal; they're crafting something authentic, drawing on the Lake District's timeless beauty and a willingness to innovate. For anyone who's ever savored a dram by the fire and wondered about the hands that made it, The Pioneers Club feels like a direct line to that passion.
If this sparks your interest—and why wouldn't it?—head over to https://www.grasmeredistillery.com to learn more and secure your membership. In a world full of cookie-cutter bottles, here's your shot at being part of something truly pioneering.
