Derbyshire whisky distillery raises £1 million before launching its first single malt

White Peak Distillery, which makes gin and rum, was founded in 2016 by husband and wife Max and Claire Vaughan.

The Amber Valley firm is due to launch its first single malt whisky, which must be aged for at least three years by law, in October 2021.

White Peak is offering consumers the chance to be an investor in the company through a Crowdcube campaign, which is due to close on April 23.

The company has surpassed its target of £500,000 (US$686,000), and raised £981,270 (US$1.3m) from 583 investors to date.

The money raised will help the distillery expand its team, and increase resources across production, sales and marketing. The distillery hopes to build its brand and sales in the UK and overseas.

Max Vaughan said: “Our journey over the past five years has been incredibly rewarding.

"We are so proud to have established the distillery as a recognised, innovative business within the Peak District, whilst winning awards for our spirits within the drinks industry and our visitor experience within our vital local community.

“Our team is passionate about the business we’re building: our extraordinary location and its regeneration, the heritage we are building upon and the spirits we are curating as a true taste of our homeland.

“We are all now excited for the next chapter of our story to unfold with the release of our single malt whisky later this year.”

“To make the most of this opportunity and so that we can accelerate our growth plans, we’ve decided to launch our crowdfunding campaign and the interest so far has been amazing.”

White Peak has more than 950 casks of maturing whisky and is operating at 50 per cent of its capacity, allowing further room to grow. The distillery’s prologue release, a two-year-old spirit, sold out in two days.

The distillery plans to reopen for public tours and tastings from May 22.

It is advertising for an e-commerce manager and a marketing manager. The deadline is April 30

The firm is based in the former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works on the banks of the River Derwent.

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