More meetings with various partners, friends and most importantly the accountant to discuss the viability of his vision. People knew that when Pete had an idea, it would be executed to the highest level to ensure his dream would become a reality.

While at a lunch meeting with a friend within the spirits industry, Pete discussed the huge growth in popularity of gin! While enjoying a G&T later that day onic and sat there thinking this is nice and how cool it would be if I myself could make gin like this I love a challenge and creative side of me got me thinking more and more then the research started

Further research into the history of gin and how to become a distiller. The more Pete discovered the more it fascinated him. With the creative skills he already possessed and the motivation from what he had learnt he envisioned building something from nothing. That nothing was the courtyard...The Distillery was born.

Pete starts making his own gin at home. Learning more and more through testing and tasting. Although a lot of fun, his wife wasn't too happy with the number of botanicals and sample bottles left around the house.

First meeting with the Architect. Can this be done? Pete receives green light! Gin development is in full flow, but still trying to find a balance in flavours - rigorous tasting and further development.

Planning application submitted. Pete starts to test paring gins with food to integrate the dishes created at The Newbury into The Distillery experience. After a visit to Lille, France Pete's gets further inspiration and ideas for the decor.

With the decor sorted, Pete focused on finding the right table and chairs to compliment the room.

Almost a year has passed since Pete first discussed how fun it would be to start making Gin and finally he has full planning permission. Although very stressful at times and a huge number of challenges to overcome it was time to make Pete's dream a reality!

Builders commence work on The Distillery.

Pete used a Bristol graffiti artist to design the motif used on the front label. It was important to have ties to where he was born and to give the bottle a distinct look. This complemented the unique bottle that he sourced from a glass bottle maker in France. However, further challenges occurred, as bespoke corkers were then required from Portugal to fit the large bottle neck.

Building work continues. The Distillery will be completed in 6 weeks from start to finish.

The Distillery opens its doors - time to make some Gin!

This is serious, we're now members of The Gin Guide.

Shortlisted for 5 awards and The Gin Guides Distillery of the Year Award - a truly amazing moment for us at 137 Gin.

We did it! Two bronze medal awards for our Country Garden and Berkshire Dry Craft Gins from the IWSC and The Great Taste Award for all 4 of our Bartholomew Craft Gins!

A double award day at the first Royal County of Berkshire Show Artisan Gin Competition 2019 in both of our entered categories - Classic - Berkshire Dry  and Contemporary - Country Garden. Feeling pretty chuffed with these results!

What a way to kick off the year. Two gold awards at the World Gin Awards! First up, English Classic Gin for Lumber’s Bartholomew Berkshire Dry and secondly,  English Navy Gin for Lumber’s Bartholomew Navy.

During the lockdown, 137 shifted from making gin to hand sanitizer to support the local Newbury & Thatcham community.

We've made it into the finalist categories of 1. London Dry Gin,  2. Contemporary Gin, 3. Traditional Gin and 4. the Navy Strength Gin category.

Our fabulous Gin Distillery was also nominated finalist in the category of "Distillery of the Year"!

Proud to take part in a BBC commissioned series with Ross Kemp for making a positive difference in our local community during the Covid19 crisis.

New summer cocktail release: Lockdown Negroni

Lockdown cocktail no.2 released: Ginoncello

This is keeping our spirits up this lockdown!  2 Silver awards in the bag for our Berkshire Dry and Navy Strength gin.

We're proud! All four of the 137 Gins were recognised in the prestigious IWSC Gin & Tonic awards this week. Our Navy Strength, London Dry and Berkshire Dry were awarded bronze, and our Country Garden awarded silver.

Great Taste Awards 2020. 1 Star for Navy strength, 2 Star for Country Garden, and 2 Stars for our Berkshire Dry

The USA Spirit Ratings are in and it's 2 Golds (Navy strength and Berkshire Dry) and a Silver (London Dry).

Lockdown 2 cocktail no. 3 released: The Newbury Martini

We did it. We won gold AND ‘Best in category’ for our Navy Royal, the highest scoring gin among all the entrants globally.

2021 is going to be awesome! One silver and 3 bronzes at the World Gin Awards!

Pete recognised by Newbury Town Council for a Civic Award AND a High Sherriff Award for the Royal County of Berkshire - Boom! Proud to have supported local communities throughout the pandemic.

Our Berkshire Dry has only gone and won “Best Spiced Gin” at #The Gin Guide Awards!! This is a huge achievement, thank you!

Every single gin in our range won an award which we can’t even begin to explain how proud that makes us! 5 wins including SILVER: London Dry, Country Garden and Berkshire Dry. BRONZE: Navy Royal and Navy Strength.

We are over the moon to now be stocked by, premium wine & spirits supplier, Enotria & Co.

We have been awarded two silver and two bronze awards by IWSC - Club Oenologique. With eight esteemed judges taking part in a blind tasting, this really is another huge achievement for the 137 family.

Our Berkshire Dry secures the 3-star Great Taste award, only 7 handed out globally. And, our London Dry is awarded a 2-star!

Our Berkshire Dry secures GOLD in the classic category!