UK-based distillery The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) is now seeking £750,000 through equity crowdfunding platform Crowdcube as it prepares to expand its distillery, crafts gin, vodka, and rye whiskey brand.
Launched in July 2017, The Distillery describes itself as a grain-to-glass distillery producing spirits from heritage grain in bespoke stills.has already achieved 85,000 in sales so far and it sells gin and rye vodka. The company claims it is the sole 25-year license with Oxford University and has launched two spirits in the market in the first three months, with further spirits in the pipeline.
Funds from the Crowdcube funding round will go towards continuing the Distillery’s growth and development.
Since its launch, the campaign has raised more than £200,000 from over 150 investors. It is set to close at the beginning of December.
Idea
Nautilus – Our 2,200 litre weighs 940kg unladen and stands 3m high. Nautilus is flanked by two square rectifying columns that are 4.8m high. It is used to make our pure grain spirit and for whiskey.
Oxford Dry Gin is a refreshing bold gin with strong juniper and citrus notes. Oxford Rye Vodka showcases our heritage grain, is silky smooth with spicy rye notes and a caramel aftertaste.
TOAD uses populations of heritage grain (for which we have exclusive worldwide rights) and we grow our grain within 50 miles of Oxford.
Our beautiful handmade copper stills were built and designed in conjunction with Paul Pridham, England’s last great steam engine boiler-maker. The stills and columns took two years and 3000 man hours to build.
Paul Pridham and his 18-strong team from South Devon Railway Engineering were thrilled to be involved in the design and manufacture of TOAD’s hand-crafted copper stills Nautilus and Nemo.
The centre piece of the Old Depot is an 18th century grade 2 listed threshing barn, that will house our rye whiskey casks. The site is 0.33 acres.
We offer two distillery tours a weekday and an additional Founders Tour on Saturday. The Founders Tour costs £50 and the Standard Tour costs £20 (per person). We have the capacity for 16 people per tour.
The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) is a grain-to-glass distillery producing spirits from heritage grain in bespoke stills.
We launched on the 27th July 2017, achieving £85k sales so far (-£10k EBITDA). We sell Gin and Rye Vodka and are laying down Rye Whiskey. We have the sole 25-year licence with Oxford University and will launch a gin this year.
We have raised over £1m equity to date, to fund the development of our distillery near the centre of Oxford.
We have generated great media including Countryfile, ITV News, Local BBC,and the Guardian.
We have aggressive expansion plans. We are already stocked in 75 bars, restaurants and shops, achieving multiple repeat orders. We plan to utilise our board’s contacts to develop international sales.
We are a visitor orientated business, with our tours getting rave reviews and creating enthusiastic advocates. c.50% of our sales are via our site or online.
“A thoroughly lovely tour, in which the love and pride in producing such great gin and vodka is evident. The gin is particularly excellent, and the vodka is superb. Really nice people and surely the owners of the most gorgeous distillery in the UK.” Trip Advisor
The spirits market is experiencing 3 trends: the gin renaissance, craft distilling, and the rise of Super Premium (19% growth pa, IWSR). Oxford attracts 9 million visitors annually, and is the 7th most visited UK city.
