Our History
1820
Foundations Laid
The Chelsea Distillery, located on Cale street, Opens under control of the Taylor family. This would go on to become the first home of Beefeater Gin.
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1835
The Founder
James Burrough, founder of Beefeater Gin is born in Devon. He fashions a career as a pharmacist, which leads him to Toronto, Canada.
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1863
The First Distillery
Burrough, returns to London and purchases the Chelsea distillery for £400. He produces liqueurs, fruit gins and punches. He counts the prestigious Fortnum & Mason amongst his customers.
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1876
Beefeater's Birth
The Chelsea Distillery, located on Cale street, Opens under control of the Taylor family. This would go on to become the first home of Beefeater Gin.
![Beefeater Yeoman]()
1908
Bigger and Better
Beefeater production moves to Hutton Road in Lambeth. The distillery is named after its forerunner, Cale Street, to help retain its heritage, while production is increased due to the purchase of the latest distilling equipment.
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1958
Montford Place
On the search for more space to keep up with demand, Beefeater moves to its present home in Kennington, a site once occupied by the Haywards Military Pickle Factory.
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1963
Stateside Success
Beefeater accounts for three out of every four bottles of gin imported into the US and in 1963 was the only gin selected to be on board the maiden voyage of the QEII to New York.
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1987
A New Beginning
Beefeater leaves the Burrough. family after almost 100 years, and is sold to Whitbread.
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1995
A New Master
Desmond Payne becomes Master Distiller.
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2005
Beefeater Dry Gin
Beefeater Dry Gin is acquired by Pernod Ricard and a programme of reinvestment in the brand begins.
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2008
Beefeater 24
The launch of Beefeater 24, Desmond Payne’s contribution to the Beefeater legacy.
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2013
Beefeater Burrough's Reserve
Using James Burrough’s original Still No. 12, with a capacity of only 268 litres, the exclusive cask-rested ‘Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve’ is launched.
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2015
London Garden
inspired by the botanical garden in Chelsea Physic Gardens in the heart of london Desmond payne crafts a herbal expression of beefeater london dry
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