The Story Behind Cambridge Gin Laboratory

Strolling through the meadows surrounding Cambridge, William and Lucy Lowe found themselves inspired to create gins that capture the taste of the English seasons, using botanicals grown in and around their own home.

They founded Cambridge Distillery on the principle that no two botanicals are identical and, as such, need to be treated individually. To achieve this, they developed a unique novo-dimensional distillation matrix in which temperature, timing and pressure are just three of the nine variables used to tailor the treatment of each botanical - meaning they could distil the freshest and most delicate ingredients with a level of precision vastly beyond that of traditional distillation.

"Gin production has remained almost completely unchanged since the mid-18th century. Most are good. Some are very good. We wanted to achieve something outstanding."

— William Lowe, Co-Founder & Master Distiller

Cambridge Distillery launched in 2012, starting out as the smallest distillery in the United Kingdom - it all started in their living room. Every gin they have ever released has won international awards for quality, and their unique philosophy has led to Cambridge Distillery being awarded three consecutive times as the most innovative distillery in the world.

Bringing the world of gin to Cambridge

As the reputation of Cambridge Distillery grew, so did demand from people who wanted to see, taste and understand what made it so special. At the time, they were operating the smallest distillery in the country and couldn't possibly accommodate as many people as wanted to visit. It also became clear to William that making something exceptional was only half the mission - people needed to be able to appreciate it too. The Gin Lab was the answer.

In 2015, Lucy and William opened the doors to Cambridge Gin Laboratory on Green Street in the heart of Cambridge — an interactive space dedicated entirely to the art and science of gin appreciation within a beautiful grade II listed building.

The idea was simple but radical. And it worked. Cambridge Gin Laboratory has held the title of TripAdvisor's #1 thing to do in Cambridge for ten years running.

Visit us today

Today the Gin Lab is open daily on Green Street, stocking the full award-winning range of Cambridge Distillery gins — including the exclusive 10 Green Street Gin, available nowhere else. Classes run every day of the week, from professional tasting sessions and cocktail making to blending your own bespoke bottle. And now, the experience extends to the meadows and the distillery itself, where the new Distillery Tasting Tour in Grantchester takes you back to where it all began.