White Peak Distillery nears whisky launch and starts crowd funding

The Peak District’s first full-scale craft Distillery, White Peak, is getting ready to release its first ever single malt whisky this autumn.

Founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team Max & Claire Vaughan, who are both originally from Derbyshire, White Peak Distillery has grown during its first few years, winning awards for its Distillery visitor experiences, as well as its Shining Cliff Gin and its new make and maturing single malt spirit.

However, it is the launch of White Peak’s first single malt whisky that was the heart of the dream from day one that they are most excited about, set to take place in October 2021. And with a dynamic crowd funding campaign currently raising funds for the launch, the next few months are key for the Distillery’s close-knit team, their loyal supporters and the wider whisky community. You can find out more about White Peak’s crowd funding campaign here, with investments open until 23rd April 2021.

Head distiller Shaun Smith (left), alongside co-founders Claire Vaughan, dog Chester (centre) and Max Vaughan (right)

Located in the dramatic former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works building alongside the River Derwent, within beautiful woodland that forms part of Derbyshire’s Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site, every aspect of the Distillery and its spirits link back to its heritage-rich setting. Their first whisky release will be no exception to this.

Johnson & Nephew Wire Works was formerly used by the industrialists in the 19th Century, metal has been a long-standing feature of the past in the Peak District. The Distillery site was originally used as an iron forge owned by the Hurt family in the early 1800s. The derelict forge was then transformed by the Johnson Family into a wire works in 1876. Johnson & Nephew was a pioneer in wire and cable products, including supplying cable for the first, sub-sea cross channel telegraph service and numerous early suspension bridges. The Wire Works existed for 120 years until its closure in the mid-1990s and was a major local employer, known to be fair and generous in supporting local community events. The buildings stand proud alongside the River Derwent and back into the Shining Cliff Woods, an ancient woodland and site of specific scientific interest. 

To build on the Distillery’s successes over the past five years, whilst increasing resources and investment during this pivotal year, the Distillery is currently offering the opportunity to become a shareholder in White Peak, inviting interested parties to consider supporting the crowd funding campaign that is being run through Crowdcube. As part of the growth around the whisky launch, the Distillery plans to add to its team and increase resources across the business, most notable within production, sales and marketing. Whilst the fundraising has already hit its minimum target, the team is looking to offer as many keen investors as possible the chance to be part of the Distillery’s future.

Max Vaughan, Co-founder of White Peak Distillery 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 crowd funding campaign and the interest so far has been amazing.”    

If you’d like to try White Peak’s new single malt whisky you’ll be able to find out more from October 2021 onwards.