New geeky tasting series with spirit makers.
Distillers Series at Grain & Glass
Welcome to the Distillers Series—our deep-dive tasting events where we hand the mic to the makers. We’re inviting distillers from around the world to share what they’re crafting, why they’re doing it, and how it all comes together—from mash to glass.
These sessions go beyond the usual dram. We’ll unravel production techniques, explore the rich histories behind the brands, and taste our way through spirits straight off the still—whether that’s whisky, gin, rum, or vodka. Expect bold flavours, honest geekery, and behind-the-scenes insight into what makes great spirits truly great.
Distillers Series: Retribution Distilling with Richard Lock
Join us for the first in our Distillers Series at Grain & Glass as we welcome Richard Lock, founder and head distiller of Retribution Distilling, for a behind-the-scenes journey from humble beginnings to full-blown spirits production.
From a garden shed gin experiment to a full working distillery in rural Somerset, Richard’s story is one of creativity, grit, and serious flavour obsession. He’ll take us through each chapter of the Retribution story, complete with samples at every step:
� The Garden Shed Gin – how it all began, with a taste of the original Retribution Gin
� Rum Rebellion – building a distillery during lockdown and experimenting with white rum, high ester rum, and cask-aged expressions (yes, there’ll be a bit of "muck" too)
� Whisky on a Budget – designing stills, scaling up, and rethinking whisky production with two new makes, cask samples, and their second and third releases
� Vodka the Retribution Way – how they built a still to make 96% spirit, reusing alcohol from whisky production to create a clean, sustainable vodka
Expect a generous line-up of raw samples, geeky stuff and finished products. If the room’s vibing, Richard’s got a few extras up his sleeve to round off the night.
This is a rare chance to get under the skin of a truly independent distillery doing things their own way—with no fluff, lots of flavour, and a distiller who can (and will) talk for hours if you let him.
Tickets are £30 (£25 to members of The Birmingham Whisky Club)
Terms & Conditions
No refunds or transfers.
The event is strictly over 18's Only. If you're lucky enough to look under 25, please bring your relevant photo ID to the event with you. Tickets are sent in e-ticket format. These don't need to be printed but please have available on your phone on request. We do not cater to dietary requirements. Please arrive on time as we can't guarantee your place if you're late.
*To order your Birmingham Whisky Club member ticket , please use the Join It app
One discounted ticket available per member.
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