Renais Spirits
Renais Spirits is a UK super-premium gin producer that distills from upcycled Chardonnay grapes sourced from its family's Chablis vineyards. It sells through DTC e-commerce, UK premium retailers (Waitrose, Majestic, Selfridges, Fenwick), on-trade accounts, and a 5-year RNDC US partnership across 15 international markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersPoole, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Renais Spirits does
Renais Spirits Ltd is a UK-registered (Poole, England) super-premium gin producer founded in 2022 by siblings Alex and Emma Watson, leveraging the Domaine Watson family's multi-decade Chablis winemaking heritage of their father Chris Watson, the only Englishman made a Pilier of Chablis. The company's core technology is the distillation of gin from upcycled Chardonnay grape skins collected after pressing for the family's Grand Cru Chablis wines, combined with a proprietary 11-botanical recipe that incorporates Kimmeridgian stone (the terroir-defining mineral of Chablis), acacia honey, linden flowers, cubeb berries, and other botanicals; a premium limited expression (Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin, £90, 50% ABV) is matured for over a year in single Grand Cru Chablis wine casks, with biodegradable mushroom packaging sourced via Magical Mushroom Company. Distillation is contracted to Giraffe Distillers in Lincolnshire Wolds.
The product portfolio spans Signature Gin at £45, Harvest Edition at £65, Personalised Gin at £55, and Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin at £90, alongside branded accessories (£12–£15) and bundles, plus the family's Domaine Watson Chablis wine at £29.50 sold through the same DTC platform. Renais employs a hybrid go-to-market combining a Shopify-powered DTC e-commerce site with free UK delivery, multi-channel UK retail (26 Waitrose stores, 50+ Majestic stores, Selfridges in Manchester, Fenwick in Newcastle/York, and independent wine merchants), over 100 on-trade accounts including the Gaucho restaurant chain and premium cocktail bars, a 5-year RNDC strategic partnership placing the brand in the Regency Portfolio for multi-state US rollout from Spring 2024, and listings in 15 international markets including Ireland and the Netherlands.
Commercial credibility is supported by consecutive Spirits Business Gin Masters awards (Gold 2023, Gold 2024, Master 2025 for the Grand Cru Cask-Aged expression), a Great Taste Award in 2024, B Corp certification, and Climate Partner Carbon Neutral Product certification. The company was bootstrapped through October 2023 (a ~$11,372 SEC exempt offering) before securing a ~$6.19M growth round led by beverage-focused investor InvestBev in January 2025, indicating a transition from founder-funded to institutional-backed scaling.
Renais Spirits firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Renais Spirits
- Legal name
- Renais Spirits Ltd
- Website
- https://renais.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Renais Spirits is a UK super-premium gin producer that distills from upcycled Chardonnay grapes sourced from its family's Chablis vineyards. It sells through DTC e-commerce, UK premium retailers (Waitrose, Majestic, Selfridges, Fenwick), on-trade accounts, and a 5-year RNDC US partnership across 15 international markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Renais Spirits industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Super-premium gin
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE)
Keywords
Where Renais Spirits is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Poole
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Renais Spirits business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Gin Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer and retail sales of gin products including Signature Gin (£45), Harvest Edition (£65), Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin (£90), and Personalised Gin (£55). One-time purchase model.
- Retail/Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale supply to retailers including Waitrose, Majestic Wines, Selfridges, Fenwick, and independent wine merchants. International distribution through RNDC partnership for US market.
- Accessories and Bundles: Sale of branded merchandise including bar spoons, bottle openers, tea towels, and gift bundles (ranging £12-£65).
- Wine Sales (Domaine Watson): Sale of Domaine Watson Chablis wine (£29.50) as complementary product leveraging family winemaking heritage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Signature Gin - 70cl 40% ABV |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Harvest Edition - Limited Release |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin - Premium Limited Edition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Personalised Gin |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gin and Glass Sharing Gift |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | L'essential Bundle |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Domaine Watson Chablis Wine |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels6 records
Renais Spirits product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Renais Spirits manufactures and sells super-premium grape-distilled gin, with its flagship Renais Gin (Signature) made by distilling upcycled French Chardonnay grape skins from the founders' Domaine Watson vineyards in Chablis and blending them with 11 botanicals. The range extends to a Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin (matured in Grand Cru Chablis wine casks), a Harvest Edition artist collaboration, personalised bottles, Domaine Watson Chablis wine, and bundles/gift sets with branded glassware and bar accessories.
Product overview
Renais Spirits is a super-premium gin company founded by Alex and Emma Watson, built on the family's Chablis winemaking heritage from Domaine Watson vineyards. The product portfolio centers on Renais Gin (First Edition), the signature grape-distilled gin made from upcycled French wine grapes with 11 botanicals, which serves as the core product. Limited editions include Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin (matured in Chablis wine casks) and Harvest Edition (artist collaboration). Personalisation options and bundles pairing gin with branded glassware and accessories extend the offering. The related Domaine Watson Chablis wine represents the family's winemaking roots. The company emphasises sustainability (B Corp certified, carbon neutral product) and wine-terroir-inspired flavour profiles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Renais Gin (Signature / First Edition) 70cl, 40% ABV super-premium gin distilled from upcycled French Chardonnay grape skins with 11 botanicals including Kimmeridgian stone, juniper berries, acacia honey, and linden flowers; aimed at affluent consumers and on-trade buyers.
- Renais Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin Limited edition 70cl, 50% ABV gin matured in Grand Cru Chablis wine casks delivering layered vanilla and spice notes and a distinctive hue from wine-soaked oak; targeted at collectors and super-premium gifting.
- Renais Harvest Edition Gin 70cl, 40% ABV limited edition gin release with artist collaboration packaging and accompanying art print; aimed at gift and collector buyers.
- Personalised Renais Gin 70cl, 40% ABV signature gin with personalised bottle text (up to 14 characters) targeted at premium gift buyers; cannot be shipped with next-day delivery.
- Domaine Watson Chablis Wine 750ml, 12.5% ABV award-winning Chablis made from 100% Chardonnay from the family's right-bank Chablis vineyards; UK-exclusive complementary product for wine customers.
- Renais Gin and Glass Sharing Gift Gift-pack bundle pairing one bottle of Renais Signature Gin with two branded Renais signature glasses designed to highlight the gin in serving.
- L'Essential Bundle Entry-level gift bundle pairing one bottle of Renais Signature Gin with one Renais signature glass at £57 with free delivery, marketed to first-time buyers.
- Renais Emma Spritz Tea Towel 100% cotton tea towel featuring co-founder Emma Watson's signature 'Emma Spritz' cocktail recipe; branded merchandise sold as a standalone accessory.
- Renais Bottle Opener Stainless steel branded bottle opener designed for opening tonics and mixers, sold as standalone drinkware accessory.
- Renais Bar Spoon Stainless steel branded bar spoon engraved with R and grape symbols, intended for making bar-quality stirred cocktails at home.
Quantifiable outcome
- Gold medal winner at Spirits Business Gin Masters 2023 and 2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Renais Spirits
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Renais Spirits technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Renais Spirits partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Renais Spirits competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sipsmith: London-based super-premium craft gin distillery, founded in 2009, sold through UK grocers, on-trade, and exported internationally. Sits in the same craft super-premium UK gin category as Renais with overlapping retail and on-premise distribution channels.
- Malfy Gin: Italian super-premium gin distilled from fine Italian wines and botanicals, including a grape-based base spirit. Closely comparable to Renais on the wine-grape base spirit angle, premium pricing, and Mediterranean-style botanical positioning.
- The Botanist: Islay-based super-premium gin produced by Bruichladdich Distillery with a strong terroir story and 31 botanicals. Comparable on premium craft positioning, provenance-driven marketing, and global distribution through Beam Suntory.
- Monkey 47: German super-premium craft gin with a strong regional/terroir story, sold at premium price points globally. Comparable on craft provenance narrative, premium pricing, and presence in luxury hotel and fine-dining channels.
- Chase Distillery: UK-based super-premium craft distillery producing gin, vodka and other spirits on a farm estate, with strong provenance story and premium on-trade presence. Comparable on UK craft super-premium positioning and farm-to-bottle narrative.
- Warner Edwards: English craft gin distillery (Northamptonshire) producing botanical-led premium gins, with strong UK grocery and on-trade listings. Comparable as a UK super-premium craft gin peer competing for the same retail and trade accounts.
Broad incumbents
- Tanqueray No. Ten: Diageo-owned super-premium gin positioned at the top of the mass-distribution gin tier. Comparable as the benchmark super-premium gin Renais competes against in on-trade and retail; a broad incumbent rather than a direct craft peer.
- Hendrick's: William Grant & Sons-owned super-premium gin with unusual botanicals and a distinctive apothecary-style brand. Competes with Renais for the same super-premium on-trade and gifting occasions, with a much larger marketing footprint.
- Aviation Gin: US-distributed super-premium craft gin now owned by Davos Brands, with strong on-premise presence. Comparable on super-premium positioning and US distribution ambitions, though at a significantly larger scale than Renais.
Emerging players
- Four Pillars: Australian super-premium craft gin that has built a strong international presence and was partially acquired by Lion (Kirin). Comparable as a craft super-premium gin that has successfully scaled into multiple international markets, providing a useful internationalization benchmark.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Renais Spirits social profiles
Digital presenceRenais Spirits compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Renais Spirits financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Renais Spirits leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Renais Spirits funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Renais Spirits M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Renais Spirits
What does Renais Spirits do?
Renais Spirits manufactures and sells super-premium grape-distilled gin, with its flagship Renais Gin (Signature) made by distilling upcycled French Chardonnay grape skins from the founders' Domaine Watson vineyards in Chablis and blending them with 11 botanicals. The range extends to a Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin (matured in Grand Cru Chablis wine casks), a Harvest Edition artist collaboration, personalised bottles, Domaine Watson Chablis wine, and bundles/gift sets with branded glassware and bar accessories.
Is Renais Spirits a public or private company?
Renais Spirits is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Renais Spirits founded?
Renais Spirits was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Renais Spirits based?
Renais Spirits is headquartered in Poole, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Renais Spirits make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Gin Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail/Wholesale Distribution, accessories and Bundles and wine Sales (Domaine Watson).
Who are Renais Spirits's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sipsmith, Malfy Gin, The Botanist, Monkey 47, Chase Distillery and Warner Edwards. Broad incumbents are Tanqueray No. Ten, Hendrick's and Aviation Gin. Four Pillars is listed as an emerging player.
Does Renais Spirits have an API?
No public API is recorded for Renais Spirits.
What industry is Renais Spirits in?
Renais Spirits's product category is Super-premium gin. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling. Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.