As a brewer or distiller, your business faces unique challenges stemming from the nature of your operation, the value of your products, increasing regulation and logistical hurdles.Â
 To build resilience against these challenges, you need insurance cover designed specifically for your brewery or distillery – whether you run a small, family-owned craft brewery or a distillery with customers around the world.Â
Who we support
Alcohol warehouses
Alcohol traders & retailers
Whisky brokers
Alcohol distributors
Alcohol retailers
Auction houses
Microbreweries
Craft breweries
Scottish whisky distilleries
Micro and craft distilleries
Large-scale breweries and distilleriesÂ
Challenges in your industry:
The rising cost of raw materials and increasing energy costs mean many breweries and distilleries are facing significant economic pressures. Supply chain disruption can make it difficult to secure the high-quality ingredients that you rely on for your next batch. Navigating complex alcohol regulations and changing government policies, especially when exporting and the uncertainty arising from the UK-US trade tariffs add to the challenges in running a business that is steeped in tradition and history.
How we support:
Our brewery and distillery insurance team will work with you to design and build a robust risk management plan to protect your business and the products you create.
Whether you operate a craft gin distillery, microbrewery or a large-scale spirit distillery, we’ll help you understand the specific risks your business could be exposed to and deliver solutions to build resilience.
Your business performs:
By having an insurance adviser you can rely on to help you keep your business protected, you can concentrate on brewing your next batch, creating your next new spirit and developing your network of customers. We’re here to help you succeed.
Why do you need specialist brewery and distillery insurance?
As a brewer or distiller, your craft is your business.
Businesses involved in manufacturing alcohol are faced with a variety of risks including regulatory requirements and supply chain disruption whilst facing challenges such as economic pressures, sustainability and the shift in consumer trends towards non-alcoholic options.
Insurance is designed to alleviate risk by providing financial protection against potential losses resulting from unexpected events. It’s easy to take out an off-the-shelf business insurance policy – but does that provide the protection you need against the unique risks you could be exposed to?
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- Product liability cover that extends to North America, a critical market for many UK-based craft breweries. This opens doors for international expansion with the peace of mind that certain legal and financial risks are mitigated
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- Product recall cover up to £100,000, a crucial safety net in a sector where reputational damage from a faulty batch can have far-reaching consequences
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- Cover up to £10,000 for bursting bottles or barrels—an often-underestimated risk that has been recently highlighted in the press
- Business interruption cover to include yeast contamination, addressing a hazard that can bring production to a standstill. For breweries, where the integrity of the yeast strain is often the backbone of brand identity, this inclusion is a clear recognition of the nuanced risks a business like yours can face
Usual types of cover for breweries and distilleries
Brewers and distillers are exposed to a wide range of risks but your insurance programme will need to be tailored to meet your specific business needs and address the challenges you face. Here’s an overview of the key insurance risks and exposures:
Fire and explosion: The distillation process involves flammable materials such as ethanol, making fire and explosion key risks.
Distilleries and breweries rely on specialized machinery, such as copper stills and fermentation tanks, which can be expensive to repair or replace if they fail unexpectedly – and bring about a halt to production.
Spills of chemicals, wastewater, or ethanol during production or storage can lead to contamination, triggering costly cleanup efforts and liability claims.
Contamination or recall: Brewers and distillers face risks from accidental contamination of products, potentially leading to consumer harm or the need for a recall. Recall expenses can include logistics, replacement, and reputational damage. 
Incorrect labelling, such as failure to disclose allergens, can result in legal claims and fines, particularly for exports to countries with stringent regulations like the U.S. and EU.
Natural disasters: Flooding is a growing concern due to climate change and can damage facilities and halt production.
Pandemics: COVID-19 demonstrated how global crises can lead to the closure of taprooms, distilleries, and breweries, severely affecting revenue.
Data breaches: With the rise of e-commerce and digital systems for inventory and logistics, cyber-attacks targeting sensitive customer or operational data are a growing threat.
Cyber protection: It’s a common misconception that outsourcing your IT services, you don’t need cyber insurance as your risk is reduced. As demonstrated in the ransomware attack on M&S, outsourcing your IT services to a third party provider, having a robust cyber protection plan in place is crucial.
Meet the team
Richard Grosvenor
Managing Partner - Business Development (East Midlands & South East)
Linsey Barron
Managing Partner - Business Development (Scotland)
Richard Grosvenor
Managing Partner - Business Development (East Midlands & South East)
