The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ is a Livery Company of the City of London dating back to the reign of King Charles I, with our Royal Charter being granted in 1638. There are currently 110 City Livery Companies, each numbered according to precedence, primarily based on the date of foundation. The Distillers’ Company is ranked number 69.
Our founder was Sir Theodore de Mayerne, physician to Charles 1st, who in 1638 obtained a Royal Charter to regulate the distilling trade in the Cities of London, and the City of Westminster and within 21 miles thereof (later extended to 31 miles). Few of our Liverymen will be aware just how eminent a man our Founder was. Not just a Physician, he was a polymath, renaissance man and entrepreneur, whose repute spread all over Europe.
Charitable giving is at the heart of life in the Distillers’ Company. The Distillers’ Charity (no. 1038763) was established in 1955 to carry forward the Livery’s philanthropic work.
We support a number of charities including:
The Drinks Trust: www.drinkstrust.org.uk
The Alcohol Education Trust: www.alcoholeducationtrust.org
The Lord Mayor’s “Better City For All” Appeal - Barking & Dagenham Youth Zone: www.onsideyouthzones.org/lord-mayors-appeal/