Plymouth Gin History 1990

1990's
1976 - 1997 Plymouth Gin Label	1991	Whitbread pulls out of spirits and sells both gins to Allied-Lyons,later Allied Domecq. Allied Domecq downgrades the base spirit in Plymouth Gin from grain neutral spirit to cane spirit, and from 40% abv to 37.5%.
	1996	Plymouth Gin bought from Allied Domecq by 4 private enthusiasts. The spirit strength immediately put back to 40%,and 100% grain neutral spirit again replaces cane spirit
	1997	Sales triple with exports up eight fold on 1996. The company produces its 14th cocktail booklet.
	Jan 1998	The company announces a UK distribution agreement with French spirits group, Remy-Cointreau.
Coates Plymouth Gin 1998 , 2002 Bottle Coates Plymouth Navy Strength Gin 1998 - 2002 Bottle	February 1998	New package unveiled returning to traditional label style and the bottle used at the turn of the 19th century. The spirit of the monk is featured again - inside the bottle. "When his feet get dry it's time for another bottle".	1997 - 2002 Export Plymouth Gin Bottle
	Feb 1998	The company returns to the traditional 41.2% abv strength for the US and the UK markets. The head distiller states "it is a strength which holds all our seven botanicals perfectly without the alcohol burn evident in many stronger gins"
	March 1998	The company announces distribution deals with Todhunter Imports in the USA.
	Jan 1999	Seagram UK take over the UK and Irish distribution of Plymouth Gin.
	2000's
	June 2000	Vin & Sprit purchase 50% of Coates and Co.'s equity. This purchase improves Coates financial position and eventually gives Plymouth Gin access to Maxxium, V & S's global distribution partner.
	June 2001	Distribution moves from Seagram to Maxxium UK. In the two years Seagram have distributed the brand, sales in the UK have doubled to 36,000 cases.
	July 2001	Nick Blacknell, previously head of Absolut in the UK joins Coates as Marketing then Managing Director.
2002 - 2006 Plymouth Gin Label	Feb 2002	Plymouth Gin switches sales force in the USA to Future Brands, a joint venture between V & S and Jim Beam Brands. The Absolut Spirit Company becomes the Importer. Both companies offer Plymouth Gin an unparalleled opportunity to become a major player in the US premium spirit market.
	June 2002	Vin & Spirit increase their shareholding to 80%
	2002	Plymouth Gin declared No.1 premium gin in the UK, outselling their competitors according to IMPACT Magazine
	2005	V&S Group buys the remaining shares and is now the owner of Plymouth Gin
	April 2006	Tanner Brothers open The Barbican Kitchen inside the Plymouth Gin Distillery
	April 2006	Plymouth Gin receives 3 awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Winning a Double Gold medal in the Gin category, Best of Show in the Gin Category and the coveted Best of Show for overall white spirit
	Summer 2006	Plymouth Gin is re launched with new logo and packaging and a major advertising campaign.
	Summer 2006	New Plymouth Gin Logo
	2006	Plymouth Gin selected as one of 'DI Dozen'
	October 2006	Plymouth Sloe Gin re launched in the new Bottle
	12th Sept 2007	First Plymouth Gin Bartender Challenge. Won by Rachel Williams from Monkey Bars
	October 2007	Plymouth Navy Strength re launched after a short absence also in the new bottle
	Feb 2007	A fire at Plymouth Gin started at 4pm on 27 February at the Barbican Kitchen Brassieres on the first-floor of the building, which dates back 500 years. Fire crews managed to contain the blaze and prevent any structural damage to the distillery. It is not the first time the distillery has been saved from fire - it was also bombed in WWII. Sean Harrison - Plymouth Gin's Master Distiller - reported that the distillery is in full working order. John Cameron, marketing manager of Plymouth Gin for Maxxium UK, said: "On behalf of all at Plymouth Gin, I would like to thank all the emergency services involved, and particularly the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, for responding so quickly to what could have been an absolutely devastating fire. "As a result of their success in battling the fire, I am happy to report we are able to continue production of all three variants of Plymouth Gin at the Black Friars Distillery."

Plymouth Gin History 1990 - Today