Meet the Team

As Managing Director, Chris brings a wealth of experience and passion with over 20 years’ experience as an Operations Director across retail and hospitality. Chris has followed his passion for premium spirits, helping to develop new visitor experiences, brands and production lines.

Chris particularly enjoys working alongside a team who are passionate about spirits and is always learning from the distilling team. He loves discovering what makes a great spirit – and, of course, sampling the finished products. He also feels very lucky to work in such beautiful surroundings, with the castle, lake and walled gardens right on the doorstep. Outside of work, Chris is kept busy with his three children, two very large dogs and a couple of cats.

Kyle oversees every stage of production at the distillery, from the initial concept through to the finished spirit. With more than a decade of experience in the drinks industry, Kyle has worked across everything from classic gin and vodka to unique distillations and experimental blends.

As an international spirits judge, Kyle combines technical expertise with a creative approach, always striving to produce spirits that are distinctive, high-quality and made to be enjoyed.

James has been part of Hensol Castle Distillery since its beginnings in 2018, helping shape everything from the original build and design through to the day-to-day running of the distillery. With extensive experience across manufacturing and distilling, James plays a key role in keeping every department running smoothly and supporting the team to make confident decisions.

He particularly enjoys mentoring and developing the team, helping everyone work together to keep the distillery performing at its best.

Laura oversees procurement, production planning, material resource planning and customer relationships. She loves being involved in the journey of a product from the initial idea through to the finished spirit. She particularly enjoys working alongside such a creative and inspiring team and seeing their ideas come to life.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys getting lost in a good book, finding great coffee and brunch spots, and relaxing with a Hensol Castle G&T!

Ellis plays a key role in ensuring every bottle that leaves the distillery meets the highest standards of quality and consistency. With a background in product assurance and laboratory testing, he oversees recipe trials, stability checks and quality control, helping to keep our spirits compliant, consistent and of the highest quality.

He combines a keen eye for detail with a passion for producing spirits we can be proud of.