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Distillery insurance

Solutions tailored to your unique risks

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Whether you produce whisky, gin, rum, brandy, or other spirits, Marsh specialises in protecting distilleries of all sizes with tailored insurance and risk management solutions.

Preparing for your renewal? Get in touch with one of our distillery insurance experts today.

From grain to glass, we’ve got you covered

Every distillery has its own character and unique risk profile. That’s why specialist advice from the right broker matters. We understand the realities of spirit production – from protecting high-value maturing stock and specialist equipment to managing property exposures, business interruption, long production cycles, and vehicle fleets. Whether you’re a start-up or an established operation, we help you achieve the perfect blend of insurance, benchmarking, and risk management support.

How we help

Risk & Asset Protection

We help manage your individual risks, including protecting high-value maturing stock, property, equipment breakdown, supply chain disruption, and vehicles used to transport goods. Our tailored insurance solutions can include product recall cover and full protection for both maturing and finished stock. To safeguard your cash flow, we also offer credit insurance, which covers most losses if a large customer fails to pay and helps you assess whether to contract with buyers in the UK or overseas.

Programme & Benchmarking

We provide benchmarking services so you can see how your premiums and coverage compare to peers, giving you clear insight into what good looks like. Additionally, we simplify your insurance programme by distilling complex policies into clear, actionable options that make managing your cover easier.

Operational Support

Our risk management support includes health and safety reviews and operational assessments designed to help prevent losses before they happen. If a claim arises, whether related to property, stock, or fleet incidents, our efficient, solution-focused claims support team is there to assist you every step of the way.

People & Growth

We offer advice on employee benefits and pension solutions tailored to attract and retain your staff. For businesses looking to grow or change ownership, our mergers and acquisitions support helps whether you’re seeking investment or considering selling or buying a business.

 

 

Get in touch with a distillery business insurance expert

To arrange the right cover to protect your distillery, speak to an expert now.

Why should I choose Marsh Commercial?

We take the time to assess your individual needs to arrange the right cover to protect your distillery. Our specialist cover ensures your financial protection and financial stability against potential losses from liability claims, compensation claims, or workplace injuries.

  1. Global Reach, Local Focus – we combine the power of Marsh with the passion of our people; delivering world-class expertise with a personal touch, all on your doorstep.
  2. Data-driven approach – we can benchmark your current premiums and policy wording without needing to approach insurers due to the amount of data and we hold giving you insights into what good looks like. 
  3. Strong reputation and relationships with insurers – we can negotiate the best policy, cover and lenders agreements for your needs. And we only work with insurers committed to your industry.
  4. We’ll be there if you have to make a claim – our in-house team of claims managers and loss adjusters make the process efficient and solution-focused, should you need support with a claim.

What types of insurance do distilleries typically purchase?

No two distilleries are the same. The type of business insurance you need depends on your operation and business model. However, a typical policy includes:

  • Employers liability: Legally required if you have staff.
  • Property and theft (including full theft): Protecting the physical assets, buildings, specialist equipment, and valuable maturing and finished stock is fundamental. Distilleries often have high-value inventory that requires robust coverage.
  • Business interruption: given the long production cycles in spirit making, any disruption can cause significant financial loss. Business interruption insurance helps cover lost income and ongoing expenses during downtime, making it critical for operational resilience.
  • Public and product liability: Distilleries face risks of third-party injury or property damage caused by their products or operations. This insurance protects against legal claims and compensation costs, safeguarding the business’s financial stability.
  • Motor fleets (cars, commercial vehicles, and delivery vehicles) Many distilleries operate vehicles for distribution and logistics. Covering these assets protects against accidents, damage, and liability related to vehicle use.
  • Engineering inspection: Regular inspection and maintenance of machinery reduce the risk of breakdowns and accidents. This cover supports compliance and operational safety, helping to avoid costly downtime.
  • Goods in transit: Protects stock and equipment while being transported between locations, which is important for distilleries with multiple sites or distribution networks.
  • Product recall cover: Contamination risks can lead to costly recalls and reputational damage. This cover protects against the financial impact of recalling finished products, which is vital in maintaining consumer trust and regulatory compliance.
  • Management liability (D&O, EPL, crime, cyber): Covers risks related to management decisions, employment practices, crime, and cyber threats. While important, these are generally lower priority compared to direct operational and physical risks but essential for comprehensive risk management.

Additional covers are available dependent upon your needs.

As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Coverage varies by policy and insurer.

Frequently asked questions

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Our comprehensive cover includes protection for third-party premises during distillery tours, spirits festivals, trade fairs, and farmers' markets. We also offer transit cover to protect your goods while in transit, as well as stock insurance to safeguard your raw materials and finished products. This risk management approach helps minimise potential losses and compensation claims, providing you with peace of mind throughout your operations.

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Business interruption insurance (also called business interruption cover), when arranged with the appropriate extensions, can protect a distillery against loss of income following insured damage or specified non-damage events that disrupt operations. This may include contamination incidents, such as yeast contamination, where the policy wording treats contamination as insured damage or includes a contamination/non-damage BI extension. The cover helps with loss of income and increased costs of working during the period the business cannot operate normally, supporting recovery and financial stability.

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If you’re building an extension to your distillery, it’s essential to protect the new build, your existing site during construction, and your income in case of delays. We’ll guide you through Contract Works (or Contractors All Risks) coverage, review your existing property insurance, and assess your contractors’ liability insurance to ensure you have the right protection throughout the project.

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If you’re considering selling your business or seeking investment from a third party like Private Equity, Marsh is here to help you navigate the complex insurance and risk management landscape. We ensure your policies, covering property, liability, business interruption, product recall, cyber, management liability insurance are up to date and tailored to your needs. 

We can also help protect your cash flow with credit insurance, strengthening your business value. We provide clear insights into your claims history and risk profile to build trust and support accurate valuation. Our experts work with you to demonstrate strong risk management, review contracts for potential liabilities, and ensure comprehensive cyber and data protection coverage. We also assist in developing robust business continuity plans to show resilience. 

With Marsh by your side, you’ll be fully prepared for due diligence, with detailed insurance documentation and risk assessments, helping to optimise your insurance position and facilitate a smooth transaction.