Our Story…
The story of 55 Above begins with our founder, Alan Gilchrist, who had spent many years hunting for a good, clean spirit. In late 2013, on one of his frequent travels, Alan discovered a ‘very nice’ pineapple flavored vodka that seemed to tick all the right boxes. However, this spirit proved practically impossible to get hold of back in the United Kingdom.
Undeterred, Alan decided to create his own vodka instead. And so, 55 Above was born!
“From the outset, we’ve always tried to do things a little bit differently than other distillers. One of the first things we decided on was using traditional copper-pot stills – but in a more modern context. At the same time, we wanted to go to every length to ensure that our spirits were only ever made using quality, natural ingredients. A promise we’ve (quite stubbornly) stuck to all this time.”Alan Gilchrist
After much tinkering and many, many test batches; we finally launched our very first range of artisan Vodkas in the summer of 2015. They were immediately a huge hit with the public and we soon found ourselves scooping some prestigious IWSC awards.
Not ones to rest on our laurels, we soon started thinking about producing our own Gins to boot. After even more experiments, these also became a reality – and were as equally well received as our Vodkas.
No matter what we do; our mission is always simple: create the finest quality drinks from the best possible ingredients. That’s what makes a true Artisan British Spirit.
What’s in a Name?
We often get asked what the meaning behind our name is. Is it a secret code? A subtle boast about the strength and character of our drinks?
Well, the truth is actually much simpler. Our founder, Alan, is from Scotland and wanted a name that reflected his heritage. Scotland, of course, sits at a latitude of 55 degrees above the equator, hence, 55 Above! It’s a name that perfectly reflects our founding ethos of combining tradition and modernity into one unique product.