Whisky Investment Podcast S3 E2 – Industry Insights: London's Bourbon-style Whisky with Katherine Saunders- Doghouse Distillery

In this episode of the Whisky Investment Podcast, VCL Vintners’ Alwynne Gwilt heads to Battersea in the heart of London to meet Katherine Saunders, co-founder of Doghouse Distillery. Known for their creative branding, multi-category approach, and commitment to grain-to-bottle production, Doghouse is redefining what it means to be an urban distillery in Britain.

From Craft Beer to Craft Spirits

Before venturing into distilling, Katherine and her husband Braden ran a bar-restaurant-pub hybrid in Brisbane, Australia, at the dawn of the craft beer movement. Their venue was the first in the city to sell only craft beer, introducing customers to local brews in place of mainstream lagers. This passion for brewing and doing things from scratch carried over when the couple moved to London to launch their distillery in 2016.

Building in Battersea

Finding a suitable site took nine months, with Battersea emerging as the ideal location. It took a year to build and commission the distillery, which officially entered the market in 2018. Situated between two train tracks, the space required creative solutions — including splitting their rectification column into three sections to fit it into the building.

A True Grain-to-Bottle Ethos

Doghouse is the only multi-category grain-to-bottle distillery in London. Unlike many gin and vodka producers who buy in neutral spirit, Doghouse distils everything from scratch. Local sourcing is central to their ethos, with grains sourced from as close to London as possible and malted in Norfolk. The spent grain is repurposed as animal feed, supporting a circular economy.

Introducing Moonshine to London

While Doghouse started with gin, whisky was always part of the plan. The Debt Collector range began with a twist — releasing unaged and one-year-old corn whisky under the label of moonshine, inspired by Prohibition-era America. The decision came after tasting the spirit at just nine months old and realising its potential for cocktails. The moonshine works beautifully in daiquiris, while the one-year-old expression shines in Old Fashioneds.

London’s First Bourbon-Style Whisky

In March, Doghouse launched its first three-year-old whisky, making it one of the only whisky distilleries in London and the first to produce an American-style corn whisky in the city. With a mash bill of 75% corn, aged in new Virgin American oak, the result is a soft, creamy whisky with natural colour and bold flavour — ideal for sipping neat or mixing in classic cocktails.

Art-Led Branding

Doghouse’s labels are as distinctive as their spirits. Rather than using traditional graphic design, each label is a commissioned piece of art. The Debt Collector artwork, for example, was created by Stuttgart-based airbrush artist Stefan, whose style evokes hot rods and Harley Davidsons. This creative approach reflects Doghouse’s desire to stand out and connect with customers through storytelling.

Championing British Agriculture

For 2024, Doghouse is placing renewed focus on celebrating British farming. By highlighting the origins of their grain and the farmers behind it, Katherine hopes to raise awareness among consumers and bartenders about the agricultural roots of great spirits.

Looking Ahead

With a strong portfolio spanning gin, vodka, aperitivo, moonshine, and whisky, Doghouse plans to amplify its presence rather than expand into new categories in the near future. The goal is to champion their distinctive style of whisky, connect with more whisky lovers, and continue pushing the boundaries of what a London distillery can be.