Renais launches Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin

The wine grape-based gin brand owned by actor Emma Watson has expanded with a second expression aged in grand cru barrels. Sarah Neish speaks to CEO Alex Watson about the "longstanding family connection" that made the super-premium spirit possible. Wine and winemaking has always played a star role in Renais, the gin brand founded by actor Emma Watson and her brother Alex in 2023. The pair were inspired to create the spirit by their family’s vineyard, Domaine Watson, in Burgundy, which their father, Chris Watson, has owned for more than 30 years, and the gin itself is produced from organic Chardonnay grapes from the family's right bank Chablis vineyards. A bottle of Chablis Domaine Watson retails for around £29.50, and the liquid inside is described by the Watsons as expressing "a perfect balance of citrus and mineral notes with a crisp acidity and a long, clean and subtle finish." The character of the family's wine goes some way to explaining the unique flavour profile of Renais Gin, which has distinct lemon peel notes alongside myriad influences from botanicals including juniper, kimmeridgian stone and angelica root, as well as linden flowers and acacia honey.

Investment round

The brand has been on a fast acceleration path since its launch just two years ago. In January 2025 a host of drinks industry veterans stumped up more than £4.59 million in investment to help write the next chapter for Renais. These figures include former Laithwaites CFO Jimmy Weir, former Diageo European chief Andrew Morgan, and Alex Staartjes, former global marketing director at Pernod Ricard, each of which have an interest in the Watson's brand. The cash would largely be used, Alex Watson said at the time, on establishing a stronger presence in the US market. But it has also helped bring to life a second product in the range. This week Renais has levelled up with a new release, this time a gin aged in former grand cru wine barrels. Retailing for almost double the price of Renais' flagship gin, the limited edition run of just 720 bottles hits shelves with an RRP of £90 compared with £48 for the original gin. Speaking exclusively to the drinks business, Alex Watson says that the higher price point comes as a result of the casks themselves "which are extremely rare and valuable". "The ageing process is both time-intensive and delicate, requiring careful monitoring and blending," he tells db. "The batch is also highly limited—fewer than 1,000 bottles globally—making it a true collector’s item." Despite the step-up in price he believes that "our offering represents strong value within the super-premium gin segment."

No commercial cooperage

As for the barrels themselves, Watson won't be drawn on the specific wines they housed in a former life, but revealed that "the French oak casks were sourced through a longstanding family connection with deep ties to the wine world." Renais is keeping the identity of its cask partner strictly under wraps, but according to Watson "we can say that this relationship has enabled us to access barrels that are not only rare but also rich in winemaking history—something that’s typically inaccessible via commercial cooperages." It wouldn't be outlandish to assume that the grand cru wines the casks previously held were premium Chablis, in keeping with the brand's modus operandi, especially as the final gin has aromas of "fresh, vibrant, citrus notes". However, there are many examples of premium spirits aged in red wine and even Port casks such as The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, aged for an additional four years in ruby Port casks following 10 years in American oak. Renais Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin has spent one year in the hand-selected French barrels, which lends the spirit flavours of vanilla and spice along with layers of lemon, honey and caramel. There is, Watson says, a hint of "minerality and salinity", too, imparted by the wine's influence, and a silky texture. "Each barrel carries with it a story of craftsmanship and terroir, which we believe contributes immensely to the unique character of our cask-aged gin," he says.

On the road

As for Renais' plans to bring distribution to various new US states this year, Watson says: "Our US expansion is progressing strongly. We’ve seen particularly encouraging traction in New York and California, and have since launched into Florida with an upcoming launch in Texas." The brand's strategy for 2025, he adds, is "to deepen our presence and brand awareness in these key markets in the on-trade before considering broader distribution or mass media campaigns." Have Trump's seesawing tariffs made rolling Renais out across the United States more challenging for the fledgling brand? "As for tariffs, while political and economic factors are always challenging when exporting we’ve structured our supply chain and partnerships in a way that mitigates much of the impact. For now, it’s full steam ahead." The brand name ‘Renais’ is, “derived from the French word for ‘rebirth,’ and is a nod to not only to reusing pressed grapes to create their spirit, but also to creating something modern that’s built on heritage and tradition,” said Alex Watson. The super premium gin is present in 16 countries and with distribution planned in another 21 countries.