Burnt Faith breaks new ground with UK’s first brandy RTDs and crowdfunding push

UK’s Burnt Faith Distillery Pioneers Brandy-Based RTDs, Eyes Growth Through Crowdfunding

Burnt Faith, the first dedicated brandy distillery in the UK, has entered the fast-growing ready-to-drink (RTD) market with what it claims are Britain’s first brandy-based RTDs. The launch sees two premium canned cocktails, Burnt Faith Brandy & Apple and Brandy & Ginger, hitting wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels priced at £3.50 per 250ml can. Both drinks use Burnt Faith’s signature British brandy as their base, with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 6.2%. The Brandy & Apple offers a flavour profile of citrus blossom, juicy fruit, marmalade, and a cinnamon apple crumble finish, while Brandy & Ginger highlights burnt orange, fragrant ginger, biscuit, spiced honey, toffee, and toasted coconut notes.

Founder Simon Wright, previously the creator of London cider brand Hawkes acquired by BrewDog, explained that the introduction of brandy RTDs is a deliberate challenge to an industry that has largely neglected innovation in this category. “RTDs in the UK alone are now worth over £800 million and growing fast, up 20% in value last year, but brandy’s been completely missing from the shelf,” Wright said. He emphasised that while other spirits categories like rum, vodka, whisky, and gin have embraced RTDs amid shifting consumer trends around price, accessibility, and experimentation, brandy has been overlooked until now.

The move to develop brandy RTDs comes as Burnt Faith prepares to scale its business through a forthcoming crowdfunding campaign aimed at expanding inventory, increasing distribution, and supporting further innovation. Although a specific fundraising target has not yet been announced, the company was valued at £4.3 million in 2024, having raised over £2 million in an earlier funding round. The business demonstrated striking growth with revenues reaching £600,000 in the 2024/25 financial year, up from £120,000 the previous year. Forecasts suggest revenues could approach £1.4 million in the 2025/26 year, reflecting growing consumer interest and sales momentum. Burnt Faith’s advisory board counts former Skyy Vodka founder Keith Greggor and PR executive and entrepreneur Matthew Freud among its members.

Strategic discussions are ongoing with potential retail stockists to place Burnt Faith’s RTDs more broadly, with a view to capitalising on the category’s significant consumer demand. Wright highlighted brandy’s versatility and underrepresentation in the RTD segment as key opportunities for success. Beyond the RTDs, Burnt Faith has continued to bolster its presence with initiatives such as the recent opening of a cocktail bar at its Walthamstow distillery, where classic cocktails featuring its brandy are served with innovative twists using local ingredients. The distillery itself is notable for housing the UK’s only Charentais pot still and aims to produce brandy “without boundaries,” not constrained by traditional Cognac regulations.

The company’s approach is firmly rooted in scaling while preserving authenticity. Wright stated that the crowdfunding campaign is about “scaling the business without losing our soul,” underscoring a commitment to innovation paired with brand integrity. This balancing act aligns with Burnt Faith’s broader mission of refreshing the British brandy category, which has traditionally remained static in comparison to other spirit types.

In addition to the RTDs, Burnt Faith collaborates with local partners such as East London Liquor Company to produce limited-edition items like an apple brandy released to support The Orchard Project charity. These efforts reflect broader engagement with the community and sustainability themes, helping position Burnt Faith as a distinctive, forward-looking presence in the UK spirits scene.

Burnt Faith’s developments highlight a broader trend where distinctive spirit brands are leveraging innovation in product formats and marketing to capture evolving consumer tastes. The arrival of brandy RTDs fills a conspicuous gap in the market and could well drive renewed interest in British brandy as a versatile and accessible choice for modern drinkers.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated July 7, 2025, and introduces Burnt Faith’s new brandy-based RTDs and crowdfunding plans. Similar reports appeared on July 7, 2025, in Retail Times ([retailtimes.co.uk](https://retailtimes.co.uk/burnt-faith-launches-the-uks-first-premium-brandy-rtds-pioneering-innovation-in-a-static-category/?utm_source=openai)) and Just Drinks ([just-drinks.com](https://www.just-drinks.com/news/burnt-faith-launches-crowdcube-funding-push/?utm_source=openai)). The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is July 7, 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The direct quotes from founder Simon Wright are consistent across sources, with no significant variations in wording. The earliest known usage of these quotes is July 7, 2025. No online matches were found for these quotes prior to this date, suggesting they are potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Grocer, a reputable UK-based publication. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high reliability score. No unverifiable entities or fabricated information were identified.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The claims about Burnt Faith’s new brandy-based RTDs and crowdfunding plans are plausible and align with recent developments in the spirits industry. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The tone and language are consistent with typical corporate communications. No excessive or off-topic details were noted. The structure and tone are appropriate for the subject matter.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is recent, with no significant discrepancies or signs of disinformation. The quotes are consistent and likely original. The source is reputable, and the claims are plausible, though lacking supporting detail from other outlets. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.