Penzance distillery toasts ten years and half a million bottles

Ten years ago Pocketful of Stones was four bartenders sharing a passion for good spirits and not much else. This September the Cornish distillery turns ten, and it wants the county to help it celebrate with a month of events, a run of new releases and the launch of a limited-edition gin built to mark the milestone.

Half a million bottles and a name inspired by Cornwall

Founded in 2016, Pocketful of Stones has grown from a small-batch gin producer into an award-winning distillery and a recognised name in the South West’s food and drink scene. Based in West Cornwall, the team now makes 23 handcrafted products across eight spirit categories, among them Dr Squid Gin, Hell’s Stone Whisky, King of Prussia Spiced Rum and Morveren Absinthe. Every bottle takes its inspiration from Cornish folklore and the rugged landscape surrounding the distillery.

Over the past decade the business has sold more than half a million bottles and hosted over 20,000 visitors for tastings across its venues. The spirits travel well beyond Cornwall too, exported to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Hungary.

From distillery to bar, shop and pub

In 2022 the team opened a bar in Penzance, followed by a shop in Falmouth in 2024. Then in February 2026, Pocketful of Stones took on the Red Lion, the long-standing pub in Newlyn. The business now employs 30 people across its venues, built, the team says, around a shared love of Cornish ingredients, imaginative distilling and good hospitality.

New stills and £300,000 of investment

Over the past 18 months, more than £300,000 has gone into new stills, increasing the distillery’s production capacity more than fourfold and creating local jobs in the process. The original large stills played their part in Penzance’s Town of Culture bid, while the smaller stills have been repurposed for product development and small-batch, limited-edition releases.

Lobsters, delivery bikes and Hell’s Stone

Mike Cunliffe, co-founder of Pocketful of Stones, said the past decade has been full of memorable moments alongside the hard work.

“Ten years on, it’s still slightly surreal to think that what began as four bartenders with a shared passion for good spirits has grown into the business it is today. We’ve had plenty of memorable moments along the way, from choosing lobsters straight off the boats during a very Cornish ‘business meeting’, to Shaun disappearing down a dual carriageway on a branded delivery bike after our first trade show, but we’ve also built something we’re hugely proud of.

“Launching our first whisky and creating the Hell’s Stone brand were real highlights, along with, of course, producing our own absinthe spoon. It hasn’t always been easy, particularly through the mini-budget fallout, but Cornwall’s spirit, creativity and generosity have carried us through. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of the journey so far, and we’re looking forward to seeing what mischief the next decade brings.”

How to join the celebrations

Visitors and locals are invited to join in, with a series of events running throughout September. The month builds to the official ten-year birthday party and the launch of Caspyn Ten, a limited-edition version of the brand’s flagship Cornish dry gin, on 27 September at the Pocketful of Stones bar on Causewayhead in Penzance.

Mike is already looking past the party itself, and what the next ten years of mischief might bring.