Beefeater gin has announced the retirement of master distiller emeritus, Desmond Payne MBE, following a career spanning almost 60 years.

Beefeater has announced that Desmond Payne MBE will be the brand’s first-ever master distiller emeritus in January 2023.

Beefeater master distiller Desmond Payne defended the role of flavoured gin during a seminar in Ukraine on Saturday, 28 September.

Maxim Schulte from Hong Kong & Macau has been crowned the Beefeater MIXLDN 7 global champion, following a four-day final in London.

Thirty one countries will be represented at Beefeater’s international gin cocktail competition, MIXLDN 7, held in London this February.

Desmond Payne, master distiller for Beefeater gin has been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for 2018.

If gin legend Desmond Payne was any kind of cricket fan the headline might read ’50 not out’, but despite working next door to The Oval, one of the most famous cricket grounds in the world, Beefeater’s master distiller has only been to one game in more than 20 years.