Andrew Parsons

Master Distiller and Co-Founder of The Sky Wave Distilling Company.
Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (2013) and Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers (2026). Sits on the Board of Directors of The Gin Guild and is co-author of the book ‘Craft Gin Making’.
Married to Rachel with a son, daughter and step-daughter, Andrew served 24 years as a British Army officer, and now lives a few miles away from the Distillery in Oxfordshire.

Date	Role
2018 To date	MASTER DISTILLER AND CO-FOUNDER, THE SKY WAVE DISTILLING COMPANY The Sky Wave Distilling Company is now in its 9th year, producing world-class spirits including its signature London Dry Gin, which was named "The World’s Best Contemporary Gin" at the World Gin Awards. With over 90 international awards and medals, the boutique craft distillery operates from the historic WW2 RAF Bicester site. Andrew also sits on the Board of Directors of The Gin Guild, representing independent craft distillers and championing formal distilling apprenticeships in England. Alongside co-founder Rachel Hicks, he formulates bespoke spirits for prestigious institutions like Blenheim Palace and Oxford's Bodleian Library, alongside growing UK distribution, and export partnerships in Japan and India.
1986-2018	MILITARY SERVICE & TECHNICAL CONSULTANCYAndrew's first career spanned 24 years as an officer in the Royal Signals, deploying globally from Northern Ireland to Afghanistan and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, followed by several years in complex technical and programme consultancy. The path to Sky Wave, however, was not planned! In 2018, having spent years searching in vain for their ideal gin, Andrew and his wife Rachel booked a gin-school day purely for fun. The recipe they created impressed the master distiller so much that within 24 hours they ordered a traditional copper pot still from Portugal, and combined military precision with a spirit of adventure to launch The Sky Wave Distilling Company.

Date

Role

2018
To date

MASTER DISTILLER AND CO-FOUNDER, THE SKY WAVE DISTILLING COMPANY

The Sky Wave Distilling Company is now in its 9th year, producing world-class spirits including its signature London Dry Gin, which was named "The World’s Best Contemporary Gin" at the World Gin Awards. With over 90 international awards and medals, the boutique craft distillery operates from the historic WW2 RAF Bicester site.

Andrew also sits on the Board of Directors of The Gin Guild, representing independent craft distillers and championing formal distilling apprenticeships in England. Alongside co-founder Rachel Hicks, he formulates bespoke spirits for prestigious institutions like Blenheim Palace and Oxford's Bodleian Library, alongside growing UK distribution, and export partnerships in Japan and India.

1986-2018

MILITARY SERVICE & TECHNICAL CONSULTANCYAndrew's first career spanned 24 years as an officer in the Royal Signals, deploying globally from Northern Ireland to Afghanistan and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, followed by several years in complex technical and programme consultancy.

The path to Sky Wave, however, was not planned! In 2018, having spent years searching in vain for their ideal gin, Andrew and his wife Rachel booked a gin-school day purely for fun. The recipe they created impressed the master distiller so much that within 24 hours they ordered a traditional copper pot still from Portugal, and combined military precision with a spirit of adventure to launch The Sky Wave Distilling Company.