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About Master of Malt Trade
Master of Malt Trade is one of the UK’s leading B2B suppliers of premium spirits. We’re here to remove the friction, clunky paperwork, and outdated processes of buying drinks for a living.
As part of Atom Group, we match industry-leading technology and deep retail expertise with one of the largest spirits portfolios on the planet. Whether you run an independent neighbourhood pub, a high-volume festival, a luxury hotel group, or a boutique bottleshop, we provide the scale, speed, and reliability you need to protect your margins and keep service moving smoothly.
Alongside our distribution network, the wider Atom Group ecosystem includes Maverick Drinks (our global spirits import arm) and Atom Brands (our award-winning production house). By understanding every tier of the premium spirits supply chain, we provide our trade partners unprecedented access to exclusive allocations, stable stock levels, and highly competitive pricing.
Master of Malt began in 1985 as a small, independent component-bottler and mail-order whisky specialist based in Tunbridge Wells. In the early days, it involved a lot of paper ledger books, stamps, and manual packing.
Fast forward to the early 2000s: while studying theoretical physics, our founder Justin Petszaft built the company’s very first website. Recognising that the wider drinks distribution industry was plagued by archaic ordering systems, unreliable stock data, and a frustrating amount of administrative red tape, he acquired the business with a clear vision: to completely modernise how drinks are bought and sold online.
In 2009, Justin brought in childhood friends Tom McGuinness and Ben Ellefsen. Working from a small shed in rural Sussex, they rebuilt the entire e-commerce and logistics platform from scratch. They didn't build a generic retail shop; they engineered a hyper-flexible, data-driven architecture custom-built for the fast-moving realities of the drinks trade.
That system worked so well it landed us on the Sunday Times Fast Track 100. Today, that same problem-solving mindset drives our trade platform. We handle the administrative logistics so you can focus on what actually matters: looking after your guests and running a profitable business.
Atom Group today: A 100% Independent Drinks Ecosystem
Master of Malt Trade is a core pillar of Atom Group, an integrated network built to support every corner of the commercial drinks market. The ecosystem comprises:
• Master of Malt Trade: Seamless, fast-turnaround wholesale distribution for bars, pubs, hotels, and retailers.
• Maverick Drinks: A global curator, importer, and distributor of cutting-edge, craft spirits brands.
• Atom Brands: An award-winning spirits producer creating world-class, high-margin liquids from scratch.
• Master of Malt: Our established consumer-facing retail platform, which provides us with real-time, nationwide consumer demand insights.
In 2025, Atom Group officially returned to being 100% founder-owned. Buying ourselves back restored our absolute independence. It means we can bypass short-term corporate box-ticking and maintain a relentless focus on building the UK's most reliable, operator-friendly drinks ecosystem. We answer only to our founders and to the trade customers we serve.
Our four original founders,: Tom, Ben, Justin, and Joel (left to right).
The Master of Malt Trade Advantage
We built Master of Malt Trade because traditional wholesale distribution wasn't working hard enough for operators. Ordering stock should be the easiest part of running your venue, not an administrative chore.
Here is how we deliver on that promise:
1. Unrivalled Scale & Choice
We have thousands of expressions live on our platform right now, spanning high-volume speed-rail staples, trending Japanese whiskies, craft gins, and rare, single-cask allocations. This means you can consolidate your entire back-bar manifest into a single order. No juggling dozens of invoices, no chasing multiple delivery windows, and no gaps on your menu.
2. Proprietary Technology & Zero Friction
Our custom-built platform gives you instant, live visibility of our actual warehouse stock levels, transparent trade-only pricing, and an online sign-up process that takes minutes, not weeks. Reorder your core lines in seconds mid-service, track your deliveries in real-time, and manage your cash flow with flexible credit terms (subject to approval).
3. Total Flexibility: No MOQs & Next-Day Delivery
Minimum order quantities don't protect your margins; they tie up your hard-earned cash flow in dead stock sitting in a storeroom. We have eliminated MOQs. Whether you need a single ultra-premium bottle for a VIP table tonight or forty cases of house spirits for a bank holiday weekend, you get the same operational priority and reliable next-day UK delivery.
From high-volume rail efficiency to curated back-bar masterpieces, our mission is simple: We handle the logistics headaches so you can protect your profits and serve great drinks.
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We endeavour to offer same-day trade account approval so there's no delay in getting you whatever you need.
Give your guests the best drinking experiences and set yourself apart from the competition...
World class customer service
and don't just take our word for it...
Great team, top flexibility
"Master of Malt Trade is an exceptional team, from back office to personal account management. The massive product range is complemented by really competitive pricing. While not every product is cheaper than other suppliers, the account management offers the flexibility to ensure each order as a basket is priced very well."
Huna Bar
Nothing but praise for the team
"I could not be more pleased to work with Master of Malt Trade. My main wholesaler was not delivering at that time, so the offering was a lifesaver. Ordering and delivery are fantastic, with great service from beginning to end. I have nothing but praise for the whole team."
Little Gin Shack
Second-to-none service
"Since dealing with MoM Trade post-lockdown, the efficient order and delivery process has allowed me to get great products at competitive prices. This allows me to concentrate on running my bar in these challenging times, safe in the knowledge that my order will turn up the next day (even on a Saturday!)."
Jollies at The Hilltop
