Claire Warner

No & Low Pioneer

Claire Warner has worked in the drinks industry for over 20 years, and throughout that time has worn many hats – an award-winning ambassador, consultant, writer and spirits judge, and finally, brand and spirit innovator. Today, Claire is best known as the co-founder of Æcorn, the world’s first range of British non-alcoholic aperitifs and the second largest NA brand after Seedlip, the category pioneer.

Claire Warner (nee Smith) began her corporate career in 2003, joining the LVMH owned brand, Belvedere Vodka and after a successful tenure as global brand ambassador, Warner was appointed Head of Spirit Creation and Mixology in 2009. In this role, Warner led the innovation team and oversaw the creation and development of 13 award-winning Belvedere expressions, bringing the flavour creation process in house from France to Poland. During this time, Warner led the global educational programmes for Belvedere and oversaw a team of 15 brand ambassadors stationed around the world.

Warner created Belvedere Unfiltered in 2011 and went on to develop the award-winning and pioneering terroir-inspired Belvedere ‘Single Estate’ Rye series. Warner was awarded ‘Vodka Producer of the Year’ in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by the International Spirit Challenge.

In 2015 Warner was awarded both Best International Brand Ambassador at Tales of the Cocktail, the ‘Oscars’ of the drinks industry, and Wine Spectator Ambassador of the year.

In 2018, Warner led the creation of a new commercial enterprise within Möet Hennessy which focused on crafting and delivering best-in-class education across the wine & spirits sector, positioning Möet Hennessy as the leader in education & advocacy for luxury brands. Warner was instrumental in building a culture of spirits education with MH, working with all global brand and communications teams to elevate above and below the line awareness and appreciation of the MH spirit portfolio, initiatives, guiding principles and missions. Warner’s mission was to set the global education strategy and direction for MH spirit portfolio and during her time in this role she developed an award-winning education programme. Throughout her time with MH, Warner was the consumer & media-facing spokesperson for the entire MH spirit portfolio, regularly featuring on high-profile TV programmes such as the Today Show, the Tonight Show and Conan O’Brian.

A tireless advocate for better health and wellness within the hospitality industry, Warner is credited with beginning the movement towards conscious consumption within the drinks industry and created the ‘Drink, Eat, Live’ platform in 2011. Aimed at promoting concepts and strategies for longevity in a demanding industry where alcohol takes centre stage, Warner has long championed bartender wellness, sugar reduction, and pioneered a movement towards a more natural approach to food and drinks. In addition, Warner pioneered the ‘positive drinking’ movement, championing lower ABV options for consumers, and advocating for less sugar and healthier drink options.
After meeting Ben Branson, founder of non¬-alcoholic distilled spirit Seedlip in 2011, the next step seemed only natural. Warner joined Branson in January 2018 and co-founded a new-to-world NA brand with the Seedlip founder. Warner led all aspects of brand, business and liquid development from market research, production, operations and marketing through to launch. Æcorn become the leading NA aperitif in the NA spirits segment within 18 months from launch.
Warner is considered one of the most respected authorities on drinks worldwide and is regularly interviewed by industry and consumer magazines including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Sunday Times, The New York Times, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Cocktail Lovers, Wine Spectator, Drinks Business, among many others. As a respected speaker, educator, mentor and industry advocate, whose reach extends well beyond the bar, Warner has been an event partner and keynote speaker with Tales of the Cocktail since 2005. In 2010 Warner was inducted into the ‘Dames Hall of Fame’ and won International Brand Ambassador of the Year in 2015.

Warner was the Tales of the Cocktail Co-Chair for the Culture and Co-Chair of the Spirited Awards for many years, before accepting a seat on the board of directors for the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation in 2022.

Claire resides in London with her husband and dog.