What did you do before launching SIXTOWNS? Before creating our spirits, we specialised in selling Genio distillery equipment, helping set up over 100 craft distilleries across the UK, something we still do today. When COVID hit, we felt it was finally time to launch our brand, and that’s when SIXTOWNS was born. What inspired you to create your distillery and gins? Distilling runs deep in our family. Our heritage goes back to 1802 in Rezekne, Latvia, where our grandparents and parents distilled at home. After moving to Stoke-on-Trent in 1998, we fell in love with the city’s rich ceramic history and craftsmanship. In 2016, we began selling Genio stills, and launching our spirit range felt like a natural next step. SIXTOWNS brings together our Latvian distilling roots and Stoke’s creative spirit. We also wanted to do something visually unique, which is why our spirits are bottled in handcrafted ceramic bottles, paying tribute to the city’s world-famous pottery legacy.
What’s the meaning behind the name SIXTOWNS? SIXTOWNS refers to the six towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent: Stoke, Fenton, Longton, Burslem, Tunstall and Hanley. It’s our way of celebrating the area we’re proud to call home. Can you tell us about your distillery setup and why you chose it? We run a range of Genio stills at the distillery - they’re essentially the Teslas of the distilling world: sleek, efficient, and remarkably clever. They give us complete control over every part of the process, which is exactly what you want when you’re working with different spirits like gin, vodka, or the occasional misbehaving rum. The real win is flexibility. Having multiple stills means we can run different recipes at the same time, essential when we’re juggling our range alongside the bespoke spirits we create for clients. We can take an idea from concept to bottle quicker than most people decide which gin to crack open on a Friday night.
What’s your distillation process like, and do you use any unique botanicals? We distil in small batches using vapour infusion – a gentle technique that allows us to draw out delicate flavours without overwhelming the botanicals. It’s more of a spa for botanicals rather than a hard boil, helping us craft a smooth, refined spirit every time. Our botanicals are a mix of the familiar and the unexpected. Alongside staples like citrus peel and juniper, we’ve experimented with cherry blossoms and even banana leaves in some of our contract recipes. They might raise a few eyebrows, but they work. Every ingredient has a purpose, and we stay hands-on throughout, fine-tuning temperatures, making the cuts, and keeping a close eye on every detail to ensure consistency and quality in every batch. Sustainability is also a big part of how we work. The Genio stills are energy-efficient, we use recyclable packaging, and we’re always looking for ways to lighten our footprint. Great gin and other spirits shouldn’t cost the Earth. What can visitors expect from a SIXTOWNS tour or experience? Our distillery is based at the World of Wedgwood, and every tour begins with a welcome cocktail at our bar. From there, guests go behind the scenes to see our Genio stills and learn how we craft our spirits with a bit of history on how it all started. The tour finishes with a tasting of four SIXTOWNS spirits paired with Fever-Tree mixers, and visitors are welcome to stay for snacks, drinks, or one of our monthly bar events.
What’s your favourite way to enjoy SIXTOWNS gin?
Our go-to serve is our Iconic London Dry Gin, which we pair with grapefruit, lemon, rosemary, and Fever-Tree tonic. It’s fresh, zesty, and brings out the citrus and botanical notes. But we always say: the best way to drink gin is the way you like it. And finally, your Desert Island Gins — which three would you take (besides your own)?
What’s next for SIXTOWNS? Any exciting plans? With the launch of the SIXTOWNS Spirit Academy, we’re giving guests the chance to distil their gin, vodka, or rum and take home a bottle they’ve crafted themselves. We’re also working on a series of limited-run products to expand the SIXTOWNS range, so expect some exciting new spirits soon. At the heart of SIXTOWNS is a belief in craftsmanship, heritage, and hands-on distilling. We’ve got some secret projects in the pipeline for the next couple of years… but you’ll have to follow our story to see what’s coming! You Might Also Like...
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