Distilleries, Tours & Gin Schools in Manchester
On This Page: Manchester Gin and Distillery guide and map, distillery tours and gin schools in Manchester, interviews with Manchester distillers, and behind the scenes features.
|
Manchester is well known for its nightlife and growing number of exceptional cocktail bars, and Britain's second most populated city also has a lot to enjoy for those looking for local gins and distillery tours. The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, home of Manchester Gin which was originally founded in 2016, is the largest of Manchester's distilleries and the only one to be in the city centre. A further ten distilleries can be found across Greater Manchester, three of which offer tours or Gin Schools, and if you look carefully you'll spot Manchester's bee symbol incorporated into the bottles and branding of several of the city's gins.
|
The gins featured in this guide are gins which, to the best of our knowledge, are produced in Manchester. There may be additional products named after places in Manchester or that are based in Manchester, however, they will not be featured in this guide if our understanding is that they are produced outside of Manchester.
Distillery Tours & Gin Schools in Manchester
Several of the wonderful distilleries in Manchester are open to visitors for tours, tastings or gin making experiences, which make for the ideal experience for gin lovers living in or visiting Manchester.
|
Manchester Gin Reviews - A to Z
Lucky Bee Gin
|
Lucky Bee Gin was launched in 2020 by fitness presenter Katy Moore and rugby player Stephen Appleby. The distillery is based at their home in Ashton-on-Mersey in Greater Manchester, with the brand inspired by Manchester's bee emblem. The distillery is home to a 3 Litre copper pot test still and 25 Litre stainless steel boiler and condenser, and the Lucky Bee range includes their El Classic Gin, navy strength Hench Gin, Raspberry Gin, Rhubarb Gin, and Tutti Frutti Gin.
|
No. 186 Gin
|
No. 186 Gin was launched in 2019 by husband and wife, Matt & Lynsey Postlethwaite, who are based in Lytham St Annes and are the founders of 'One Eight Six' bar in Manchester. After a fire devastated the bar in 2021 and delayed plans to start distilling there, the bar reopened at the end of 2023 complete with its distillery. The No. 186 Gin range also includes their Berries & Honey Gin, Passionfruit & Vanilla Gin, and their Wonky Duck Old Tom Gin made in collaboration with Coronation Street
|
Stockport Gin
|
Stockport Gin was launched in 2019 by husband and wife, Paul and Cheryl Sharrocks, who are both from Stockport. Having begun distilling in their garage at the home, in 2021 Paul and Cheryl opened their new distillery and shop in the centre of Stockport, home to their 100L stainless steel column still, and offering gin tastings, tours and Gin School experiences. The Stockport Gin range includes their navy strength Gunpowder Edition, Pink Edition, Pink Grapefruit & Pink Peppercorn Edition, Sustainable Edition, and Twist of Lime Edition.
|
Vokini Drinks - Pig & Wolf Gin
|
Vokini Drinks was launched in 2020. Founders Marta and Dom were unable to open their chain of 'Bap' coffee shops during the Covid pandemic and turned to their passion for spirits. Dom and Marta began by distilling in a T500 still above their Altrincham coffee shop and launched their Pig & Wolf Gin range. Since then their spirits portfolio has expanded to include their Vokini Gin range and PH60 Gin range. Their Altrincham coffee shop is now a licensed premises serving drinks onsite and selling the Vokini Drinks spirits ranges.
|
For more gins from Manchester, try:
- Boothstown Gin, Defiance Gin, Emerald Gin, Faith & Sons Gin, Manchester Gin, Tameside Gin, and Zymurgorium Gin.
Meet the Makers
Get to know some of Manchester's finest gin creators and distillers in our 'Meet the Maker' interviews. Find out what inspired them and how they created and launched their gin, how it's made, what botanicals are used, what you can experience if you visit their distilleries, how best to serve their gins, and what they have planned for the future:
Katy & Stephen Moore - Lucky Bee Gin
Read the Interview |
Cheryl & Paul Sharrocks - Stockport Gin
Read the Interview |
Marta & Dom - Vokini Drinks
Read the Interview |
