Gin company installs 4.2-metre still at new city centre distillery

Manchester Gin will be distilled from its new home under Grade-II-listed brick railway arches in central Manchester from next month.

Today marks a key milestone in the distillery’s development as the new 1,000-litre still is installed.

Standing at 4.2 metres tall, Wonder Wend is a traditional copper still and will be the largest of the four stills.

Named after co-founder Jen’s mum, who sadly passed, the still’s name is a fitting tribute to her as it is the latest to be named after a strong, inspirational woman.

She will take her place alongside Emmeline and Victoria after Emmeline Pankhurst and Victoria Wood, two fantastic North West legends.

When the new still is fully up and running the new distillery will have the capacity to produce more than a million litres of gin every year.

This will allow Manchester Gin to significantly up its production from 80,000 bottles per year, with the new space providing plenty of room for future growth.

Seb and Jen, who set up Manchester Gin, have come a long way since their first batches of gin, which were distilled in their dining room just three years ago.

Master distiller Jen said: “It was our ambition to open our own bar. Now we’re opening a bar and restaurant, but also an amazing visitor experience in the distillery itself where customers can experience the magic of gin – even make their own.

“So, this is truly a dream come true. We can’t wait to welcome the first visitors through the door and experience the Manchester Gin story.”

Spanning across six of the railway arches underneath the iconic Manchester Central, experiences in the Spirit of Manchester Distillery will range from distillery tours and guided tastings, to intimate gin-making sessions.

Guests will learn about the history of the brand and the history of Manchester in the very distillery where the gin is made.

Manchester Gin co-founder and master distiller, Seb Heeley, said: “We’ve always been passionate about our customers being a part of the Manchester Gin journey, and we are delighted that we can now offer the opportunity for visitors to see how our gin is made and experience it in a totally different way.”