If you fancy hand-distilled spirits made in Manchester, The Salford Distillery is a place you can’t miss out on. Their spirits are crafted in limited runs, influenced by fruits and spices, resulting in a variety of complex, bold, and balanced rum and gin flavours.

They don’t skimp on distillery experiences, ideal for rum connoisseurs and casual drinkers. They’ve got the usual tasting tour, which includes rum-mixed cocktails, and only costs £35.

In addition, they offer a dinner event through the Salford Rum X The Black Friar Event, which is a more extensive experience that’s ideal for couples. Slots have limited availability, though, except for their tasting tours.

Availability-wise, they’re golden. Their distillery in Salford is just minutes from the city centre, and although there’s no on-site parking, there’s plenty in the nearby areas.

You can’t go wrong with their distillery events, to be honest. They’re fairly priced for the quality of rum you get to taste and the inclusions per tour.

What a fantastic experience

“What a fantastic experience.  The staff were engaging, welcoming and very knowledgeable. The cocktails were very enjoyable and we learned lots about each type of rum we tried. The little extras like free delivery of our bottle of rum so we didn’t have to carry it round with us were very much appreciated as well!”

Helen Buszard, Google Review

The best tasting I have ever been to

“A wonderful experience – the best tasting I have ever been to! The cocktails were delicious (I’ve bought the ingredients myself today so I can make more) and the four rums on their own were delicious and had excellent variety. The atmosphere was outstanding – very cosy and enjoyable but my favourite part of the evening was Jackson and Hendo. They were warm and welcoming and so informative. Listening to the history of rum, and Salford, and the company was so interesting. This was a birthday gift for my partner and we could not be more thrilled! We plan on coming again in the future and bringing some friends along to experience it.”

Miss C Keller, Google Review

Defiance Distillery is the place for after-work drinks in Manchester. The vibe is simply spot on, and so is the drink selection, with gins, vodkas, whiskies, and cocktails.

Their Gin Academy takes the centre stage, where you’ll make your own 500ml bottle of gin, accompanied by a tour, light bites, tasting, and discounts when you purchase a spirit. But apart from that, there aren’t any tasting tours for quick experiences.

Still, they’re rather flexible, since they can accommodate your sober friends. As long as they’re given a heads-up a week before your schedule, they can work on providing non-alcoholic alternatives.

As for their spirit selection, we’re happy with what we’ve seen and sipped. They’ve got international award winners (like the Defiance Navy Strength Gin), flavoured gins, and fruity vodkas, all for prices that are rather fair, starting at £7.

Cracking spot

“Cracking spot for a few afternoon gins! The vibe’s always bang on, especially when they’re doing one of their 80s Decades Nights. The cocktails are next level, and the gin selection’s got something for everyone. Honestly can’t recommend it enough, proper gem of a place! 👌🏻🏭🍸”

James Thomason, Google Review

AAA+

“We were gifted the gin experience from friends and what an amazing afternoon it was. We keep looking back at the photos we took and thinking of when we can do it again. Set in an old mill on the edge of Saddleworth the distillery was immaculate and Paul created a warm and welcoming atmosphere which was both fun and interesting. His knowledge and passion for spirits really shon through and the products they create are fabulous. At the end of the afternoon we came away with our own gin and great memories. Highly recommended, if you see this experience online go for it you won’t be disappointed. AAA+”

David Swain, Google Review

We were rather smitten with The Spirit of Manchester Distillery because of their quality spirits. They have proof to back it up, with their award-winning and internationally recognised rums, gins, and vodkas.

They’re no longer a small distillery by any means, as they can distil up to a million bottles annually. They use both stainless steel and wooden barrels, offering both efficient and traditional distilling processes.

But here’s the thing: they don’t offer tasting tours and experiences anymore. You can find their bottles in various stockists across Greater Manchester, though, but the inaccessibility of events is a shame because we enjoyed attending one before.

You do get to choose from a vast selection for every budget, from balanced to complex profiles. If you fancy making your own gin or rum, you can do so by ordering from their website, where you select the flavours and order it to be crafted by the distillery team.

A fantastic experience

“What a fantastic experience. Definitely recommended even if you are not a regular gin drinker. Joe was a superb host and we got to make our own Gin as well 😁👍”

Owen O’Neill, Google Review

Great bar and distillery

“Great bar and distillery in the heart of the city, stunning location, interior and superb quality products which will only get better. Great selection of spirits and some truly great whisky.”

Craig, Google Review

We love the accessibility of Stockport Gin, a distillery in Greater Manchester that’s well worth a visit. It has every experience sorted, from tours to tasting to gin-making!

We highly recommend the gin-making activity for couples, since booking for two is more affordable than the individual ticket.

There are limited slots for gin-making, though, but it does result in a more personal experience. Interestingly, they host more laid-back events, such as painting and doodle nights, which are announced on their socials, albeit with limited spots.

Their limited availability makes sense, given their reasonable pricing. A tasting tour costs £25 per person, which is quite affordable compared to other distilleries in Manchester.

There’s quite a range of gin and vodka options too, despite only distilling small batches. The flavours are inspired by their Stockport home, so expect industrial town-inspired profiles and infusions.

A fantastic evening

“A fantastic evening learning all about how Stockport Gin got started, how the gin making process works and how to make our own gin! Paul was a great host, answering all our questions and making it a really fun experience. I went with my sister for a belated birthday celebration. Who needs traditional gifts when you can give the gift of gin making!”

Ruth Green, Google Review

Amazing fun

“Amazing fun had by all at the gin distillery tour. Paul was friendly, funny and informative. The gin was fantastic too. Our personal favourites are the original, twist of lime and gunpowder, but we wouldn’t turn our nose up at any of the Stockport Gin products. Highly recommend!”

Sophie O’Brien, Google Review

Rose of England is a bottle of exquisite flavours. This Manchester distillery focuses on Britain-made gins, perfectly crafted for cocktail concoctions.

Their bottles are award winners, which embody the English spirit. Although they have a small selection, primarily distilling gin liqueurs, they’re quite flexible for refreshing and vibrant cocktails.

Furthermore, the flavour profiles are light and balanced, making them bang on for every occasion. You can easily find a new cocktail recipe from their socials, whether you’re searching for a refreshing or complex flavour.

But they’re not the type of distillery that offers tasting tours or gin-making experiences. That’s a bummer, for sure, but we get it since there really isn’t a ton of bottles to choose from—actually, there’s only one, which is rather easy to purchase online.

They’re affordable, though, with a premium gin-based liqueur bottle costing £19.90, including VAT. For such a versatile product, that’s quite a steal.

Smooth, delicately floral, and wonderfully balanced

“I found Rose of England Gin Liqueur to be smooth, delicately floral, and wonderfully balanced – like sipping a little piece of the English countryside.”

Jan Kowalski, Google Review

The best liqueur I’ve ever had

“The best liqueur I’ve ever had. It tastes great with tonic and ice.”

Aneta Figlus, Google Review