Gin lovers looking to catch a glimpse of how their favourite tipple is produced are in luck in 2023. Durham Distillers, producers of the award-winning Durham Gin, are opening up their brand-new distillery to visitors this Spring with bookings now available.
Nestled along the River Wear with the iconic Durham Cathedral as its backdrop, the multi-million-pound distillery adds even more drama to the picture-perfect location and promises to inject new energy into the city. Durham Distillers is the first and only distillery in Durham City to date.
Guests will be able to immerse themselves in various experiences, including the only gin-making class in the city, which gives you the chance to pick and mix your own botanicals and take home your own bespoke gin. It makes for a more imaginative date night, is also great for larger group birthdays and corporate team building.
The 90-minute distillery tour is designed to provide insight into the storied history of gin, as well as offer up a chance to witness how the North East’s premier spirit brand is crafted. The Cocktail Making Masterclass is ideal for beginners or those looking to sharpen their mixology game or celebrate a special occasion.
Perfectly curated
As you would expect, all experiences include the chance to indulge in Durham Gins' small yet perfectly curated collection of premium spirits.
With its close proximity to Durham high street, it's perfectly located for both locals and out-of-towners looking to experience the best the area has to offer. Durham Gin has proven to be the local success story the city was crying out for.
Boasting a buzzing nightlife scene thanks to its abundance of students and masses of weekly visitors, Durham Distillery is tipped to become one of the top local attractions amongst couples, corporate events, hen and stag parties, birthdays and groups of friends looking for a more experiential day out.
Founded by local-born brothers, Jon and Iain Chadwick, the inspiration for the brand was born during an epic trip Jon took at a pivotal point in his life. After rising through the ranks to become the NHS’ youngest chief executive at Teesside health authority during the noughties, Jon felt the need for change.
Micro-distillery culture
After leaving, he embarked on an extended holiday across America’s East Coast, taking in the likes of New York, Boston, New Jersey, and Cambridge. It was whilst spending time in the Ivy League towns such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton that he fell in love with the micro-distillery culture, which tends to thrive in college towns.
Not long after returning to his hometown of Durham, itself a popular hub for further education, he teamed up with his younger brother Iain and the pair set about realising his vision of their own microbrewery. Durham Gin was born.
Best in class
Fast forward to today and the multi-award-winning brand is stocked at Majestic wines, Fenwick’s, and several major supermarkets across the North East. Durham Gin is considered best in class and has truly put the area back on the map, helping to reinvent the local retail landscape.
Since launching their classic Durham Gin (still the bestseller to this day), variants including a mango gin, sloe gin, cask aged gin and even a Durham Vodka have all taken the spirits industry by storm. With a Durham Rye Whiskey currently in the pipeline, there are no signs of this North East firebrand slowing down soon.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Jon said: "With almost a decade of industry experience under our belts, the time has come to step the brand on and open our beautiful new distillery to the public. As well as taking our guests on a tasting journey designed to educate and show them exactly what we can do, our location and unique experience in the very heart of the city makes it essential. It also gives our guests the chance to create something themselves by crafting their own version of Durham Gin in our gin-making school."
"I genuinely believe a positive change is in the air as far as Durham’s leisure and nightlife scene is concerned and we’re very much part of that. We can’t wait to welcome our first visitors this Spring. We’re also excited to be getting closer to launching our own brand of Rye Whiskey, yet another first in our city."
