Making Gin With Manchester Three Rivers

“For Manchester Is The Place Where People Do Things.”

Hold a Gin event, and I’m there – I’m totally for the whole Gin movement which has become so big in the last three years, and in that time I’ve managed to try my fair few brands, but up until this year, I’d never tried Manchester Three Rivers. In the last year alone I’ve been to 3 Gin festivals, started collecting bottles for table centrepieces at our wedding, and ordered an incredible number of Gin and tonics.

I was invited down to their Gin experience where you learn about the history of Gin and Manchester’s part in the whole revolution of the drink, and get to make your own bottle at the end. The name ‘Three Rivers’ comes from the three rivers of Manchester – the Irwell, the Irk and the Medlock – which were cornerstones of the industrial revolution and played a huge part with putting Manchester on the map.

Three Rivers is produced in the City of Manchester distillery on the edge of the Green Quarter in an old railway arch. The Gin itself is made in small batches by the master distiller, Dave Rigby, whose ambition was to create a drink that was as rounded and distinct as the city itself.

When you arrive, you are given a Gin and Tonic with a cherry in, and sit down to watch a video all about Manchester’s role in the Gin movement and Industrial Revolution. The video is really interesting and informative and makes you feel almost proud of living in a city which such a rich heritage – or maybe it was the Gin talking…

After the video, you are taken downstairs to where the Gin is produced and bottled and taught more about that whole process, whilst sampling a Gin cocktail which tasted of parma violets. You are introduced to the copper pot ‘Angel’ whilst hearing all about the production and how everything is done on site.

Once you are suitably merry, you are taken next door to produce your own bottle of Gin. First things first though, you are taught about the whole process and how the individual copper pots work, before going to pick your botanicals from such a huge range of over 50: I went for Rose and Almond in mine. After about 20 minutes, and when your alcohol has reached the optimum temperature, the Gin is bottled for you to take home.

After putting your label on the bottle, you are taken back into the bar to enjoy a final cocktail.

The experience itself is voted as Tripadvisor’s ‘best thing to do in Manchester’ and I would agree. The whole experience lasts around 3 hours and costs £95 per person, which may seem a bit steep, but it is such an enjoyable evening and the fact that you can tailor your bottle’s flavours to anything you want, is pretty cool. The staff are all so nice and really take the time to get to know you and teach you everything you could possibly want to know about Gin.

My only advice? Try and do this on a weekend if you don’t fancy a weekday struggle at work the next day! Find out more here.

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Have you done the Gin experience?