Quintessential Brands to open new Thomas Dakin gin distillery

Work has started on Quintessential Brands’ new distillery and visitor centre for Thomas Dakin gin, located in Manchester, UK.

The venue, which received full planning permission in 2018, will open in early autumn this year, consisting of a working gin distillery, a bar and an event space for hospitality and entertaining.

It is expected the facility will create more than 50 jobs and will have the capacity to produce more than 1 million bottles of gin every year.

Quintessential Brands, which also owns brands such as Greenall’s Gin and The Dubliner Irish Whiskey, said the new distillery will continue the legacy of Thomas Dakin, who it describes as “the 18th century visionary who pioneered the development and refinement of quality English gin and set the benchmark for London dry gin in 1761”.

The team behind the new distillery plans to produce gins that Dakin would be proud to put his name to today, combining traditional techniques employed by Dakin himself centuries ago, with modern methods to break new ground in craft gin.

David Hume, director of Thomas Dakin at Quintessential Brands, said: “At last, it’s happening – the Thomas Dakin gin distillery will soon be a reality. As the label on the bottle says, the Thomas Dakin legacy lives on, but with this new distillery, we’re going to be breaking new ground in craft gin distilling and really championing the great craft heritage that Manchester has.

“Dakin was a true visionary of his day and the distillery will continue Thomas Dakin’s great gin-making legacy, while highlighting to the world the northwest’s important place in the colourful history of gin.”

Leading the vision and design of the distillery is Manchester-based creative agency Love.

“We’re delighted Thomas Dakin appointed Love to design their new immersive gin distillery experience in Manchester,” said Love founder and executive creative director David Palmer.

“As a brand with a rich and compelling story to tell of gin and our homeland city of Manchester, this project feels even more special to us. We’re certain the unsurpassed craftsmanship and storytelling elements of the design will delight gin drinkers and connoisseurs from all over the world for years to come.”

Earlier this month, Quintessential Brands added a new production line at its G&J Distillers production site in Warrington, UK, which will produce 5cl glass bottles to serve the increasing demand for miniature bottles of spirits.