The makers of York Gin have opened a new distillery with its own gin school inside one of the city’s finest city centre hotels.
York Distillery at Middleton’s Hotel will develop new spirits for the York Gin range.
And it will offer lessons in gin tasting, teach people how to make their very own unique gin, and host cocktail-making classes.
York Distillery officially opens on Friday 4 April.
The popular York Gin tasting experiences have been held in the business’s 16th century shop on Pavement for several years.
The new venue, built on top of the hotel’s disused swimming pool, will offer an increased number of classes in a beautiful, purpose-built space where attendees can enjoy a G&T at the bar after their class.
York Distillery’s business development manager Becky Tatham said: “York Gin opened the city’s first gin distillery years ago – and we’ve always made all our gins in York.
“Everything we do is of the very highest quality – so the beautiful Middleton’s Hotel is the perfect partner for us.
‘We’re delighted and excited to open this beautiful boutique distillery within the city walls. Shining copper stills of all sizes and the scientific distillery paraphernalia complement the elegantly-decorated space perfectly. It’s a spirit lover’s happy place!”
Middleton’s Hotel is owned by Daniel Thwaites. The hotel’s general manager Oliver Stott said: “We’re proud to welcome the new York Distillery to Middleton’s and we look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with the company.
“This is not only a fantastic way to bring a new lease of life to a disused space, but it’s another wonderful experience our guests can choose to enjoy as part of their stay.”
Classes at York Distillery
York Distillery Gin-Tasting Experience
The gin-tasting experiences provide a welcome G&T, tasters of the full York Gin range and a final G&T using the guest’s favourite York Gin flavour.
York Distillery Gin-Making Class
You will be guided through the basics of distillation, how to taste your favourite spirit like a professional – and you will make your very own unique spirit, blending and mixing botanicals until you find the perfect combination for you.
York Distillery Cocktail-Making Class
Learn the science and art of mixing perfect cocktails and then make some classics yourself. A thoroughly entertaining couple of hours to spend with friends, learning new skills.
York Distillery and York Gin are both owned by York Drinks. Director Natalie Hall said: “York Distillery is where the magic happens – as new flavour combinations are imagined and created by our talented distillers.
“Our main distillery and warehouse in the Murton area will continue to undertake the larger-scale distilling activities along with bottling, labelling and packing. This is also where our online operations will continue.
“Smaller distillations will happen at York Distillery, where guests will be able to join the team and learn about distillation while enjoying a cocktail.”
Natalie added: “We want York Distillery to help cement York’s reputation as one of the UK’s capitals of taste.
“Generations of flavour experts have made York their home – from the Terry and Rowntree families in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to the city’s amazing contemporary chefs and mixologists of the 21st Century. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this rich tradition.”
Find out more about York Distillery here.