Newcastle Micro-Distillery to Begin Make-Your-Own-Spirit Experiences Next Month
Moonshiners Institute, based in the city centre, will be running make-your-own Gin and Spiced Rum experiences from March.
The tiny, multi-spirit distillery has space for 18 people at a time to have a go at making their very own botanically flavoured booze. Each attendee will get use of their own ministill to make spirit in full view of the working distillery.
Their ‘Academies’ take around 3 hours, and in that time, guests make their very own bottle to take away with them. At an Academy class they will distil their own spirit while learning a bit more about alcohol and the spirit-making process. They will get to sample different spirits to understand their preferences better and to help inform their botanical choices for their own bespoke recipe. As part of the experience, guests will also enjoy Moonshiners’ signature cocktails, made with the booze produced at that very site.
Owner and Head Distiller, Luke, who has over a decade of distilling experience, will be running the sessions. He explains “I’m passionate about sharing how spirits are made. I don’t think most people know and just presume it’s the same as brewing. While there are similarities, it is quite different. Not to mention, the spirit industry is generally far less transparent. Moonshiners’ mission is for drinkers to understand more about spirits and what makes them taste the way they do, so they are better informed about what they are drinking and, hopefully, ultimately drink better spirits."
Luke runs Moonshiners Institute alongside his wife Grace. Both have backgrounds in the distilling industry. They launched their own range of 5 spirits in the Autumn, including rum, gin and American style spirits. They intend to continue experimenting and creating new editions while delivering the make-your-own Academies.
“We’ve been talking about doing these experiences for a good while”, Luke commented. “It was challenging with COVID and the tough times that followed for hospitality, and it has taken a fair bit of setting up. It’s just me and my wife; we’re a tiny business and doing virtually everything ourselves. But we’ve done it, you can now make booze in the toon!”
“We’d love the folk of the North East to get behind our independent business and to join us to learn about spirit making in a very hands-on, hopefully entertaining way. We think it’ll be a cracking day out!” Grace added.
Tickets cost £99 per person, and bookings are now open for weekend dates from mid-March. Corporate and private bookings are available. More experiences, including make-your-own Whisky, will begin in the Summer.
