Sixtowns is a family-run distillery, bar and retail shop, based at World of Wedgwood in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. 

The popular brand was founded by Vitalijs and Alex Rackovs, from Latvia, who had the idea for the distinct kiln-shaped bottles back in 2018, but it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that they had time to launch their business. 

Their family had been distilling products since 1802 and when the brothers moved to Stoke-on-Trent in 1998, they continued the legacy. 

As well as a distillery, Sixtowns has a beautiful gin bar and retail shop inside their base at World of Wedgwood (Nub News).

Their popular London Dry gin was launched in 2020 and only a year later, the distillery at World of Wedgwood opened. 

Sixtowns then opened a gin bar in February 2023 and very shortly after, invited guests to book tours of their distillery where all products are made, bottled and labelled. 

On the tours, which last around 30 minutes, visitors are greeted with a welcome drink before being invited to walk around the distillery with an informative member of staff. 

Sixtowns London Dry gin was launched in 2020 (Nub News).

Sixtowns staff member, Abbie, took seven guests on a tour of the distillery on Saturday afternoon (12 August).

She showed visitors a range of different stills - which are used to make Sixtowns products - from different time periods, explaining the history of gin and gin making.

Abbie explained: "Gin originated in the 1600s but was used for medicinal purposes - it wasn't made for vibes or good times! 

"People then began to add things to make it taste nice and it became a luxury product, but gin only became big in the UK when William III put a tax on French wine so gin became popular because it was cheaper."

Abbie showed visitors a range of different stills from different time periods, explaining how they had developed and changed over time (Nub News).

Visitors also learned the process of distilling products and how different flavours are created before being invited to smell inside the stills and explore the huge range of botanicals used in Sixtowns products. 

"The order of placing botanicals is very important", said Abbie, "If you put, for example, strawberries at the end of the still, the product will have a finer note of strawberry, but if you want it as your main flavour, you'll have to put it closer to the start."

After the tour, guests were invited to sit down and enjoy each of the Sixtowns products - gin, pink gin, vodka and rum - with a mixer of their choice. 

Visitors were also invited to explore the huge range of botanicals that Sixtowns use in their products (Nub News).

Sixtowns tours take place every Saturday and Sunday at 12pm and 3pm and cost £25 per person. 

To book a tour of Sixtowns and discover the wonder of spirits for yourself, visit the website.

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Stoke Nub News is proud to announce that Sixtowns is the latest sponsor of our news service.

Sixtowns' support will help us deliver the high-quality journalism that Stoke deserves - no clickbait or intrusive ads, just the latest updates on what's happening in our city.

It is thanks to the generosity of organisations like Sixtowns that we can continue our mission to revive local news, both in Stoke and across the UK.