Project Halcyon Distillery will be located in the basement of the Bonded warehouse – a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1860s, in the heart of Manchester.
The brainchild of Manchester’s first distillery Zymurgorium, the cocktail bar is shrouded in secrecy – with illicit charm and opulence, the bar hosts a state of the art distillery – the perfect place to unwind and escape the tiresome routine of everyday life.
Zymurgorium owners Aaron and Callum Darke have teamed up with Rory Bourke – formerly of The Whiskey Jar and Liars Club – to bring Project Halcyon, which will combine their love of distillation (including gin, whisky and spiced rum) with their belief in backing independent brands – to fruition and bring their unique imagination and flavours to the people of Greater Manchester.
Aaron Darke, Zymurgorium, added: “We have had Project Halcyon in the back of our minds for a long time.
“Fueled by our creative spirit, It is a gift back to the people of Manchester and we really want to create a venue where anyone and everyone is welcome.
“We’re showcasing the finest products from around the world – with XO cognac, vintage champagne and whisky aged for over 50 years – it’s the ultimate destination for decadent indulgence so why not launch at the end of Dry January!”
Rory Bourke, Project Halcyon manager, added: “Our philosophy is simple, by using the art distillation and modern culinary techniques not only do you get the best flavor from the produce we use but we can also create truly memorable experiences for our guests.
“Everything we do is designed with our guests in mind, every distillate we create and every ingredient that we make. They all start with the same end goal, being served over our bar”.
Project Halcyon will offer an innovative seasonal menu, craft spirits and liqueurs produced onsite, and immersive sessions distilling spirits as well as spirit tastings and a range of cocktail masterclasses.
The new bar will house a collection of rare and obscure spirits in their collection available to buy by the bottle. And the “store and pour” concept means that guests can buy a bottle from the collection – label it, lock it away and save it for the next visit.
