No. 186 Gin

Matt and Lynsey, a husband and wife team, run No. 186 Gin. This family business started as a personal project and became a premium craft gin brand. They named it after their Manchester City Centre bar, One Eight Six.

Matt's Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis in 2013 led them to gin. They wanted an alternative to their usual drinks. This led to a passion for premium craft gin. They tasted and studied various gins, eventually making their own with local ingredients.

No. 186 premium gin is their creation. They tested and refined it. The gin uses high-quality local ingredients and has no added sugar. This makes it suitable for Matt and others watching their sugar intake.

No. 186 gained popularity in Manchester, Lytham St Annes, and nearby areas. Matt, Lynsey, and the One Eight Six team then shared their gin across the UK. They call it the "Spirit of the North."

The brand also supports charity. They partner with Water for Kids. They donate 2,000 litres of water for every bottle sold. This charity provides safe water and health services in the developing world.

No. 186 has unique products. The Wonky Duck Old Tom Gin has Eccles cake flavours with currants, orange zest, spices, and local honey. The 186 Berries and Honey Gin is a small-batch gin. It balances raspberries, vanilla, honey, citrus, and juniper. The 186 Passionfruit and Vanilla Gin is a sugar-free version of the Pornstar Martini. It mixes passionfruit, vanilla, and other botanicals.

The Signature Gin is dry, smooth, and well-rounded. It uses local ingredients. The flavours include citrus, grapefruit, juniper, and a mix of spices. All these gins are distilled in a 500l Hybrid Copper column still made by Kothe in Germany. The base spirit is from barley and wheat in the North West.