The Zymurgorium

Zymurgorium is an artisan distillery in Manchester, which was founded by Aaron Darke. He began brewing for his friends at university, where he studied microbiology and zoology. It was there that he decided to combine his love for all things botanical and scientific by embarking upon his first entrepreneurial adventure with Darke Crafts in 2012, setting up his business in his mother’s shed in Northern Moor.
What was, at the time, Britain’s sole craft meadery quickly turned into the Zymurgorium in 2013, the name of which comes from an amalgamation of the word zymurgy, the study of scientific brewing and emporium, a shop that sells various items and trinkets. In January 2014, the brand expanded into creating gin, with botanicals that Darke foraged, grew and sourced himself.
The business got a huge boost through a scheme called Test Town, a competition which pitted young entrepreneurs from across the UK against each other and culminated in a Grand Final in October 2014. Darke won and for his efforts received a £10,000 grant which was invested in Manchester’s first craft distillery. Since then, Zymurgorium has gone from strength to strength.