Manchester Distillery, Crafting The Grit of The Queen City
Toasting To A Resilient Past.
Saluting To A Innovative Future.
At Manchester Distillery, we don’t just make booze—we aim to bottle the spirit of a city that never stopped building. Our home was chiseled into granite foundations by strong hands and stubborn hearts. From our immigrant ancestors laying bricks ‘til their backs gave out, to the current generation who swapped steel-toe boots for tech startups and gave our Millyards new meaning and purpose.
We’re not here to simply romanticize the past. That story’s been told a thousand times. But we do respect it—because it’s still in us. In the way we show up. In the way we create. In the way we keep going.
This is a city for people who don’t need spotlights. Who take pride in the doing, not the show. And if you’ve ever worked with your hands, chased a dream, or built something from nothing—you’re part of this story too.
Old-school work ethic. New-school ideas. Built, distilled, and bottled, right here.
The Dreamer.
The Distillery.
& The Shoe Factory.
Liz Hitchcock - Founder
Manchester Distillery established and opened in August 2023 with founder Liz Hitchcock at the helm. Her vision wasnt to make just another pretty bottle. She set out to build something real—a distillery with backbone, great-tasting spirits, and stories strong enough to stand on.
Manchester Distillery was built onto the historic grounds of the JF McElwain Shoe Co. mill building (Also known as Cohas Shoe Factory), now called The Factory on Willow. We don’t distill inside the mill—we live in its shadow. Proudly. Liz envisions a thriving local and regional following drawn to our great-tasting products and immersive distillery tasting room experience with engaging storytelling.
See more of Liz’s projects at OrbitGroup.com
The Distiller.
No Frills.
Just Flavor.
Bill Tambussi - Lead Distiller
Bill didn’t just stumble into distilling — he went and learned it properly. Master’s degree out of Edinburgh, Scotland. Yeah, that Edinburgh. Means he knows his way around a still better than most.
He helped shape Bluecoat Gin down in Philly, kept moving, kept refining — and somewhere along the way picked up titles like “Best in Class” and “Best in the World” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Not the kind of thing you accidentally win.
Now he’s here in Manchester, NH, putting that experience to work. No big speeches. No extra noise. Just someone who knows what he’s doing and a team that shows up ready.
World-class spirits. Manchester-made. The rest is just time doing its thing.
The Brand Guy
David Hady - Branding & Experience
He’s not just designing labels, he’s setting a tone. Something you feel before the bottle’s even open. Branding, bottles, newsletters, social posts, tasting room walls — it all comes from the same place.
Dave’s a Manchester local. Grew up here. Walked these streets long enough to know where the polish ends and the real story starts. The grit, the pride, the weird charm — it shows up whether he’s trying to put it there or not.
Workhorse meets style. Old bones with a sharp edge.
Every color, every curve, every type choice nods to where we came from — and where we’re headed next.
The spirit’s in the bottle. The story’s already waiting for you.
Community Sponsorships
Is your organization looking for a sponsorship in 2025? Learn more about our potential sponsorship opportunities and see if Manchester Distillery is a fit for you.