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.
The Distiller.
No Frills.
Just Flavor.
Bill Tambussi - Lead Distiller
Bill didn’t just wander into distilling. The man studied it. A Master’s degree in distillation from Edinburgh, Scotland—which basically makes him the Highlander of high-proof. He’s helped shape Bluecoat Gin down in Philly, then kept climbing—refining spirits that ended up with fancy titles like “Best in Class” and “Best in the World” at the World Spirits Competition of San Francisco. Now? He’s here in Manchester, NH, putting that know-how to work in our stills.
No frills. No fluff. Just a guy who knows what he’s doing and a team that’s all in.
World-class spirits. Manchester-made.
That’s Bill’s legacy-in-progress—and we’re lucky to be part of it.
The Artist
Who Gave It A Face
David Hady - Branding & Experience
He doesn’t aim to just design labels. Dave designs feelings—the kind that hit before the cap’s even cracked. From the overall branding to the bottle, from the newsletters, social posts, and tasting room wall art. This is the hand of a local Manchester artist—someone who grew up here, walked up and down these streets, and knows this city like the back of a calloused hand. The grit, the pride, the strange charm of it all—it’s baked into every corner of MD’s brands.
Grit meets style.
Legacy meets edge.
Every color, curve, and typeface is a nod to the blue-collar past and the bold future we’re pouring into.
The spirit’s in the bottle. The story’s on the label.
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.