1 Rougier St, York YO1 6HZ, UK
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
The West Yorkshire Gin.
Drawing inspiration from the diverse city of Bradford, the hometown of our distiller Dom. Our spiced, aromatic gin contains a fine blend of flavours which include cardamom, turmeric, cumin, cubeb and grains of paradise. For us it’s pure curry in a glass.
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
Hooting Owl Distillery opens in York’s Rougier Street
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
By Darren Greenwood Business Editor Yorkpress
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
IT was certainly a Good Friday in Rougier Street yesterday, with the ‘Grand Opening’ of the Hooting Owl and Curious Cat distillery.
Everybody was in good spirits, enjoying the plush surroundings, comfort and excellent drinks with friendly service in the former Society Lounge and Bar.
There was beers, ciders, lagers, an extensive range of wines, not to mention the variety of artisan gins, vodkas and rum now made on site following the relocation of the business from Barmby Moor, Pocklington.
A soft launch earlier in the week allowed some ‘walk-ins’ curious at the new arrival to sample the wares and experience a major new destination to the York visitor scene and ‘break’ the staff in gently.
READ MORE:
- Hooting Owl and Curious Cat Distillery opens on Good Friday
- Hooting Owl and Curious Cat Distillery to open in York
There was also a day for the hospitality and trades attracting 150 guests and on Thursday, YO1 Radio also enjoyed a ‘fab evening’ broadcasting from the venue.
Friday’s opening saw many family, friends and neighbour’s with a military bent, given distillery owner Dominic M’Benga’s army heritage. Guests of honour included a couple of Chelsea Pensioners.
The wider public were able to enjoy the delights of the distillery in the evening, with its first full day today (Saturday).
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York / The Bar
In addition to the lounges and bar, there will also be a shop and tours of the distillery with tastings, will also be available. In several weeks’ time, food will also be offered.
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York / Dominique
Glen Allan from York called the premises ‘fantastic’.
The fellow army veteran has served with Dom in the Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire and also helped with the renovations of the former nightclub. They also motorcycle together.
Glen continued: “It’s very upmarket. It’s great to be able to come here and relax. The people will be friendly to everybody. I think it’s great, fantastic. Hopefully, it will thrive.”
Chelsea Pensioner Jan Brodie-Murphy describes Dom as an ‘extra-ordinary man’ who has done ‘extra-ordinary things.’
Jan continued: “To bring this together. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s first class. It’s got to be a gem in York.”
Chelsea Pensioner Alan Gill agreed.
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
“Dom has faced real adversity but he has really got on with it. He had a vision and has gone from strength to strength.”
“The venue is very comfortable, very classy. Anyone can come in and enjoy themselves.”
Photographer Lee Bullivant, who had also served with Dom, said he had done a great job.
“It’s fantastic, a lovely venue.”
Ben Patchesa, who lives nearby, said: “It’s great that somewhere that is good is now on this side of the river. Hopefully, it will prove a magnet for other nice places to open.”
Wife Dawn added: “There’s a really great selection of gins.”
Friends of their’s added: “It’s funky, chilled, classic.”
Laura Dickson said: “It’s lovely, really nice. I like the décor. Everybody is friendly and welcoming.”
Victoria Fieldhouse added: “I enjoyed the gin very much.”
I did too and you could say the opening was a real hoot!
About Us.
The Hooting Owl Distillery York, started life at Barmby Moor House, a historic coaching in at the foothill of the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Our Owl, “Sir Owlfred Tyton Hodgins” sits aloft the porch as he has done for a couple hundred years. We take our inspiration from the history, the military, the flora & fauna, the art and flavours from around the Yorkshire region to create a top-quality range of hand-crafted, small batch spirits. In early 2024 the distillery moved to within the city walls of York, to become the first licenced distillery inside the bar walls, the only distillery currently in the city.
We are an artisan distillery producing London Dry Gins, Fruit Gins, Premium Vodka, Quality Rums and soon to be launching two new products, a York Gin based on the history of our great city, and our take on Bourbon – The Corny Owl.
The capacity of our new distillery is circa 1,000 bottles of distilled spirit per day with multiple distillation runs from our 9 small batch stills. We do not operate to capacity as we hand-craft our products in order to guarantee quality and consistency.
Our distillery is open to the public from Midday, 7 days a week you can relax in our lounge and watch the distillery in action.
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
The Story of Sir Owlfred
The curious, whimsical story of The Hooting Owl Distillery and the legend of Sir Owlfred Tyton Hodgins, is as captivating and mysterious as the history of Barmby Moor House itself.
When Dom acquired the old Yorkshire manor house at Barmby Moor in 2017, he embarked on an extensive restoration of the historic property.
It was as he was refurbishing the old scullery that he stumbled across an intriguing, concealed floor safe which had belonged to a former resident of Barmby Moor House, Sir Owlfred Tyton Hodgins.Hiding within was a single bottle of Sir Owlfred’s Hooting Owl Signature Gin and an old book containing many of his secret recipes.
Tied carefully to the book was a small diary of his development journey which he had titled ‘A Tour of Yorkshire’. The diary, embellished with drawings of his distillery, clearly showed it had been located in the stable buildings to the back of the house, buildings which still existed, albeit in a somewhat dilapidated state.
This extraordinary discovery began a new, exciting chapter in the Hooting Owl story. Dom, as Sir Owlfred had done before them, set out on a journey which was to draw inspiration from all four corners of Yorkshire to lovingly distil a range of high quality artisan spirits in the very location it was thought to have begun in 1865.
Today, the ethos of The Hooting Owl Distillery is heavily influenced by Yorkshire and is intrinsically woven with the story of Sir Olwlfed, the name Hooting Owl deriving from the prominent golden owl statue that takes pride of place above the entrance to the house – affectionately addressed as Sir Owlfred Tyton Hodgins.
Hooting Owl Signature Gin
Regular price£38.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCRIPTION
Our recipe is an old fashioned Juniper leading style, with additions of Coriander Seed and Liquorice Root twined with Angelica Root. Then the Rowan / Mountain Ash berries to add a drier mouthfeel.
TASTING NOTES
As with all true gins, the taste explosion of Hooting Owl’s Signature Gin starts with juniper. Complemented by citrus notes of bitter orange and grapefruit, earthiness from mountain ash and the sweetness found in liquorice and cassia bark, our Signature Gin is finished with spicy notes of cubeb and grains of paradise. The result is a rich, aromatic, very smooth ‘ginny’ gin.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve over ice with a slice of red grapefruit or orange for a fruit sensation. Alternatively, add a simple slice of cucumber for a refreshing clean taste. Serve with a high-quality Indian tonic.
Hooting Owl North Yorkshire Gin
Regular price£38.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCRIPTION
Forged by nature, our North Yorkshire gin takes inspiration from the wild, earthy beauty of the North Yorkshire Moors, between Thirsk and Whitby, where we harvest heather and bilberries, when in season. The lovingly prepared mix of botanicals, and the exacting way in which we distil our gins, makes our North Yorkshire Gin a very smooth, flavoursome, ‘fruity’ gin.
GREAT TASTE – TASTING NOTES
“An appealingly, rounded and intriguing fruit heavy nose with a highly botanical aroma, and clear notes of heather gives way to a refreshing, bright taste with a pleasing natural sweetness on the palate, with plenty of botanicals jostling away, leading to a smooth, bitter finish and distinct character.”
“Really quite lovely.” – Great Taste Award 2019 judges’ comments
PERFECT SERVE
Serve over ice, with one-part gin and three parts tonic. We recommend a high-quality, plain tonic as we believe the flavour should come from the gin rather than the tonic. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit, a fresh sprig of thyme and a few pink peppercorns.
Hooting Owl East Yorkshire Gin
Regular price£38.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCIPTION
Inspired by the rugged, breath-taking Yorkshire coastline, our East Yorkshire gin combines hints of the sea (kelp) with botanicals influenced by the meandering journey to the coast through the rolling Yorkshire Wolds including honey, dandelion, lavender, berries, and Hawthorne blossom.
Transport your senses to the idyllic Yorkshire Wolds with the luxurious East Yorkshire Gin, inspired by David Hockney’s masterpiece, The Big Hawthorne from 2008.
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
TASTING NOTES
The flavours effortlessly blend with juniper and citrus during our precise distillation process to create a smooth, sweet, floral, flavour-packed ‘traveling’ gin.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve over ice, with one-part gin and three parts tonic. We use a plain, high-quality tonic as, at Hooting Owl, we believe the flavour should come from the gin not the tonic. Garnish with a sage leaf and a slice of orange or grapefruit.
Hooting Owl South Yorkshire Gin
Regular price£38.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCRIPTION
Influenced by the depth of flavour found in the famous Barnsley chop, our South Yorkshire gin blends the earthiness of mountain ash with the sweetness of liquorice and cassia bark. An added hint of mint and rosemary combine to create a beautifully fresh, crisp, ‘herby’ gin.
TASTING NOTES
Herbaceous on the nose, with a powerful rosemary punch and fresh mint aroma. The rosemary blooms in the mouth, with elements of wood, receding into a pleasant, clean, mellow aftertaste, with the botanicals working harmoniously to create a fresh, crisp herbaceous gin of character.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve over ice, with one-part gin and three parts tonic. We recommend a high-quality, plain tonic as we believe the flavour of the gin should be predominant. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or a sprig of rosemary.Share
Hooting Owl West Yorkshire Spiced Gin
Regular price£38.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCRIPTION
Drawing inspiration from the diverse city of Bradford, the hometown of our distiller, this spiced, aromatic gin contains a fine blend of earthy flavours which include cardamom, turmeric, cumin, cubeb and grains of paradise. Carefully sweetened with liquorice (Pontefract Cakes) and cassia bark, this precisely weighed botanical mix, combined with the lovingly accurate way in which we distil our craft gins, makes for a very smooth, flavour-packed ‘spiced’ gin. This really does evoke a curry in a glass.
GREAT TASTE TASTING NOTES
A clear spirit with an intriguing heavy spice on the nose. The cardamom-rich aroma gives way to the warmth of the coriander and cubeb pepper on the palate, followed by the rich spice of the turmeric and cumin creating a distinctive savoury-spiced gin of depth and character with a pleasant cardamom finish.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve over ice, with one-part gin and three parts tonic of ginger ale. Add pink peppercorns, a cardamom pod and a star anise to produce a complex yet clean flavour explosion.
Tipsy Toad London Dry Gin
Regular price£29.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCRIPTION
Experience the perfectly balanced blend of 14 botanicals in our handcrafted gin, featuring Juniper as the star, accented by the vibrant flavours of Red Grapefruit and Bitter orange. Enhanced with the exotic notes of cubebs and grains of paradise, and rounded out with the subtle elegance of Borage and Lavender from the English countryside.
TASTING NOTES
Citrus & Spice “The perfect blend of tangy citrus and spicy flavours will add a refreshing zing to your favourite cocktails. Impress your friends with this lively twist on a classic London Dry Gin!”
PERFECT SERVE
Just add a slice of orange and ice for an extra cool and refreshing twist. You’ll get a taste of sunshine in every sip!
Hooting Owl Distillery Veterans Gin
Regular price£48.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCRIPTION
For those who like something a little stronger; our aromatic Veterans Gin is packed full of carefully chosen botanicals and then aged for three months to enhance the smoothness of the spirit. Bottled at 48% ABV, Hooting Owl Veterans Gin is an extremely smooth, strong gin.
TASTING NOTES
Created for those who crave a bold flavour profile, the meticulously crafted Veterans Gin boasts a unique blend of botanicals and a three-month aging process to produce a smooth, extra spirit. At 48% ABV, Hooting Owl’s Veterans Gin is the epitome of strength and refinement.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve over ice with either red or pink grapefruit and a twist of orange peel, or a slice of orange and Indian tonic water.
Hooting Owl Rhubarb & Vanilla Gin
Regular price£38.00
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
DESCRIPTION
A full strength (42% abv) distilled gin made using only natural, real fruit flavours and colourings, this gin is sugar-free, so you only receive the very best Yorkshire raspberry taste.
TASTING NOTES
Carefully crafted to combine the unique taste of Hooting Owl Distillery’s botanical gin with the sweetness of ripe Yorkshire raspberries, this ‘VIE’ fruit flavoured gin delivers a smooth, clean taste, crisp aroma and a natural, blushing colour. A fruit pink gin to satisfy all the senses.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve over ice, alone, or with a top-quality mixer of your choice. Try adding fresh strawberries or a slice of orange, for a little something extra.
Visit Us, York Distillery Tours & Gin Tasting
Welcome to The Hooting Owl Distillery
Yorkshires premier, award winning, artisan spirits distiller & winner of multiple Great Taste awards
Situated just a short walk from York train station, within the Bar Walls of one of the most historic and beautiful cities in the world. Every drop of Hooting Owl gin, rum & vodka is distilled here.
Distillery Tour and Gin Tasting
Your journey starts with a warm welcome followed by a generous Hooting Owl Signature gin.
You’ll tour our distillery, learning about the distillation process and what makes Hooting Owl so special.
Then into our lounge bar to taste 4 more of our world-class gins whilst gaining an understanding of how the botanicals influence the flavours and, most importantly, how to maximise your next gin! All this wrapped up in a Hooting Owl tale.
The tour will finish with another full measure of your choice from The Hooting Owl range.
No worries if gin isn’t your tipple of choice as we also distil a selection of vodkas and rums which you can sample instead.
Once your tour is complete, you’re welcome to stay with us and soak up the atmosphere. Our lounge bar is open from 12pm to 11pm 7 days a week.
Hooting Owl Gin Fine Distillery York
What’s included?
A welcome Hooting Owl gin with mixer
An informative tour of our distillery with photo opportunities
A fun and entertaining sampling session with our distiller
Another full measure of Hooting Owl gin with mixer
A right good Hoot!
Please note
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller / pram accessible
- Animals or pets allowed
- Public transportation nearby
- Infants must not sit on laps
- Infant seats unavailable
- Wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
