It’s been quite the year for us here at McQueen Gin and it looks set to continue to be an even greater 2019 with some exciting plans in the pipeline which we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months! As we continue to grow and our demand for our gin gets even greater, we thought it would be a great opportunity to step back from the gin making and get to know about some of our wonderful stockists around the UK and beyond!

This week we speak to Elaine the Managing Director at the Atlas Bar and we find a little bit more about their operation in Manchester. The Atlas Bar has become an icon in Manchester over the last two decades and has been renowned for providing the best quality gins from all around the world (over 420 at their last count!). They have won numerous awards and their aim is to make Atlas the very best place there is to explore the world of gin - if you’re ever down in the area then make sure to give this place a visit! Take a look at what Elaine had to say below:

Tell us all about The Atlas Bar
“We are a family run business and we look to offer our customers great quality drinks, in a relaxed, welcoming and authentic environment. Our team are passionate about gin and they love to share their knowledge and expertise in a down to earth way with our customers.We love being able to introduce consumers to gin and all it has to offer, we are passionate about what we do and love being able to share our passion with others. We enjoy introducing our customers to new gin experiences too, like our Master Classes, Supper Clubs and various bespoke events.”

When thinking about what to stock, what do you look for?
“Over the past few years we have gained a reputation for bringing new gin brands to market, not just in Manchester, but also the UK. We’ve also brought many gins back from our personal travels across the world. We love introducing gins that have real provenance and great stories behind them and of course, most importantly, great taste!”

What made you want to stock McQueen Gin?
“Mark, Atlas owner, met the McQueen owners and distillers at a trade event, and was immediately engaged with both Dale and Vicky and their gin range. They were clearly passionate about their product and these are exactly the traits that we look for with all of our new launch gins; quality products that are made with real care and pride. This completely comes through in their range!”

What do you think the main appeal about McQueen Gin is to your customers?
“They love that we can talk so enthusiastically about the owners but equally love the history of the products and most importantly the amazing flavour profiles. Our customers also love the beautiful design of the bottles.”

When thinking of gin in general, what do the current customer and popularity levels look like?
“The gin boom continues to grow and our customers love to explore what’s new on the market. Flavoured gin is definitely having its moment, but great quality traditional London Dry Gins are still the firm favourite here at Atlas.”

If you could have any 3 people in the world into your bar for a drink, who would they be and why?
“Michelle Obama and the Queen would definitely be top of my list, it would be fascinating to hear about their favourite gins and the best places that they’ve enjoyed a G&T, and what their most memorable ones were! Joanna Lumley’s alter-ego, ”Patsy”, from Ab Fab would also have to be there as she’d be great fun, it would be great to hear about Joanna’s travels when she gets back!”

We would like to thank Elaine for taking the time to speak to us about The Atlas Bar in Manchester, it’s great to see the passion and love they have for all the gin they stock and the work they do. If you’re ever in the Manchester area then make sure to check these guys out – you won’t leave disappointed!