About Durham Distillery
Where Tradition Meets Transformation
Since 2013, we’ve called Durham North Carolina home — a place as bold and creative as the spirits we craft. As the makers of Conniption Gin, we’re proud to lead a modern gin renaissance from the heart of the Bull City, blending scientific precision with creative rebellion. Our mission is simple: to elevate the gin experience, spark connection, and celebrate every pour with purpose.
A Passion for Gin
About the Founders Melissa and Lee Katrincic
Meet the visionaries behind Durham Distillery. Melissa Katrincic is a trailblazer in modern distillation and the first female US distiller ever inducted into The Gin Guild whose scientific rigor and creative insight define every Conniption Gin. Lee Katrincic brings two decades of chemistry expertise and a deep respect for craft to oversee our entire distillation process with exacting care. Together they honor tradition while pushing boundaries to craft spirits that surprise and connect.
Modern Gin for a New Generation of U.S. Drinkers
About Conniption Gin
At the heart of Durham Distillery is Conniption Gin a modern American dry gin distilled using state of the art cold vacuum techniques. Our award winning portfolio from the color changing elegance of Kinship to the nuanced depth of our Barrel Aged expression showcases vibrant botanicals and uncompromising quality. Dive deeper into our process and passion on the About Conniption Gin page.
Our Home in Downtown Durham
Located in downtown Durham North Carolina our distillery occupies a lovingly restored former auto body shop and coffin manufacturer building. When we opened our on site cocktail lounge we named it the Corpse Reviver as a nod to that history and to the classic gin based cocktail that awakens the senses. Just across the street once stood the original Durham Bulls stadium immortalized by the Bull Durham movie. Today our industrial chic space preserves the building character from exposed brick to steel beams while welcoming guests into an elevated gathering place.
About Durham, North Carolina
Durham affectionately known as the Bull City has long been a crossroads of industry innovation and community. Once the heart of the tobacco trade our skyline now rises on the legacy of the City of Medicine anchored by Duke University and pioneering medical research. In the early twentieth century Black Wall Street flourished on Parrish Street forging a legacy of entrepreneurship and resilience that still shapes our spirit today. Durham’s diverse neighborhoods pulse with creativity with its revitalized downtown its world class arts scene award winning restaurants and vibrant festivals. Learn more about our city at Discover Durham.
Durham’s modern renaissance is fueled by the collaborative energy of the Research Triangle guided by the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina and home to world leading institutions like Duke University. Here groundbreaking science lives alongside spirited entrepreneurship and nowhere is that blend more alive than in our craft spirits culture.
