gin distillery tour bombay sapphire

Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Top ways to experience Bombay Sapphire Distillery and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Bombay Sapphire Distillery - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour and Cocktail Ticket (From ₹ 2,134.80)
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Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour and Cocktail Ticket

• Discover how gin is made at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery
• Choose between a self-guided and guided tour upon booking
• One cocktail is included in your tour price
• Easy access via public transit makes planning a cinch
• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Entry/Admission - Bombay Sapphire Distillery
• Shuttle service tickets
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Minimum drinking age is 18 years (under 18s must be accompanied at all times by an adult). A 'Challenge 25' policy is in place, valid photo ID is required.
• Do not wear open-toed shoes or high heels to the distillery.
• A small amount of walking is involved and there are some uneven surfaces.
• Wheelchair accessible - manual wheelchairs are available to book on request.
• Operates in all weather conditions and parts of the tour are outside, please dress appropriately.
• Most travelers can participate
• The Bombay Sapphire Distillery is a cashless venue and only card or contactless payments will be accepted.
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

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• philly14643 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Loved the experience! Amazing tour! Loved the experience and Mark was an excellent guide! Really enjoyed learning about the history of the buildings and the gin making process. Read more Written April 7, 2024
• GrumpyManLovelyLady 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Exceeded expectations Bombay Saphire Sunset Experience A great experience that we’d had as a gift. It was interesting and thanks to Callum our guide and bartender it was really enjoyable. We had fun! He was generous with his time and expertise and very accommodating as one of this group was driving. Food was very good too. All in all exceeded expectations. Just one aside - as we checked in the ‘greeter’ could have been more patient; as this was a gift there was a confusion over the name … we were told twice we were not on any list and got an eye roll and a ‘tut’. Happily the rest of the experience more than compensated. Read more Written March 17, 2024
• Caneada 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun, informative and interesting Calum and Harry were excellent hosts and mixologists.. even for someone who isn’t a huge fan of gin and a driver. Really interesting selection of drinks and a delicious lunch! Read more Written February 17, 2024
• Travel-Teach1 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Gin Experience! Great tour of the distillery and all round experience was excellent. Lots to see and great tasting experience too. Would recommend to a friend and like the ethics of the company. Read more Written January 21, 2024
• kikirae86 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Perfect Christmas Present Delight at Bombay Sapphire Tour and Cocktail Making! I gifted my parents the Bombay Sapphire Tour and Cocktail Making experience for Christmas, and it turned out to be the ultimate present! Our tour guide, Ellie, made the journey informative and fun, keeping us engaged throughout. The highlight was the hands-on cocktail-making session with Mixologist Ellie (a different Ellie), where we created the Laverstoke, Negroni, and Bees Knees cocktails. My parents were enthralled by the experience, and my dad couldn't stop talking about it all the way home! The thoughtful combination of an excellent venue, an informative tour, and the joy of crafting cocktails made this outing truly memorable. Ellie's expertise and passion added an extra layer of enjoyment. If you're looking for a unique and delightful experience, the Bombay Sapphire Tour and Cocktail Making is the perfect choice. I'm already thinking about when I can go back for another round of fun! Five stars without a doubt! It’s worth noting now that the free drinks are at the start of the tour, not at the end. This means if you have an alcoholic drink at the start, you aren’t entitled to your take home drink as a designated driver at the end. You need to choose a mocktail at the start. I hadn’t realised this because previously the free drink was at the end so I naively assumed that this would still be the case, despite the drink at the start. Read more Written January 19, 2024
• G3954LMtaylors 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Such a Fun Adventure! Wonderful time at Bombay Sapphire Distillery! We took the Discovery Experience, where we were given a tour of the grounds, entered the greenhouses, learned about how Bombay Sapphire gin is made, etc. Then we had tickets for the Gin Masterclass which was so much fun! We learned how to make 3 different cocktails: the Laverstoke, a Negroni, and a Bee's Knees. They all turned out delicious. Following the end of our class & tour, we grabbed new drinks and a bite to eat at the bar which were really good. Everybody we interacted with with so kind and helpful. Just note, if you are taking public transportation, pay close attention to the bus and train times. We had taken the train to Whitchurch station and planned to get a taxi but none were available. It was an hour walk there and back to the distillery, but luckily there were sidewalks and a footpath which made the walk decently easy. We had a great time! Read more Written September 25, 2023
• BrianJSurreyUK 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Nice way to spend an afternoon Nice way to spend an afternoon especially if gin is your choice of drink. Small group of folk led round the factory with an informative talk on gin making process and ingredients Slightly disappointed that we didn’t really see much of working factory and bottling is off site. Master class on Gin cocktails was great and we had three good cocktails. Top tip.. double all measures for more fun😀 Think the tour without the class would be a bit boring Read more Written September 16, 2023
• gigim17 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Disappointing cocktail menu I have been on five separate occasions to this lovely place with different friends and family over the past few years. I have experienced lots of changes here over the years, most of them positive. However I was really disappointed this time as the wonderful cocktail menu that I'd been telling everybody about was quite minimal compared to last year. Such a shame as you had so many wonderful cocktails! The menu itself was on a tatty piece of A4 paper too! Everything else including the staff were as excellent as ever. I would've given 5 stars if it wasn't for the cocktail.menu! Read more Written August 23, 2023
• juliepC7288OY 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fabulous experience My partner and I went today with our relatives over from New Zealand. What a great time we had. Right from the start our tour guide Robert was excellent. Very interesting tour with so much information about the distillery. Tyler, who was our cocktail master class guy was great showing us how to put a cocktail together. Note for future, please can you put hand wipes, paper towels as part of the masterclass was a tad messy when having to squeeze, lemons and limes. We absolutely loved the whole thing. Lovely coffees and sandwiches after. Would totally recommend a visit. Read more Written May 28, 2023
• 522fionar 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fab U Lous This is a fabulous experience. We did the distillery tour, and had lunch in the cafe. We ate in the cafe first which although the menu is quite small, the panini are excellent. We really enjoyed them, and the view we had from the window. We had arrived early so we could have lunch first, and we were greeted really nicely and told we didn't have to register again as we'd been checked in. The lovely young girl who took the tour was very knowledgeable, fun and a good people person. The description of each stage, the time given for us to take photos, and linger and ask questions moving on to the next stage was brilliant. it's fascinating to see, smell and touch the botanicals that go into making the Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin is really interesting and fabulous experience, and the whole place is wonderfully done, and it's great to have a gin at the beginning of the tour and the film about the history. it's also then lovely to buy a gin and tonic from the Mill bar and sit outside and relax in the sunshine..... Best birthday present i've ever bought for my husband.... (and I) to enjoy... Read more Written May 21, 2023
• ADerrygirl 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Not so good on a wet day It was unfortunate we visited on a really rainy day. We stayed at The Watership Down pub and although the walk wasn't far we got quite wet, especially as there are some huge puddles the cars splash through. We got there at the recommended time but most people arrived with just a few minutes to spare. We had just booked the basic tour experience and our guide was an Australian gentleman who we sometimes found hard to understand. There were times when he sounded a bit bored! We started by making a gin and tonic with a choice of 3 gins. The measure of gin was the most miserly possible, it certainly wouldn't prevent you from driving after the tour. After the short film we moved outside. Umbrellas were provided but it was too miserable in the rain so we moved into the greenhouse as soon as the previous tour departed. After the explanation about all the different botanicals we were left to investigate and taste them but this bit was a bit rushed so we didn't get around them all. Overall we were a bit disappointed with the tour, maybe it was just the weather as a surprising amount of the tour is outside. We did enjoy a reasonably priced gin and tonic in the cocktail bar afterwards although we did have to clear ourselves a table to sit at. Read more Written May 13, 2023
• Kiran K 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very accommodating team! Of no fault of the distillery, I had by mistake booked the day before, and turned up the day after for the tour, however the front desk team were very accommodating and let us take the tour on the day we arrived. We were very lucky as we had travelled down from Nottingham, the tour was very informative and Shay was brilliant at answering any questions. Thank you for making the day worthwhile! Read more Written May 7, 2023
• Tim S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Spring Break Fantastic couple of hours at the Distillery even for a none Gin drinker. Started great with a drink passed mine to my wife. Then a very informative tour by a knowledgeable guide. Then onto the Cocktails. The buildings have all been extensively restored a Bacardi thing who own Bombay Sapphire Read more Written May 4, 2023
• Malcolm W 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great way to spend a morning What a great 2 hours. Tour was totally amazing and our guide Naomi was both knowledgeable and entertaining They have updated the tour since our last visit and what an improvement We will return Read more Written April 16, 2023
• ladyfromsmyrna 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience, tasty and insightful We had a gin cocktail masterclass. The gin maker was very knowledgeable and I learned so much. This was a business trip, Bacardi invited selected CSS Group staff for a visit as we supplied high volume of their portfolio to the cruise lines. Read more Written April 9, 2023

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour and Cocktail Ticket provided by Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Top ways to experience Bombay Sapphire Distillery and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE DISTILLERY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour and Cocktail Ticket (From £20.36)
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An afternoon at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour

Do you like gin? If so, you’re in the right place. There has been a huge rise in the popularity of gin over the past few years, with craft gins and local distilleries popping up everywhere. You can’t seem to go into a bar without a huge display of gin on the back counter, or a novel sized gin menu. Gin is big right now. There are a few of the big brand names still dominating the market though – Bombay Sapphire being one of those. After talking about visiting their distillery for what seemed like years, we eventually decided to take the plunge and spent an afternoon at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour.

Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin

I’ve got a little confession to make. I’m not really a fan of gin. I know, I know, terrible right? My other half keeps telling me that I’m probably not a fan of the tonic, but I think it’s a combination of both. When I first tried a G&T, I compared the flavour to plucking a leaf off a tree and eating it. It tasted bitter ? I stand by my original comments, but I have been somewhat educated and tried different gins with various tonics and the flavours are more subtle and enjoyable. I’ll grow into it one day maybe, like you do with coffee and vegetables. Not olives though – that’s never going to happen.

The benefits of not being gin’s #1 fan when all your friends love the stuff is that you can, for once, offer to be the designated driver. I’m rarely the designated driver. If I’m going to the pub, I like to have alcohol. So, for once, it was nice to be able to offer my services non reluctantly. Hero of the day.

Where is Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour?

The Bombay Sapphire Distillery is located at Laverstoke Mill near Whitchurch in Hampshire. A former paper mill which ceased operation in 1963, the three Grade II listed buildings were purchased by Bombay Spirits Company in 2010, the site redeveloped and transformed into the state-of-the-art distillery which opened in 2014.

Laverstoke Mill and the River Test

Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour Experiences

There are several Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tours that can be experienced at Laverstoke Mill, all of which can be booked online in advance. While we are on that subject, booking in advance in highly recommended as this distillery is popular. We booked a few weeks in advance for our visit, and tour times were limited even then (especially for weekends).

The tours on offer are as follows:

• Discovery Experience – A self guided tour with a 15 minute guided tour of the Dakin Still House and a complimentary drink.
• Hosted Experience – A hosted tour of the full distillery including a complimentary drink.
• A Taste of Bombay – A visit to the Mill House for an introduction to Laverstoke Mill, a cocktail making experience, a tasting and a full hosted tour of the distillery.
• Gin Cocktail Masterclass – An interactive cocktail making session, followed by a self guided tour and complimentary drink.
• The Ultimate Experience – Hosted by a Bombay Sapphire Brand Ambassador, a behind the scenes tour of India House, a cocktail masterclass, a hosted tour, a light lunch, a complimentary gift and complimentary drink to finish.
• Horticultural Experience – An interactive horticultural session, a self guided tour, an in-depth botanical discovery session followed by a complimentary drink.
• Heritage Experience – An interactive archive session followed by a hosted tour of the distillery with a Heritage Host and a complimentary drink.

Star of Bombay bottle display

The Discovery Experience

We opted for the cheapest and most popular tour – The Discovery Experience. Not because it was the cheapest, mind you. For the date we wanted to visit, the hosted experience was sold out. We figured we could learn a lot on a self guided tour anyway, and Pete and Nat were pretty keen to get to the gin tasting bit.

We arrived super early and in plenty of time to have a hot drink at the double decker bus cafe next to the Mill House. Once the designated tour time was upon us, we headed to the building entrance, via the  Heritage Room where we were welcomed and provided with our map and guide. As previously mentioned the Discovery Experience is a self guided tour, where you can explore the distillery at your leisure, although there is a set time where you have to gather for the guided tour of the Dakin Still House. The maps featured an interactive microchip which you could use at various points around the site where you saw a logo. This provided additional audio clips and more detailed information about the distillery.

The Botanical Glasshouses

The distillery is separated into a number of buildings with the focal point being two beautiful glasshouses that sit above the River Test. The Botanical Glasshouses were designed by Heatherwick Studios and are a curved and intertwined design. As they sit above the River Test, one of the purest chalk streams in the country, they draw in nutrients from the ground. The glasshouses are connected into the still house itself by way of a curved twisting section of glass. The heat generated by the distilling process is then channelled into them, warming the air and creating conditions for growing the botanical ingredients used in the Bombay Sapphire gin. Clever stuff, eh?

Botanical Glasshouses at Bombay Sapphire Distillery

The curved twisting metal and glass of the Botanical Glasshouses

One of the glasshouses is dedicated to tropical plants, where the other is used for Mediterranean plants. The botanicals used in the gin come from different parts of the world, so the glasshouses need to be kept at different temperatures to each other. I had seen photos of the glasshouses previously, but seeing them up close was fascinating. The curves and designs were beautiful.

Beautifully designed Botanical Glasshouses

Botanical Glasshouse details

The Gallery

Carrying on the Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour, to the right of the glasshouses was The Gallery . This was the area where you could wander through and learn about the history of gin and Bombay Sapphire. It was a really fascinating step back in time, reading up on the beginnings of gin, and of the Bombay Sapphire Company over the past 250 years. There were several items of historical reference along the way, including machinery and tools used in the gin making process, and old branded bottles.

A display of historical Bombay Sapphire bottles

The Botanical Dry Room

By this point, it was time to head to one of my favourite sections of the tour – the Botanical Dry Room . A light and airy space, with a glass wall to one side providing views of the Heritage Stills in the adjacent area, the Botanical Dry Room featured a collection of scented jars featuring the aromas of all the botanicals that made up the Bombay Sapphire gins and cocktails. Did you know that around 90-95% of what you taste comes from what you smell? Neither did I, until I read it in the booklet provided. The idea being, that by choosing your favourite aromas,  this would help you decipher which flavours would make up your favourite Bombay Sapphire cocktails.

On entering the Botanical Dry Room you were provided with a card featuring all of the 22 aromas, of which you would note your favourites. This combination of flavours would then lead you to decide which cocktails would likely be more suitable to your palette. It was a really fun and interesting part of the tour. More on those cocktails later.

Scented Jars in the Botanical Dry Room

The Dakin Still House

Following the scent testing, we were called for our guided tour of the Dakin Still House , which would conclude Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour. As this was a working distillery and a fume filled area, any electronic devices had to be left behind in lockers before entering the environment. The still house is home to two original copper steam jacketed stills, the types used in the process of making Bombay Sapphire gin.

A different process to traditional gin distillation, Bombay Sapphire use the vapour infusion method which was created by the Dakin family (hence the still room name) in 1836. The difference being in this process, is that the botanicals are not boiled directly into the spirit, but held separately in perforated copper baskets. The spirit vapour rises during the process and the flavours of the botanicals are captured at this point.

The short guided tour of about 15 minutes was a really insight into the history and process of gin making and really enjoyable.

The historic copper stills at the Dakin Still House

Finishing off the tour at The Mill Bar

Whether it’s a brewery, a distillery or a winery, no tour of an alcohol making establishment is complete without a tasting a sample of their products. Tour complete, we headed off to The Mill Bar for our complimentary cocktail. Or two, or three.

The Mill Bar – Best place to conclude a tour

The Mill Bar is a beautiful double height room of brickwork walls and large windows. To the centre is a large bar with several cocktail making stations. With several tours running throughout the day, every day, there is a high demand for this space. With lots of seating around the bar, as well as a mezzanine level, it was a great room to observe to cocktail making skills of the bartenders. The bar tops were packed full of fruits, herbs, ice and of course gin – all the ingredients  necessary to make those awesome cocktails.

The Mill Bar as seen from the mezzanine

Ingredients for the Bombay Sapphire Gin Cocktails

Tasting Time

Having done our scent research earlier, we had all the information that we needed to choose our perfect cocktails. It was a little easier for me, being the designated driver, as there were two non alcoholic cocktails available – Super Nova Cola and Apple Blossom. I tried both, one of which was complimentary as part of the tour. Make note, as a designated driver, you are also entitled to to a take away gin and tonic from the gift shop to enjoy at home when you have ditched the car – a nice little touch.

Nat and Pete went straight in for the gin cocktails of course. There were ten gin cocktails available on the menu, two of which had a £2 supplement if these were chosen as the ‘complimentary’ drink. You could also stay as long as you liked following the tour and buy cocktails from the menu. The cocktails all went down well, with particularly good noises and happy faces for the Newfound Star, Highclere Highballer and the Oakley Fashioned. You might have guessed that we had more than one round! Well, it would be rude not to.

A round of Bombay Sapphire Gin Cocktails (Part One)

A round of Bombay Sapphire Gin Cocktails (Part Two)

The Gin Shop

Once our (their) cocktail drinking session was over, we made our final stop of the day in The Gin Shop , where there were plenty of Gins, Tonics and Bombay Sapphire related gifts to buy. I believe we currently have a drawer containing various cocktails stirrers and other gin related goodies that were purchased.

I have to say that despite being the designated driver, and initially unsure of how much would enjoy that experience, I had a really wonderful afternoon. Helped by the beautiful setting and historical buildings, it was a joy to wander around and admire the old mill as well as the stunning Botanical Glasshouses.

Getting there

Laverstoke Mill can be easily accessed by car or train, for those who don’t have a designated driver. The distillery is located between Overton and Whitchurch on the B3400, which is not too far from the M3. The nearest railway station is at Overton with trains running there from London Waterloo and Salisbury. Bombay Sapphire run a regular shuttle bus to and from the station to coincide with the train arrival and departure times. The shuttle bus costs £3 for a return ticket. The distillery is open 7 days a week between April and October, 10.00am to 8.00pm with the last admission at 6.00pm. Slighty reduced opening hours operate during the winter.

Bombay Sapphire, Laverstoke Mill, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7NR

If brewery tours are more to your tastes, then take a look at a selection of Brewery Tours in neighbouring Berkshire.

Have you visited the Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour? What were your thoughts?

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About Dylan Jones

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Londonferne

Like you, I’m not a gin drinker. But I do find Bombay Sapphire, with it’s slight spiciness is one I don’t mind. But I would love to see those glasshouses. Well done writing such a lively piece when you didn’t actually taste the key ingredient.

Dylan Jones

Thanks Ferne. I think the fact that I went without tasting (actually I had a little sip) and still had a good time is testament to the place being worthy of a visit!

Kathryn Burrington

I’d love to do this tour one day but which tour exactly will be a hard decision. Ideally, I’d love to do the Ultimate Experience but it is a bit pricey! The glasshouses look beautiful – a great subject to photograph.

They were fascinating structures, the way they twisted and led into the building.

John and Susan Pazera

Nice post. Have you had Brokers Gin?

Give it a try. Knocks Bombay out of the water!

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Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour

By Author Daryl and Mindi Hirsch

If you love history and gin, then you must take a Bombay Sapphire Distillery tour. This tour starts with an informative peek behind the scenes at Bombay Sapphire and ends with cocktails.

Kids in a candy store. That’s what we felt like as we sniffed the different herbs in the Botanical Dry Room during our tour at Bombay Sapphire’s new distillery, opened in 2014, at a former eighteenth-century paper mill that has a documented history dating back to 1086.

Bombay Sapphire Tour

With cutting-edge glass greenhouses designed by Thomas Heatherwick situated right next to traditional brick buildings in a natural country setting, the distillery is notable for its design alone. The undulating shape of the buildings makes them look organic and modern at the same time.

But that’s just the start of the Bombay Sapphire distillery tour.

During our recent visit to Southern England, we were excited to add a Bombay Sapphire Distillery tour to our busy itinerary. We toured the Buffalo Trace Bourbon Distillery during our US road trip earlier this year, but we had never been to a gin distillery.

With G&T’s being all the rage in cities like NYC and Barcelona , we were intrigued to learn more about the most important ingredient in the ubiquitous cocktail invented by British colonists in India over 150 years ago.

Disclosure – Wine is normally our drink of choice, though we’ve been known to partake in a G&T or two on a hot summer’s day .

Pro Tip Bombay Sapphire offers three types of experiences at the distillery – self-guided tours, hosted tours and gin cocktail masterclasses. To avoid disappointment, you should book tickets in advance .

As part of our self-guided tour, we used the special microchip pamphlets at the various ‘whispering walls’ like the one pictured above to hear about the history of the distillery located at Laverstoke Mill.

We enjoyed learning about the site’s transformation from a paper mill to a gin mill as well as the sustainable techniques used to incorporate the adjacent River Test and the other natural surroundings.

Bombay Sapphire History

For gin novices such as ourselves, a visit to the Heritage Room is a must. Here, the walls are filled with a detailed history of both gin in general and Bombay Sapphire in particular.

Gin has a fascinating history going back to the 1400’s when genever was invented in the Netherlands to when it became popular in England during the 1600’s to the present. The spirit has a history of waxing and waning popularity due to forces like British taxation and US prohibition, which makes a good read.

NYC lawyer turned entrepreneur Allen Subin launched Bombay Gin in 1960 during the golden era of “Madmen” on Madison Ave. Bombay Sapphire’s history is even shorter than that – the brand was created in 1987 and purchased by Bacardi ten years later.

Bombay Sapphire Greenhouses

Just a few steps outside the Heritage Room, the two glass greenhouses offer an introduction to the ten botanicals that are part of the Bombay Sapphire gin formula. We enjoyed our stroll through the striking glasshouses where we observed the exotic botanicals in their natural state before we got to the main part of the tour.

Botanical Dry Room

The Botanical Dry Room is the part of the Bombay Sapphire distillery tour that differentiates it from other distillery tours we have taken. Participating in an interactive exercise of smelling botanicals to determine our personal flavor profiles, we totally got into sniffing familiar scents like coriander, lemon peel and juniper as well more exotic scents like licorice root and grains of paradise.

Dakin Still House

After sniffing our way through the botanicals, we took a tour of the Dakin Still House. During the brief tour, we met ‘Thomas’ and ‘Mary,’ the two stills that produce the bulk of the gin at the distillery. We enjoyed hearing about Bombay Sapphire’s Vapour Infusion distillation process and used our pinky fingers to taste a freshly distilled batch of 85% proof gin.

We didn’t learn the secret recipe for Bombay Sapphire because … it’s a secret.

Pro Tip Wear proper shoes for the tour, as people with open-toed shoes and/or high heels are not allowed into the Dakin Still House. Also, be prepared to temporarily abandon cameras, smartphones and fitbits during the distillery tour. Don’t worry – you will get the electronics back upon leaving the two-story room.

The Bombay Sapphire distillery tour ends in an appropriate place – the Mill Bar.

Remember those personal flavors profiles? Staff mixologists use the results to craft specialty cocktails for the guests. One cocktail is complimentary with each tour. At the time of our visit, additional drinks cost just £5 each.

Discover our favorite gin cocktails .

Based on our personal flavor profiles, the bartenders served us two totally different drinks – neither of which was a simple G+T .

Daryl savored a fruity Queen Bee made with freshly squeezed orange juice, Bombay Sapphire gin, orange blossom honey syrup, tonic water, an orange wedge, ground coffee, sugar powder and cubed ice.

Meanwhile, Mindi slurped down a spicy Juniper Mule made with Bombay Sapphire gin, ginger beer, bitters, lime wedges, fresh ginger root, caster sugar pink pepper root, smoked sea salt and cubed ice.

Pro Tip The tour ends with a gin themed gift shop where you can purchase souvenir bottles of Bombay Sapphire. The shop also sells standard gin bottles as well a selection of accessories and recipe books.

The Bombay Sapphire Distillery is located at Laverstoke Mill, London Road, Whitchurch RG28 7NR, United Kingdom.

Where To Stay And Eat After A Bombay Sapphire Distillery Tour

We recommend staying in the New Forest in conjunction with a visit to Bombay Sapphire. Less than an hour away, the New Forest is a great area to stay and dine in conjunction with a visit to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery.

If you book a room at the laid-back yet luxurious Balmer Lawn Hotel, you can eat dinner at THE PIG for a ‘pigalicious’ meal made with seasonal ingredients, many grown on the restaurant’s farm and others foraged locally. Plus, if you didn’t get enough to drink during the Bombay Sapphire Distillery tour, THE PIG has an excellent bar.

• Find a great rate for Balmer Lawn Hotel via Booking.com .
• Find a great rate for Balmer Lawn Hotel via Expedia .
• Find a great rate for Balmer Lawn Hotel via Hotels.com .

Planning Checklist

• Buy discounted travel insurance from Heymondo .
• Buy an England travel guide from Amazon so that you don’t miss any bites or sites.
• Buy a universal travel adaptor from Amazon so you can charge your laptop, cell phone and camera in the UK.
• Arrange a rental car for your trip.

Thirsty For Gin Cocktails?

About the Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article. Sponsorship We thank Tourism Southeast for their assistance with our visit to South England.

Original Publication Date: August 23, 2016

Renee groskreutz

Friday 2nd of September 2016

This looks like it was a great time. I have been meaning to buy some gin.

Sheri hensel

Monday 29th of August 2016

Sounds like you're having a great time on your travels. You guys look so happy. Great for you! Enjoy....

Friday 26th of August 2016

The tour is a very interesting and invigorating one, I can see. I am also really fascinated by the complex and how vintage architecture blends in with the futuristic design.

Bryan Richards

What a first class experience! I want to do this!

Chaitanya Kapu

Wednesday 24th of August 2016

Amazing post.....what a lovely day you guys had.....

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Have a Glittering Gin Experience on the Bombay Sapphire Tour

by The Foodie Travel Guide | Aug 14, 2017

The Foodie Travel Guide > Gin Tasting Tours & Experiences  > Bombay Sapphire Tour

Bombay Sapphire Tour, Laverstoke Mill, Hampshire

The Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery is located at the historic Laverstoke Mill on the banks of the River Test. It has opened its doors to gin-lovers offering them gin discovery experiences and tours in a stunning natural setting.

Mr Hendricks says, “They tell me that no pets or animals are allowed at the distillery except for guide dogs and hearing dogs.”  

How To Find The Bombay Sapphire Distillery 

Bombay sapphire distillery, bombay sapphire distillery tour .

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke Mill, London Road, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7NR

The Foodie Travel Guide

Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures. 

Planning a visit? Find Places to Stay Near Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery 

Our Bombay Sapphire Tour from London takes you on a journey to this world-famous gin distillery. You’ll get to discover the complex taste of Bombay Sapphire and learn how this exquisite gin is made. The trip also includes a visit to the lovely town of Winchester as well as a stop at Runnymede. Our tour departs from Central London and is a small group trip in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach.

• Depart London Victoria at 09:15. Travel in a small 16-seater minibus with a friendly driver/guide
• Arrive at Winchester with free time to explore this lovely English town. You could enjoy a coffee in one of the pretty streets and visit some of the historical attractions like Winchester Cathedral
• Arrive at Laverstoke Mill for a Bombay Sapphire Tour. Discover this world famous gin and learn more about how it is made. Please note that entry tickets for Bombay Sapphire are not included and you can book these separately
• Return to London, making a short refreshment stop at the riverside town of Runnymede. Arrive back in London at approximately 19:00

Bombay SAPPHIRE tOUR

You’ll get to explore the Bombay Sapphire Distillery and discover the making of this iconic drink. The distillery is located at Laverstoke Mill which is recorded as far back as the Doomsday Book. Past owners have included the likes of William the Conqueror and Henry VIII! The mill has hosted four royal visits, including Queen Elizabeth. Get to grips with one of the best known and most delicately perfumed gins in the world on a Bombay Sapphire Tour!

• Discover the ten exotic botanicals that are used to create the complex taste of Bombay Sapphire
• Explore the Botanical Dry Room, a sensory experience to uncover your flavour preferences. You’ll find flavours such as juniper, coriander, liquorice root and lemon peel
• Discover the rare vapour infusion distillation process which makes Bombay Sapphire gin so exquisite
• Admire the beautifully designed glasshouse, a state-of-the-art sustainable distillery awarded the highly prestigious BREEAM Award for Industrial Design in 2014
• Explore the different interactive exhibits and available audio points to learn about the distillation process
• Enjoy a cocktail from the Bombay Sapphire menu, selected using your flavour preferences.
• Tour excludes entry fees to visitor attractions
• The Bombay Sapphire Distillery is a working distillery and so guests must wear suitable footwear. Please do not wear high heels or open-toed shoes
• Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund

Tour Booking

Terms and conditions, you might also be interested.

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