British Travel Journal | Spring 2019

“In 2016 – known in the trade as the Year of Gin - 40 new distilleries opened in
Britain. It was estimated that British drinkers alone had bought 40 million bottles”
These days 10 botanicals is quite a modest tally. Because of the
relative speed at which gin can be produced – drinkable in a few
months rather than many years – many Scotch whisky distillers have
also begun producing gin (like Grants, the famous whisky distiller
who now manufactures Hendricks). Gin certainly improves cash flow
when you have to wait years for a return on your whisky investment.
In 2016 – known in the trade as the Year of Gin - 40 new
distilleries opened in Britain. It was estimated that British drinkers
alone had bought 40 million bottles. That’s enough to have made
28 gin and tonics for every adult member of the British population,
never mind the inexorable rise of the export market.
Recent years have also seen the rise of the artisanal distiller
producing relatively small batches of high-quality gin in premises in
which they welcome visitors, offering distillery tours, gin history and
masterclasses. Here's our choice of some of the best you can visit in
celebration of this quintessentially British spirit:
LONDON
City of London Distillery
In a basement by St Bride’s Church lurks the only distillery producing
London Dry Gin within the City of London. Two German stills,
Clarissa and Jennifer (the Fat Ladies) can be seen at work and the
company’s four plain gins in their distinctive bottles (modelled on
the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral) can be bought over the counter.
The company’s Square Mile Gin is super fresh, dry and yet fruity
with hints of lemon balm. Prices from £35pp. 22-24 Bride Lane,
London EC4Y 8DT, 020 7936 3636, cityoflondondistillery.com
The Ginstitute
Head along to the Portobello Star for a lesson in the history and
production of gin and enjoy a tutored tasting before crafting your
own gin using a completely unique recipe exactly to your tastes.
Masterclass prices from £60pp/Experiences £120pp. 186 Portobello
Road, London, W11 1LA, 020 3034 2234, theginstitute.com
Beefeater Gin Distillery
Beefeater is the only historic dry gin to be distilled in London today.
The distillery tour tells the history of the production of gin in London
with extraordinary stories. The experience culminates with a
complimentary cocktail - the classic Beefeater Gin and Tonic. Prices
from £15pp, or £45pp for a VIP experience. 20 Montford Place,
London, SE11 5DE, 020 7587 0034, beefeaterdistillery.com
SOUTH ENGLAND
TOAD (The Oxford Artisanal Distillery)
TOAD has an unusually intensive production even by British
artisanal standards. It produces its own neat alcohol for the stills
using grains sourced by an archaeo-botanist who has recreated
medieval crops in fields within Oxfordshire. The two stills, Nautilus
and Nemo, were designed by the master distiller himself and were
welded together by a firm that builds steam-powered railway
engines. An exceptionally good value gin given how much handcrafting
goes into the process. Hints of aromatic cardamom,
toasted peppercorns and orange. Prices from £38.76pp.
The Old Depot, Cheney Lane, Oxford OX3 7QJ, 01865 767918,
spiritoftoad.com
Silent Pool Distillers
Silent Pool Distillery is located alongside a large pond in the Surrey
countryside that’s known as Silent Pool. The distillery itself is in an
unremarkable agricultural building, but the Silent Pool’s distinctive
turquoise and copper-coloured bottles more than make up for any
visual paucity in the location. A complex floral gin featuring 24
botanicals including chamomile, rose, elderflower, Kaffir lime leaf,
pear, bergamot and local honey. Prices from £39.50pp. Shere Rd,
Albury, Guildford GU5 9BW, 01483 229136, silentpooldistillers.com
Bombay Sapphire Distillery
A Mecca for gin lovers, Laverstoke Mill was painstakingly renovated
and opened as a state-of-the-art distillery by Bombay Sapphire in
September 2014, as the gin’s first permanent UK home. Choose
from self-discovery tours, hosted tours and taking a gin cocktail
masterclass. Prices from £16pp (tickets must be bought in advance).
Laverstoke Mill, London Road, Laverstoke, Whitchurch, Hampshire
RG28 7NR, 01256 890090, distillery.bombaysapphire.com
Salcombe Gin, Devon
Though it only opened in summer of 2016, its illustrious location and
impressively sleek and modern design, in the heart of the coastal town
of Salcombe, has put this purpose-built distillery firmly on the map for
all budding gin enthusiasts. Complete with tasting bar and gin school
where visitors can craft their own unique gin - distilled using pure
Dartmoor water - and take it home. Gin School prices from £100pp.
The Boathouse, 28 Island Street, Salcombe, Devon TQ8 8DP,
01548 288 180, salcombegin.com
56 BritishTravelJournal.com