Bombay Sapphire Distillery - Whitchurch

Introduction

The Bombay Sapphire Distillery, nestled in the heart of rural Hampshire, England, is a fascinating blend of rich heritage and innovative spirit production. Located in the historic Laverstoke Mill, the distillery offers visitors a unique glimpse into the world of gin-making, while also providing a picturesque setting for a day out. This comprehensive guide will delve into the main services, location, featured characteristics, practical information, and customer reviews of this exceptional attraction.

Main Services

• Distillery Tour: The star attraction, the distillery tour, takes visitors on a journey through the gin-making process. From the botanical dry room to the state-of-the-art stills, guests can witness the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into creating Bombay Sapphire's award-winning gin.
• Master Distiller Experience: For a more in-depth exploration, the Master Distiller Experience offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the distillery, followed by a private tasting session led by an expert.
• Gin School: The Gin School allows visitors to create their own bespoke gin using a selection of botanicals. This hands-on experience results in a 50cl bottle of your very own unique gin to take home.
• Cocktail Masterclass: Learn the art of mixology with Bombay Sapphire's expert bartenders. This interactive session includes a brief history of gin, a demonstration, and plenty of time for participants to try their hand at creating their own signature cocktails.

Location and Access

The Bombay Sapphire Distillery is located at Laverstoke Mill, off the A343 in Whitchurch, Hampshire. The distillery is easily accessible by car, with ample on-site parking available. For those traveling by public transportation, the nearest train station is Overton, approximately 3 miles away, with regular services to and from London Waterloo.

Once you arrive, the distillery's stunning architecture and beautifully landscaped gardens create a welcoming first impression. The historic Laverstoke Mill building, a former paper mill dating back to 1717, has been expertly restored and converted into a state-of-the-art distillery, retaining much of its original charm.

Featured Characteristics

• Heatherwick Studio Design: The distillery is a striking example of modern architecture, designed by renowned architects Heatherwick Studio. The building's unique design features a stunning glasshouse and a striking metallic structure that houses the stills.
• Sustainability: Sustainability is at the heart of the distillery's operations. The site features a rainwater harvesting system, a biomass boiler, and a reed bed filtration system to treat waste water, all contributing to a minimal environmental footprint.
• Botanical Dry Room: A highlight of the tour, the botanical dry room is home to the 10 botanicals that give Bombay Sapphire its unique flavor. The room's humidity and temperature are carefully controlled to preserve the delicate aromas of these key ingredients.

Practical Information

• Opening Hours: The distillery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm. Tours run every hour on the hour, with the last tour starting at 4pm.
• Ticket Prices: Tour prices vary, starting at £16 for adults and £8 for children aged 5-17. The Master Distiller Experience and Gin School sessions are priced at £95 and £120 per person, respectively.
• Food and Drink: The Mill Bar & Kitchen serves a selection of light bites, main dishes, and, of course, gin-based cocktails. The terrace offers beautiful views of the River Test and the distillery's gardens.
• Accessibility: The distillery is fully wheelchair accessible, with a dedicated parking area, wheelchair-accessible toilets, and lifts to all floors.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

With an average rating of 4.7/5 from over 3000 reviews on Google My Business, the Bombay Sapphire Distillery receives widespread praise for its unique visitor experience. Many customers highlight the following positive aspects:

• Knowledgeable Guides: Reviewers consistently praise the tour guides for their expertise and enthusiasm, bringing the gin-making process to life with engaging storytelling and fascinating insights.
• Beautiful Setting: The distillery's picturesque location and striking architecture are frequently mentioned, with visitors drawn to the blend of historic charm and modern design.
• Interactive Experience: Many reviewers appreciate the hands-on elements of the tours and workshops, such as the opportunity to operate the stills or create their own gin in the Gin School.
• Attention to Detail: The care and craftsmanship that goes into the gin-making process, as well as the distillery's commitment to sustainability, are often highlighted as standout features of the visitor experience.

❓ Frequently asked questions about Bombay Sapphire Distillery

👍 Reviews of Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Euro T.

5/5

This is one of the best distillery tours I’ve ever done! The Bombay Sapphire grounds are really beautiful, everything from the greenhouse to the building itself. The tour was really informative about the Gin and history of the Brand. The cocktail masterclass was so well done, really fun and interactive, the drinks were great too and really focussed on completing the alcohol, not sickly sweet and packed with sugar like other masterclasses I’ve done. You can definitely spend a whole day at this place in the gorgeous setting! I’d highly recommend this to anyone.

Pebbles F.

5/5

What a fantastic time here at Bombay ! From the initial movie, tour of the grounds, green house where the flowers/herbs are displayed & of course the cocktail making classes made for an unforgettable experience. The entire staff are so knowledgeable and friendly. If you're a Bombay Sapphire Gin lover I would highly suggest a day here to truly get to know the history of this fantastic gin ! You won't be disappointed & be very sure you have a designated driver to you can experience all the different flavors of Bombay !

MARCELA L.

5/5

Great place!! I loved the atmosphere. We did the tour and the guide was absolutely incredible. When I got into the green house it smelled like my country (Colombia). The smell of the tropical plants made my hart happy.

The G. F.

5/5

This by far is my favourite tour of any distillery I’ve ever been on. The tour begins with collecting a gin glass & filling with a sample of Bombay Sapphire gin & then mixing with tonic. You get to sip & enjoy this whilst watching a film on the origins of Bombay Sapphire gin making. The screen goes up & the doors open on to the area outback with the greenhouses & distillation buildings. You receive some more information about the stills & gin production before being able to go inside the greenhouses. Then it’s on to look at the stills & see the ingredients used in the making of the gin. Once the tour has concluded you a free to buy & enjoy a gin at the bar area & visit the gift shop. I would highly recommend this tour whether you are a gin lover or not. It’s very informative with plenty to take in.

matthew K.

5/5

Lovely experience, beautiful picturesque campus. Gorgeous brick buildings. Tour is informational to the distillery and the property itself and there is some pretty good gin onsite.

Wendy R.

5/5

Fantastic 1.5 hour tour of the distillery with a gin and tonic or mocktail to kick off the tour. Luke our guide was very informative and entertaining. There is a gift shop, cafe and bar to stretch out your visit.

shannon D.

5/5

Loved visiting the distillery and would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes gin. We did the tour which was good and includes a drink. Loved seeing the history and our tour guide was very nice.

Thao L.

5/5

It was above my expectation of this visit💙💙💙 It really worths coming here with enthusiastic guide (Thank you Mr Mark) and real luxe experience of Gin tasting and iconic glass house that I can see in my real eye. Nesting in a pure village and area as such, the Gin is really a good /premium one. The bar, the shop are also eye catching with the price is better than you buy in super market or drink shop. There are 2 special versions that you can only buy here when visit so do no Miss💙It was such a brilliant day being here💙