Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Gin, Glasshouses and a Rather Good Afternoon
If you are partial to a gin and tonic, then Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire is somewhere you really ought to visit.
If you aren't partial to gin, I'm afraid I can't really see the point of going.
Set in a beautifully restored former paper mill beside the River Test, the distillery is a rather clever combination of industrial heritage, modern gin production and a visitor attraction that manages to be informative without becoming a lecture on the history of juniper.The setting alone is worth seeing. Laverstoke Mill has a history stretching back centuries, and the old industrial buildings have been incorporated into the distillery rather than bulldozed and replaced with a large shiny factory. The result is a rather attractive mixture of old brick buildings, water, gardens and modern glass structures.
So How Do They Make the Stuff?
The standard distillery tour is a guided experience lasting around an hour and a half. You learn about Bombay Sapphire, the history of Laverstoke Mill and, most importantly, what actually goes into the bottle.
The answer is ten botanicals, including juniper, coriander, angelica, lemon peel and orris root, although the precise combination is rather more interesting than simply reading a list on the back of a bottle.
One of the highlights is the Botanical Glasshouses, which are particularly impressive. They aren't simply there to look pretty: they demonstrate some of the plants and botanicals associated with the gin-making process.Then comes the fascinating bit — the distillation.
Bombay Sapphire uses a process called vapour infusion, in which the spirit vapour passes through baskets containing the botanicals. Rather than simply boiling everything together in the traditional manner, the vapour gently extracts the flavours and aromas.
Whether you understand the chemistry or not, watching the process makes you appreciate that there is rather more involved in producing a bottle of gin than pouring some vodka over a handful of juniper berries.
The Best Bit – Drinking It
And then, naturally, there is the tasting.
The standard tour includes a complimentary gin and tonic, which is introduced right at the beginning of the experience. You can also add a gin tasting if you want to take things a little further.
But if you really want to get involved, there is the Gin Cocktail Masterclass.This combines the distillery tour with a cocktail session lasting about an hour. Under the guidance of one of the Gin Experts, you get to learn some of the tricks of the trade and make and enjoy two cocktails, as well as sampling a third.
And this brings me to my most important piece of advice.
FOR GOODNESS SAKE, DON'T DRIVE!
I'm serious. If you're doing the ordinary tour and having the complimentary G&T, you can obviously make arrangements to stay sensible. But if you've booked the Cocktail Masterclass or one of the tasting experiences, leave the car at home.
The masterclass includes the G&T followed by three cocktails in one form or another. You may arrive believing that you are a perfectly responsible adult who can easily cope with a couple of drinks.
You may leave believing that the car is perfectly capable of driving itself.
It isn't.
The distillery is in a rural location between Whitchurch and Overton, so this does require a little planning. There is a bus service which stops outside the distillery, and taxis are available, although the distillery itself recommends booking one in advance because there isn't a convenient taxi rank sitting outside waiting for mildly enthusiastic gin drinkers.
So sort out your transport before you go.
And if you are driving, the distillery has a perfectly sensible solution: drivers can have a non-alcoholic cocktail instead and receive a takeaway gift pack.
But frankly, if you've booked a cocktail masterclass, I'd rather get a taxi.
The Mill Bar
Even if you haven't signed up for one of the more elaborate experiences, there is also The Mill Bar, which is a rather lovely place to sit and enjoy a properly made gin cocktail.
It occupies part of the old mill and extends out towards the River Test, making it a particularly pleasant spot to relax after the tour. And this is one of those places where the surroundings make the drink taste even better.
Or perhaps that's the gin talking.
More Than Just a Booze Tour
What I particularly like about Bombay Sapphire is that it isn't simply a glorified excuse to get people through the door and sell them gin.There is genuine interest here. The restoration of Laverstoke Mill, the glasshouses, the botanical displays and the explanation of vapour infusion all make the visit worthwhile even before you start sampling the product.
You also come away with a much better understanding of why Bombay Sapphire tastes the way it does. Whether you subsequently decide that it is the best gin in the world is, of course, entirely a matter of personal taste.
Personally, I think gin is rather like wine: everybody has an opinion and most people are convinced theirs is the correct one.
The Verdict
The Bombay Sapphire Distillery is a cracking day out for gin lovers, particularly if you combine the tour with one of the cocktail or tasting experiences.
The setting at Laverstoke Mill is beautiful, the old buildings have been cleverly incorporated into the attraction, the glasshouses are impressive and the tour itself is genuinely interesting.
But let's be honest about why most people are there. You're there for the gin and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Just remember the golden rule:
If you're going to do the cocktails and tastings, don't drive. There is no prize for being the only person in the group who gets to drink tonic water while everybody else is sampling cocktails.
Get a taxi, get the bus, arrange a lift — whatever you do, leave the car at home. Because when Bombay Sapphire asks you to "Enjoy Responsibly", they aren't just talking about the gin.
They're talking about your journey home.
Opening times do vary so check before booking (which is essential, especially for tasting and masterclasses) https://www.bombaysapphire.com/distillery/
The basic tour costs from £22.00, the cocktail masterclass and tour (which I highly recommend) costs from £46.00. There are other more extensive tasting experiences from £95.00 - £175.00
(prices quoted correct as at September 2026)
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