Bombay Sapphire Distillery May 2016

Bombay Sapphire Distillery  May 2016

In the north of Hampshire sitting in the beautiful Test Valley and with the crystal clear River Test running through the property is Laverstoke Mill home of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery where the world famous Bombay Sapphire Gin is distilled.  This was the venue for a day visit of Rhinefield Probus Club in mid May.

A water powered mill has stood on this site for 1,000 years and the present mill was originally used to produce high quality paper and was built in the 1700’s with additions and modifications in subsequent centuries before being acquired by the owners of Bombay Sapphire Distillery. The latest and most dramatic addition is the  Botanical Glasshouses designed by Thomas Heatherwick who was involved in design at the London Olympics and in the creation of The Rolling Bridge over The Grand Union Canal at Paddington.

A tour of the production facilities including the giant stills had been arranged and was led by a most experienced guide and, later, an interactive exercise enabled club members to individually blend the gin botanicals to their own specification in effect creating a personalised designer made gin ! This was followed by members selecting complimentary gin based cocktails that were enjoyed in the bright sunshine on the banks of the River Test.  

Life does not get much better that that !