Gin O’clock: Ten of the best gin tasting experiences

While it’s factually correct that gin was originally a Dutch invention, few could argue that London is the drink’s true spiritual home. It was in the UK capital that the appetite for the drink once archly dubbed ‘Mother’s Ruin’ was whet, and today the sheer number of gin bars and distilleries are proof points of our enduring love for the liquor.

The Beefeater Gin Distillery Tour is among the top attractions for gin tasting in London. This world famous gin brand which has been based at its distillery in Kennington since 1958, knows how to put on a show. The tour starts with an interactive exhibition about the history of gin, followed by a talk in the tasting room where you’ll discover the key components that make Beefeater gin so special and taste three London Dry Gins before visiting the Still House to learn how Beefeater gin is distilled. Tickets cost £25pp for a 1.5hr tour. Or you can treat yourself to its VIP gin tasting experience - The Beefeater Crown Jewel Tour which costs £125 pp for a three-hour tour. This option includes a champagne cocktail, a VIP distillery tour, tasting four gins with gourmet bar snacks, a classic gin cocktail, a gin and tonic, and a gift bag containing a bottle of Beefeater Crown Jewel, and other distillery gifts worth £75.

If Jensen’s Gin is more to your liking, make your way to London Bridge where you'll find Bermondsey Distillery which produces the iconic Jensen’s Bermondsey Dry and Jensen’s Old Tom gins. Distillery tours are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays and you can also taste and buy the gins on market days (Saturday 10:30- 18.00; Sunday 11:00-16:00).

If you’re seeking a more immersive experience, head to the City of London Distillery, the home of Whitley Neill Gin, which offers the chance to have a go at making your own gin, as well as guided gin distillery tours and gin tasting experiences. The Make Your Own Gin experience is hosted in the distillery’s gin lab where you’ll learn all about botanicals and the art of gin production and then make your own personalised 70cl bottle of London Dry gin. Tickets cost £125 and the experience runs for two hours and includes three drinks (in addition to the bottle you make to take home).

Or sup it up on the Sipsmith Distillery Tour where you’ll discover the magic that made the Sipsmith brand one of the major players behind London’s recent gin resurgence. Sipsmith became the first company to be granted a warrant to distil gin in London for 189 years when it opened its distillery in Chiswick in 2009. The tour costs £25pp and includes tutored gin tasting of its gin range and a gift bag.

Where to stay: If you’re seeking a peaceful base in the heart of the action, check into The Capital Hotel, Apartments and Townhouse, an elegant five-star abode in Knightsbridge. Room rates start from £359. For a Mayfair stay set against the leafy Green Park backdrop, try The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences. Room rates start from £400.

The Scottish capital also has more than its fair share of gin producers with global clout and a heady mix of opportunities to sample their wares. If you’re seeking kindred spirits, a visit to The Edinburgh Gin Distillery is not to be missed. In addition to tours, this distillery offers three gin tasting experiences. The Distillery Tasting Experience invites you to try five gins and gin liqueurs from its award-winning range while listening to a talk about the history of gin in Edinburgh. Whilst the EG X Coco Gin & Chocolate Pairing experience is your chance to sample the gins with delicious Coco chocolate, and the Edinburgh Gin Cocktail experience hosted by expert mixologists serves up a tasty selection of traditional and experimental gin based cocktails for your delectation.

Another great and super sensory gin tasting experience in Edinburgh awaits you at The Secret Garden Distillery. If you’re passionate about botanicals, you’ll enjoy exploring its fragrant landscaped garden, bursting with  aromatic herbs and zesty citrus fruits. The Discovery Experience includes a tour of the garden and tasting of its four award-winning gins (from £25) and The Alchemy Experience is your chance to create your own 20cl bottle of gin (from £45).

Where to stay: Maintain that floaty feeling and make your bed on Fingal. This luxury floating hotel with Art Deco-inspired restaurant is docked on Edinburgh’s waterfront and is within easy reach of all the bright lights of the city. Room rates start from £300. Escape from the bustle of the city centre at peaceful Prestonfield House, perched under the iconic Arthur's Seat. Room rates start from £300.

The enduringly popular holiday haven of the Cotswolds also boasts its own and very fine gin. The Cotswolds Distillery is situated within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and uses lavender locally grown at Snowshill Lavender Farm to craft its award-winning Cotswolds Dry Gin.

The Visitor Centre with shop and café is open seven days a week and the distillery offers a regular programme of behind-the-scenes tours of the production areas and warehouses, and the opportunity to taste its gins and liqueurs.

Or join the Gin Blending Masterclass (£100 pp/ 3hrs), which begins with a generous swig of Cotswolds Cloudy gin and tonic followed by a guided tour of the distillery before you take a deep dive into distillation skills and making your own gin using a mix of botanicals. After enjoying your own martini, you can take the rest of your creation home with you.

Where to stay: Barnsley House Hotel & Spa, nestled in the charming Cotswolds village of Barnsley, is a sophisticated retreat for foodies as well as spa lovers. Room rates start from £469.

Did you know the home of mighty gin brand, Bombay Sapphire, is leafy Hampshire? Located at Laverstoke Mill in Whitchurch, this distillery offers a stunning choice of six gin tasting and making experiences. These include the interactive Gin Cocktail Masterclass, an exciting lesson in gin cocktail mixology and bartending skills; the Infusions Experience, which is a cocktail making class using two Bombay Infusion Gins – Bombay Bramble and Bombay Citron Presse, and the Premier Cru Experience which promises to reveal the secrets behind the creation of Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru.

Where to stay: If you’re a fan of the grape as well as the grain, The Vineyard in nearby Newbury is sure to tick all your boxes. This modern hotel boasts one of the biggest wine cellars in the UK and tours of Bombay Sapphire, as well as a wealth of other food and drink tasting experiences, can be booked via the hotel. Room rates start from £199.