The best gin distillery tours in London
Gin expert Leon Dalloway shares his favourite gin distillery tours in London, including East London Liquor Company, Sipsmith, Jensen’s and City of London Distillery. Plus: even more fantastic distilleries to visit around the world.
Gin is the talk of the town, and it’s rather enjoying it. However, it wasn’t always like this. In the lean years during the latter part of 20th century many distilleries left London for more economical pastures; but now there’s been a resurgence of great gins returning to the big smoke. Gin knew where its roots were and the capital is once again the beating heart of the aromatic elixir. Luckily enough for gin-swilling punters, the majority of these flavour factories have opened their doors to the public.
Here are our expert picks of the best gin distillery tours in London, from familiar names such as Sipsmith and Beefeater, plus new brands to discover.
For more like this, discover the best gin experiences in the UK or have a browse of the best dining experiences in London.
Best gin distillery tours in London
Sipsmith, Chiswick
Sipsmith were the wonderful people to bring gin BACK to London. In 2009 they were granted the first new licence in London for nearly 200 years. Crazy, right? These guys do it with aplomb, and are trailblazers in their own rite. Situated in Chiswick, the gin distillery tour will cover the three beautiful stills, an in-depth tutored tasting, G&T on arrival and goody bag to take home, plus a sipping bar to sample the fruits of the distillers labour. The venue is rough around the edges (barbed wire on the front gate) and that’s just how we like it!
Quality knowledge: Sipsmith's three stills are known as Prudence, Patience and Constance. Rumour has it that Prudence was named after Gordon Brown’s tendency to instruct the British public that ‘in these times we must be prudent’. But they are only rumours...
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Tickets:
sipsmith.com
Virgin Experience Days, £50 for a tour and tasting for 2 people
Beefeater, Vauxhall
The Godfather of London gin has been housed in its Montford Place site since 1958. The company, however, has been running since 1820. They were the only distillery that made their own gin not to leave London during the 1900s. The eponymous brand opened their first visitor centre in the summer of 2014. Their museum of gin will make the gin lover purr. Beefeater Gin Distillery Tours start at £25 for a 1.5 hour tour, with VIP experiences also available for the real gin fanatic.
Tickets:
beefeaterdistillery.com
East London Liquor Company, Mile End
Dusted with a touch of East London style, East London Liquor Co arrived on the London gin distillery scene in 2015 with a swagger. The venue boasts outdoor seating, the most beautiful still room I’ve ever seen and bang on drinks; plus they produce five gins, vodka a bespoke rum and whisky.
Leon’s top tip: order the Batch 2 Dry Gin Martini with a sage leaf garnish and a bowl of smoked almonds. Heaven!
Tickets:
eastlondonliquorcompany.com
Jensen’s, Bermondsey
Devour your way through Maltby Street Market on a Saturday and at the end of the road there’s a pot of gold – Jensen’s. It’s habitat is a railway arch; dive in and you’ll gaze across gorgeous still towering from behind the glass. There’s also a lovely little bar, ready to sort you out with a blinding G&T. Book a Jensen's gin experience to go on an after-hours tour of the distillery: you'll learn the history of the brand, have a G&T on arrival, a tutored tasting and a tour of the historic London distillery and Still Room.
Tickets:
bermondseygin.com
Virgin Experience Days, £61 for 2
City of London Distillery
Situated in the heart of the city, COLD (as it’s also known) is a hidden gem, and the home of Whitley Neill gin. A stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of St Paul’s you find yourself wandering down the Dickensian-style Bride Lane – take a left down a mysterious set of stairs, and you’ll be greeted by a stunning distillery and a beautiful bar serving sumptuous liquids for you to get your tipple on at. A great central London option for a distillery tour.
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