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Anno Distillers

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Anno Distillers - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Mon - Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• (0.30 mi) number7 Bed and Breakfast
• (2.58 mi) Glamping at Rankins Farm
• (0.46 mi) Moleside Cottage (8 mins to mainline station to London)
• (1.36 mi) Fair View Bed & Breakfast
• (1.45 mi) Still Acres Touring and Camping Park
• (0.09 mi) The Taj of Kent
• (0.18 mi) West End Tavern Pub and Restaurant
• (0.26 mi) The Unicorn
• (0.26 mi) The Old Post Office Coffee House
• (0.33 mi) Marden Tandoori

Taste is a science We know science

In 2011, our founders opened Kent's first gin distillery in 200 years, creating delicious award-winning spirits in our beloved 300-litre copper pot still, Patience.

Andy and Norman's love of whisky later led to Anno releasing Kent's first in a successful collaboration with Westerham Brewery.

When COVID arrived, we quickly worked to start production of hand sanitiser, providing essential supplies to the front line.

Then in late 2020 we had perhaps our most amazing achievement to date, with the release of Anno Extreme 95, the strongest gin in the world today.

Discover our award-winning range of craft spirits and treat yourself to a bottle (or two).

Perhaps you're looking to surprise a loved one with our perfect miniature spirits gift sets.

We offer all of our spirits by the bottle and cases in two sizes, with mixed cases of your favourites for your next party or event.

Shop our WHO-approved hand rub sanitiser in a range of sizes and enquire if you need larger volumes.

All delivered direct to your door!

Our spirit Family

Anno extreme 95 gin, owler dark spiced rum, lady franklin golden botanical rum, anno sloe gin, anno elderflower & vodka, anno 60 squared gin, anno cranberry & gin, anno orange & honey gin, anno kent dry gin, anno b3rry pink gin, bespoke bottle of gin, candlelight pink rhubarb rum, apple brandy, ready for an experience, like no other....

Take a sneak peek behind the scenes at our distillery in Marden and see how the magic is made.

Discover how we create our unique award-winning spirits, using a carefully crafted blend of science and nature, learn more about the fascinating history behind gin, or even have a go at making your own very special concoctions with our Blending Experience.

There’s also a chance to enjoy exclusive discounts, and much, much more.

Our Cocktails

Anno Blueberry Daiquiri

Orange Bee's Knees

Cranberry Collins

Anno Gin Buck

Dark Russian (with Owler Dark Spiced Rum)

Franklin Sour

Pumpkin Spiced Martini

Anno Spiked Coffee

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1. Anno Distillers

2. The Maidstone Distillery

3. Copper Rivet Distillery

4. Greensand Ridge Distillery

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Planning a staycation in the UK this year? Or just looking for the next stop on your gin-themed getaway? These UK gin distilleries are the perfect destination for gin lovers! We’ve got you covered thanks to our wonderful Family of Distillers and the exclusive discounts, deals and offers they’re giving Craft Gin Clubbers on their distillery tours and experiences.

From up to 20% off distillery tours, to FREE personal tasting experiences and cocktails, with a Craft Gin Club membership, you can unlock access to these EXCLUSIVE discounts and more over in the Member Offers section of the Members’ Area!

So, let’s see where we’re headed on this gin-tastic trip and find out the delicious discounts and mouth-watering perks each distillery is offering Craft Gin Club members along the way…

Warner’s Distillery

Falls Farm, 34 High Street, Harrington, Northamptonshire, NN6 9NU £5 off a Warner’s Distillery Tour

Known for their hand-picked botanicals harvested from real farm-grown ingredients and with spirits crammed full of flavours of the British countryside, Warner’s Distillery , is a household name in the craft gin world.

You can join Warner’s for an immersive 90 minute distillery tour (tickets cost £35) of their family farm in Harrington, where you will be met by a member of the team with a drink on arrival, and be taken on a journey of taste and discovery.

Walk through our botanical gardens, watch the bees at work and learn how our spirits are made. We love sharing our home and stories with you and can’t wait to see you for a G&T in the beautiful British countryside”

— Tom Warner

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get £5 off a Warner’s Distillery tour (and to end the day, you will also have exclusive access to their farm shop, with 15% OFF everything!)

Cotswolds Distillery

Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road, Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 5EX 20% discount off distillery tour & tasting

Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the team at Cotswolds Distillery have been lovingly crafting delicious, award-winning spirits since 2014- including our December 2020 Gin of the Month . From their single malt whiskies to their craft gins and liqueurs, everything they make is about quality and flavour above all else.

For £20 you can visit their distillery in Stourton for one of their award-winning Tour & Tastings, for which they won the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award.

The 90 minute tour (which runs daily at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm) takes you around their distillery and cask warehouse to learn and watch live how their award-winning spirits are made. At the end of the tour, visitors get to sample the Cotswolds range of spirits and liqueurs - yummy stuff!

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get a 20% discount off Cotswolds Distillery tours & tastings.

Anno Distillers

UNIT 4-5 Crest Industrial Estate, Pattenden Lane, Marden, Kent TN12 9QJ 10% off a distillery experience + a free arrival drink + complimentary snacks

Scientists Andy and Norman founded Anno in 2011, bringing gin making back to Kent for the first time in over 200 years. Since then, Anno has gone on to create many spirits, including our May 2015 Gin of the Month.

Guests of Anno’s distillery experiences will discover how they create their award-winning spirits using a carefully crafted blend of science and nature. Learn more about the fascinating history of gin and rum, or have a go at making your own very special gin in one of their Blending Experiences, including samples and drinks - it’s a gin-gin situation!

The tour and tasting with cocktail experience lasts approx. 2.5 hours and their Blending Experiences last 2.5 - 3 hours.

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 10% off a distillery experience + a free arrival drink + complimentary snacks.

NB Distillery

 Halfland Barns, North Berwick, East Lothian, EH39 4QX 20% off a Ginspiration Tour

Situated in the beautiful coastal town of North Berwick, East Lothian, NB Distillery are crafters and bottlers of world class and exclusive NB Gins, NB Vodka and, soon, the re-launch of their NB Rum.

Guests to the distillery will be warmly welcomed and then begin their experience by discovering the NB ‘story’ before heading onto a behind-the-scenes tour where you can admire the majestic copper stills and learn how the distillery makes their world-class spirits. 

After all that learning, it’ll then be time to relax with a guided tasting of a ‘flight’ of four (yes, four!) further drinks in their luxury tasting lounge - and all that for £20 per person!

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 20% off an NB Distillery Ginspiration Tour.

Conker Spirit Distillery

Unit 2 163 Stourvale Road, Southbourne Bournemouth, Dorset BH6 5HQ  Two for One on Conker Distillery Tour Tickets

Did you know that Conker is Dorset’s first gin distillery, founded in 2014? They use craftsmanship and the best possible ethical ingredients to distill the excitement and integrity of small batch spirits into the glass - and they did that very thing when creating our spectacular September 2017 Gin of the Month . 

For just £25, you and a gin pal can join Conker’s Founder and Head Conkerer, Rupert, on a tour of their Victorian warehouse distillery in Bournemouth. 

You'll learn how they create their award-winning spirits; from the selection and distillation of botanicals, to the intricate field-to-glass journey of the ethically sourced speciality coffees of their famous Conker Coffee Liqueur. 

Of course, you’ll also  be able to enjoy a guided tasting of the entire Conker range too!

Conker’s distillery tours are £25 per person and take place every Friday afternoon from 2.30pm - 4pm, when their Distillery Tap Room opens its doors to the public for Conker cocktails and wood-fired pizza.

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get two for one tickets on Conker Distillery Tours.

Salcombe Distilling Co.

Salcombe Distilling Company, The Boathouse, 28 Island Street, Salcombe, TQ8 8DP £30 off when booking a Salcombe Gin or Rum School lesson for one or two to share

In this fabulous experience, you can join the Salcombe Distilling Co. team at their waterside Distillery Bar overlooking Salcombe Estuary in Devon to uncover the art of distillation. 

At their outstanding distilling laboratory, you can take charge of a beautiful mini copper pot still to develop and distill your very own bottle of gin or rum to take home with you. 

Enjoy complimentary cocktails during your visit, learn about distillation, be guided through the process by expert distillers and walk away with your very own 70cl bottle of gin or rum in a beautiful white presentation box. 

Your lesson will conclude in the Salcombe Distillery Co. bar where their expert team will mix some of your own newly created gin or rum into a cocktail for you to enjoy!

Gin School sessions are three hours long. Guests can also enjoy 10% off all Salcombe Distilling Co. products in their retail store on their visit.

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get £30 off when booking a Salcombe Gin or Rum school lesson for one or two to share.

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, Arches 10-15 Watson Street, Manchester, M3 4LP A FREE classic cocktail when you book any distillery experience

Get ready to discover The Spirit of Manchester Distillery , a state-of-the-art distillery in the heart of the city.

Set up by Seb and Jen, a couple who fell in love over gin and distilled 25,000 bottles of Manchester Gin from their dining room, the distillery is now a globally awarded producer of a large spirits portfolio, including gin, vodka, rum, and English Whisky. We were even lucky enough to launch their wedding special edition Tie the Knot Gin in June 2022.

Their distillery tours have been awarded TripAdvisor’s #1 Thing to Do in Manchester so don’t just take our word for it! 

For £25 per person you can explore the distillery over 45 minutes with a G&T in hand to see where every drop of Manchester Gin is made, followed by a tasting of their range. 

They also offer a 2.5-hour Gin Making Experience (£95 per person) in their Gin School. Enjoy all the perks of their tasting experience, then turn your new-found knowledge to distilling your own unique bottle of gin. The perfect gift for gin enthusiasts!

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get a FREE classic cocktail when they book any distillery experience.

Nelson's Distillery and School

Unit 5A Grindley Business Village, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST18 0LR 20% off Nelson’s Gin & Vodka School experience

Founded in 2016 by owner and Master Distiller Neil Harrison, Nelson’s is a small-batch distiller based in the picturesque Staffordshire countryside and producers of the special edition Gluggle Jug Gin, Craft Gin Club’s Gin of the Month in June 2019.  

With its state-of-the-art 150 litre copper still “Victory” (aptly named after HMS Victory), Nelson’s produces high-quality award-winning spirits, quality controlled by Neil himself.

Delve into the fascinating history of gin and let your creativity flourish as you craft a blend uniquely tailored to your taste using a selection of botanicals, fruits, and exotic spices. 

Concoct a recipe that really captures your personal flair, then watch in awe as your artisanal creation comes to life through the distillation process. 

You’ll even get to apply a wax seal and label to your 70cl bottle so it’s ready to be taken home the very same day. 

This is a full 5-hour experience with light lunch and refreshments provided and costs £115 for a one-still experience.

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 20% off Nelson’s Gin & Vodka School experience.

Wessex Distillery

Unit 1 Towergate Business Park Wormley GU8 5SY 20% off a guided gin-making experience PLUS £5 off any 70cl gin bottle

This is your chance to visit the Wessex Gin distillery to have a wonderful hands-on experience with the team behind Craft Gin Club’s September 2019 Gin of the Month , and the amazing new RESPECT Gin we have just launched on the Craft Gin Club online shop (check it out here! ).

Set in the beautiful Surrey Hills, you can expect a G&T on arrival along with samples of the Wessex Distillery’s range, before being taken on a guided tour of the distillery and getting the chance to make your very own gin. 

Perfect for beginners and gin enthusiasts alike, it is not to be missed - not least because you will get to go home with your very own 70cl bottle of gin adorned with a personalised label!

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 20% off a guided gin-making experience PLUS £5 off any 70cl Wessex gin bottle.

The Gower Gin Company

Highfield, Port Eynon, Swansea SA31NL A FREE personal tasting event for up to 8 people at The Gower Gin Company

Gin fans fell in love with Andrew and Siân, the husband-and-wife team behind The Gower Gin Company in Wales when their GŴYR Rhamanta London Dry Gin was Craft Gin Club’s February 2020 Gin of the Month . Made in a “bike shed” at the end of their garden on the Gower Pennisular, right by the see, the gin was an instant hit!

You can now take a trip to their picturesque micro-distillery for a personal gin tasting experience like no other. 

Not only will you be sampling Gower gins while finding about The Gower Gin Company journey and taking a look around the distillery, but their knowledgable team are also going to take you through the history of gin itself. This experience is not to be missed!

And, if you would like expand your knowledges of other spirits, the Gower team will also be offering you the option to include tastings of their unique vermouths, their new vodka and their Mor Ladron rum range.  

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get a FREE personal tasting event for up to 8 people.

Wardington's Original Ludlow Gin

Ludlow Distillery, Unit 1 & 2 Ludlow Farm Shop, Bromfield Road, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2JR 15% discount off Distillery Tours and in-store purchases following a tour

You are invited to join the team at Ludlow Distillery on a tour of their amazing site to give you an insight into what they're so passionate about. 

It’s a fantastic opportunity to see how the magic happens and find out how incredible gins like the one they created for Craft Gin Club’s March 2020 Gin of the Month get made.

 Of course, there will be plenty of gins for you to sample and their expert team is there to help you understand the flavour profiles of each one - the only problem you’ll have is picking a favourite!

It’s a fantastic trip out for any gin fan or budding connoisseur.  

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 15% discount off Distillery Tours and in-store purchases following a tour.

Whitby Distillery

8 Botany Way, Whitby, YO22 4QX 15% off Whitby Distillery Tour

If you ever find yourself in the beautiful coastal town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, then a visit to the Whitby Distillery is a must for any gin fan! 

Their hour-long tour will take you behind the scenes at this award-winning distillery and it includes a Whitby G&T as their team give you the low-down on this marvellous company. 

You’ll be taken through all of the botanicals they use as you get exclusive insight into the Whitby gin distilling process. 

This unmissable adventure is then rounded off with a tasting session, where you’ll get to sample some seriously tasty Whitby spirits.

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 15% off Whitby Distillery Tours.

Otterbeck Distillery

Otterbeck Distillery, The Mill, Bell Busk, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 4DU FREE G&T on arrival when you book a distillery tour

Craft Gin Clubbers fell in love with Otterbeck Distillery’s Cotton Garden Gin when it was our September 2021 Gin of the Month . Now you can visit their distillery in North Yorkshire and see where the magic happens.

Craft Gin Clubbers get a G&T on arrival, which you can sip as you find out how Cotton Gin is made and get introduced to Eliza, the distillery’s beautiful still.

Of course, they’ll be lots of gin to tast - the full Cotton Gin range, in fact. 

This tour is a must-do for any gin fan!

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get a FREE G&T on arrival when you book an Otterbeck Distillery Tour.

In the Welsh Wind

Gogerddan Arms, Tanygroes, Cardigan SA43 2HP FREE pair of bespoke In the Welsh Wind glasses PLUS 20% off any 70cl bottle purchases on the day of your Gin Making Experience

Take a trip to Wales for a gin-credible distilling experience at the In the Welsh Wind Distillery.  

The expert team behind Craft Gin Club’s April 2022 Gin of the Month , will have a G&T ready for you on arrival, ready to teach you how to make your own craft gin using botanicals they provide and their bespoke copper pot mini stills.

While your gin is running through the still, you’ll get a tour of the In The Welsh Wind distillery, getting a unique look behind the scenes.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, Craft Gin Clubbers get a set of In The Welsh Wind tasting glass to take home and a 20% discount on any 70cl bottles in their shop. It really does pay to be a Craft Gin Club member!  

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get a FREE pair of bespoke In the Welsh Wind glasses PLUS 20% off any 70cl bottle purchases on the day of your Gin Making Experience.

Downpour - North Uist Distillery

Nunton Steadings, Isle of Benbecula, HS7 5LU 20% discount on gin tasting experiences PLUS a £5 voucher off any 70cl bottle of gin purchased in the shop on the day of your experience

A trip to the Outer Hebrides would not be complete without a visit to the Nunton Steadings Visitor Centre to meet the team at Downpour Gin - yes, the distillery behind Craft Gin Club’s delicious November 2022 Gin of the Month.

They will guide you through a tasting session like no other! You’ll get to sample their range as they take you through the distillery’s history, their recipe development and their exciting future plans. 

What’s more, you get £5 off any 70cl bottle of Downpour Gin that you purchase on the day if you’re a Craft Gin Club member!  

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 20% discount on gin tasting experiences PLUS a £5 voucher off any 70cl bottle of gin purchased in the shop on the day of your experience.

WhataHoot Distillery

7a King St, King's Lynn PE30 1ET 10% off all experiences and experience vouchers

WhataHoot is the distillery that created Craft Gin Club’s much-loved May 2023 Gin of the Month and to celebrate the occasion, they are giving Craft Gin Clubbers 10% off all of their experiences booked online and their experience vouchers.

They have four experiences to choose from, each one as inviting as the next, from a basic distillery tour and tasting session to a gin-making experience including food and four G&Ts per person. 

All members have to do is head to the WhataHoot website and book. It couldn’t be easier and the experiences are ideal for any true gin lover.

Psst! Craft Gin Club members can get 10% off all experiences and experience vouchers.

Not a member? Join the club today to unlock access to these exclusive member perks and distillery discounts!

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Experiences

Gin Experiences with The Maidstone Distillery

The Maidstone Distillery, Market Buildings, Maidstone, UK

Join us here at Maidstone Distillery as we immerse you in our world for 90 minutes of spirited fun.

Situated in the historic market buildings of Maidstone town centre, our beautiful still and equipment sit at the heart of our distillery, nestled beneath grand arches dating back to the 1800’s. Guests are warmly welcomed with a double George Bishop gin and tonic at our bar before being guided through to our experience room to start the tour. Here we delve into the fascinating story of distilling right here in the county town of Kent that spans over 200 years, and demonstrate the processes we use to create our fine hand crafted spirits today. You will get to see our beautiful still and equipment up close, before it’s time again back at the bar for a tutored tasting of our spirits as we talk about the inspiration behind them.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

All tours will be conducted with your safety in mind, respecting the latest social distancing guidelines. The tour will be just as fascinating for any non-drinkers and soft drinks will also be available.

Guests must be 18+ and due to the nature of this experience, we are unable to admit children. You may postpone or reschedule your booking no later than 10 working days before the date of the event. We reserve the right to make amendments to your booking and may ask you to change to an adjacent time slot if necessary.

Maidstone Distillery also offer the 'Stay-Tasting' Virtual Gin Tasting Experience to enjoy in your own home, a Guided Gin Making Experience, as well as event packages for corporate events & private hire.

For bespoke bookings and corporate events, please contact us to discuss the additional services we are able to provide.

• Experiences
• Signature Serves

Distillery Tour & Tasting

From: £ 22.50

90 minute full access tour of our modern facility

Explore the fascinating history of gin, drinks included throughout, only 50 minutes from central london.

Join us here at Maidstone Distillery as we immerse you in our world for 90 minutes of spirited fun.

Situated in the historic market buildings of Maidstone town centre, our beautiful still and equipment sit at the heart of our distillery, nestled beneath grand arches dating back to the 1800’s. Guests are warmly welcomed with a double George Bishop gin and tonic at our bar before being guided through to our experience room to start the tour. Here we delve into the fascinating story of distilling right here in the county town of Kent that spans over 200 years, and demonstrate the processes we use to create our fine hand crafted spirits today. Enjoy a mini-cocktail as you see our beautiful still and equipment up close, before it’s time again back at the bar for a tutored tasting of our spirits as we talk about the inspiration behind them.

For bespoke bookings and corporate events, please click here.

Guests must be 18+ and due to the nature of this experience, we are unable to admit children. You may postpone or reschedule your booking no later than 10 working days before the date of the event. We reserve the right to make amendments to your booking and may ask you to change to an adjacent time slot if necessary.

If you need assistance with placing your booking, please call us on 01622 670063 or contact us here . 

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• Reviews (15)

15 reviews for Distillery Tour & Tasting

Tasha – 03/11/2022

Me and my partner took my parents here when they were over visiting from Belfast. We were given a gin on arrival (which was really refreshing). The tour itself gave the whole background to gin, how it came to England and specifically Maidstone which was really interesting. Our guide Naomi had a great sense of humour, by the end of the tour we’d got to know everyone else and we’re full of laughter! The guy serving drinks at the bar looked after us really well. Great time had by all and would highly recommend the tour and their gin!

Lynnie58 – 03/11/2022

A fantastic little distillery with so much to offer. The tour was so interesting I didn’t know there was so much to learn about Gin and its history in Maidstone.

Tim – 03/11/2022

Fantastic evening, learned lots about Maidstone history and how to make the delicious Gin from Sam!! Well worth a visit if you like a great G&T and fancy doing something a bit different all for the price of a main course!

Francesca L – 03/11/2022

We had such a great time at the distillery last night. We had a 4.45 tour which included a tasting and a gin and tonic included at the start. The staff were really friendly and Sam and Darren are clearly very passionate about their business. Really enjoyable and have already recommended the tour to others.

Sam – 30/03/2023

Amazing experience. The team are super enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Learnt so much and didn’t realise Maidstone was so important to gin making! George Bishop gin is lovely. We will be back

Mike – 09/04/2023

Loved it, we will be back!

Martha – 10/04/2023

Didn’t realise there was so much history of gin making in Maidstone. Spirits are great, all different, love the stories that the team have created. Products taste really good. There is a little bar that you can stay at too, we did!

Chris – 19/04/2023

Well worth the money. It’s fun, informative and you really get looked after. The gin is fabulous too which helps!

Sophie – 20/06/2023

Brilliant – 5 stars.

Catherine Hall – 14/08/2023

Fantastic treat for my Daughters Birthday and she asked me to go along with her. Really interesting tour and the girls really know their stuff. Learnt a lot about Maidstone.

Tom S – 28/10/2023

Caron – 21/01/2024

Amazing gin distillery tour; birthday treat from my daughter. My husband & I didn’t realise there was so much history in gin making in Maidstone! Very interesting tour and staff super friendly and knowledgeable. It was lovely to try the gins they make there, they were very good quality.

Sarah Ottembrajt – 01/03/2024

I was given this as a Christmas present and had an amazing time. Really fascinating relaxed tour with loads of background info. Tasting the gins was amazing. Definitely a 1st class event

Darren – 05/03/2024

Such a fun experience. Great staff who really looks after you and you can tell how much they care for this business. Delicious gin and the toffee liqueur….Wow.

Martin – 26/03/2024

Who knew there was such a great story of distilling here in Kent. Great fun, informative and entertaining. We left with several bottles of their lovely gin.

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Vineyards, Breweries and Distilleries

Kent is the perfect place for an English wine tour or to taste traditional English ales. Visit Kent you discover English wine country and our wonderful craft beer tradition.

Kent is prime English wine country. Here you can enjoy a premium winery tour, sample incredible sparkling and wander through acres of sun-kissed vines. Our soil is so good that even renowned Champagne producers Taittinger have snapped up land in Kent to grow their very own English sparkling wine...

Kent is a dream destination for fans of craft ale and real cider, being home to Britain's oldest brewery and the places where the now famous 'micropub' craze began. We even rival the West Country when it comes to cider producers, so make sure you book an overnight trip to The Garden of England start sampling our terrific tipples.

Kent is the perfect place for an English wine tour or to taste traditional English ales. Make sure you discover Kent's wine country and wonderful craft beer tradition.

Here's just a few of our favourite attractions: 

Chapel Down Winery

This outstanding vineyard is often credited with helping lead the renaissance of English wines. Its vintages regularly win prestigious awards, satisfying the palates of sommeliers and wine-buffs world-wide. Visit the winery in Tenterden and stock up on classy sparking wines, whites, roses and reds, and its gold medal-winning lagers and ciders keep Kentish traditions alive. Take a tour of Chapel Down's well-drained acres, pick up some goodies at its luxury food store then experience fine dining at its atmospheric Swan restaurant.

Biddenden Vineyards

The 23 acres of Biddenden Vineyards produces a range of award-winning wines, as well as Biddenden Cider, a strong, still cider produced from a blend of Kentish culinary and desert apples, along with Biddenden Farm Pressed Apple & Pear juices. Tour the vineyard and you'll gain insight into how they produce their award-winning wine, ciders and juices.

Balfour Winery

Discover Balfour Winery, situated on a stunning 400-acre estate of vineyards, wildflower meadows, ancient oak woodlands, and apple orchards. We are England’s only VisitEngland accredited “Gold-Medal” vineyard, open seven days a week for tastings, tours, events, and dining.

Shepherd Neame Brewery

As signalled by Kent's profusion of oast houses, our county has a long tradition of producing fine beer. It's fitting then, that Shepherd Neame Brewery is Britain's oldest brewer. A trip round its Faversham brewery walks you through the whole process, from tasting malted barley to sipping fruity ales. Or head to one of the firms' cosy Kentish pubs to sample its creations there; will you have a pint of Spitfire, Bishops Finger or Master Brew?

Gusbourne Vineyard

Based in Appledore, Gusbourne create award-winning English Sparkling Wines that stand up alongside the very finest offerings from across the globe. Learn more about what makes this corner of England so special for winemaking by booking a hosted tour online.  You’ll spend some time walking the vineyards, meet the people who make the wines, and experience them in the luxurious tasting room, the Nest at Gusbourne. Of course you don’t need to take a tour to pick up their award winning wines. The wines are available to purchase at the Nest by the glass, by the bottle or by the case. Visit at your leisure, they’ll be happy to help.

Copper Rivet Distillery 

The Coppery Rivet is an exciting and dynamic distillery based in Chatham's historic dockyard. Drawing upon the dockyard's tradition of innovation and craftsmanship, the team at Copper Rivet toil together to create small batches of exceptional gins, vodkas and whiskies from scratch. Tour the magnificent Victorian Pump House No. 5, where the distillery is based, and see firsthand the distilling process from grain to glass.  

The best UK gin distilleries for tours and tastings

Words by Laura Richards , William Morris and Louella Berryman

Just 10 years ago,  gin distillery tours in the UK  were a growing phenomenon, with a handful of pioneering makers opening up their stillhouses for an introduction to the history of gin and a snifter of their  London Dry .

Nowadays, thanks to the modern gin revival and a continued interest from the public, it’s quite rare for a  gin  distillery not to host some form of tasting, tour or masterclass. Many are even offering the opportunity for you to make a unique edition of their product at their very own on-site ‘gin schools’.

Given that there are now over 800 UK gin distilleries, chances are there’s someone making this  spirit  near you. But if you’re seeking out the best tours and tastings for gin discoveries and champion bottlings, we’ve pulled together a comprehensive guide to gin distillery tours and tastings in the UK based on medal-winning ginmakers from the  IWSC 2023 . Each of the distilleries listed below either won a Gold or Silver medal in this year’s competition for one of their expressions, so the spirit you’ll be sampling up-close-and-personal has been tasted and rated by the experts.

In the below list, you’ll find a mixture of historic and heritage ginmakers – from  Plymouth Gin  to  Beefeater  – and brand-new craft distilleries forging ahead with a fresh take on the tour and tasting format. Many are offering a straightforward, affordable and informative way to taste through their creative range; others are three-hour courses where you can grapple with a miniature  pot still under the direction of a master distiller. So-called ‘ginnovation’ is still thriving in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, so expect some of these tours to get geeky out on the production floor.

But if you’re more interested in getting down to the good stuff, a number of these UK distilleries run on-site gin bars, serving visitors a G&T or cocktail as close to the source as it comes.

These are our 23 top gin distilleries in the UK

• 820 Distillery & School
• Beefeater, London
• Boatyard Distillery, County Fermanagh
• Bond Street Distillery, Leicestershire
• Cambridge Distillery

Copper in the Clouds

• Edinburgh Gin

Gyre & Gimble

• Holyrood Distillery
• Isle of Harris Distillery
• Masons of Yorkshire, Yorkshire

Mousehall Estate

• New Forest Spirits
• Plymouth Gin, Devon

Pocketful of Stones

• Praban na Linne – The Gaelic Gins

Sky Wave Gin

• Southwestern Distillery Limited (Tarquin’s)

The Copeland Distillery

The henley distillery, the maidstone distillery.

• Tiny Tower Liquor, London
• Tobermory Distillery, Argyll and Bute

Gin distillery tours in England

New Forest botanicals – including hibiscus and liquorice – are at the core of the gin being produced by 820 Spirits, all sourced from a local nursery on the outskirts of Lymington. It’s also where you’ll find the brand’s newly launched distillery bar, home to a ‘Spirits School’ where you can craft your own expression based on the local forest flora. You’ll be able to take home your personalised gin at the end of each session – or stick around for another at the horseshoe-shaped bar. An exit via the plant shop should be all the more memorable after a few G&Ts.  LR Shallowmead Nurseries, Lymington, SO41 8PA From £100 820spirits.com

London, England

It’s a classic for a reason. Beefeater has been going strong since 1862 – but its London Dry gin still wins as many awards (including a Silver medal at the IWSC 2022) as the best of the craft upstarts. If you’re going to get an education on the trajectory of ‘mother’s ruin’, where better than at its historic Kennington headquarters – where a visitor centre launched in 2014. Hosted, interactive tours last for 1.5 hours and include a tasting of three spirits from the range, plus a G&T at the bar at the end. A ‘VIP’ tour  at £45 adds a welcome cocktail and a visit to the still house: home to the brand’s original Victorian pot stills. LR 20 Montford Place, London SE11 5DE From £25 beefeatergin.com

Bond Street Distillery

Leicestershire, england.

A visit to Bond Street Distillery, launched in 2019 in the market town of Hinckley by gin lover and entrepreneur Sally Faulkner, is a truly social affair. There are two bars to choose from – the lively, balloon-glass-filled Bond Street Social, and intimate, upstairs venue The Crow’s Nest, which gets lively with gig nights on Thursdays. The Victorian building has been lovingly refurbished from its original function as part of the Brocklehurst Hosiery Company. A comprehensive ‘Gin School’ offers ample opportunities for learning about, and of course drinking, the distillery’s key gins. LB 127 Upper Bond St, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 1RT £120 for one, £175 for two thebondstreetdistillery.co.uk

Cambridge Distillery

Cambridge, england.

The aim at Cambridge’s innovative distillery is to capture the flavour of its meadow botanicals when they happen to be at their most fresh. This too sees master distiller William Lowe (who is also a Master of Wine) experimenting with vintage releases of the juniper spirit. Expect a trip to the countryside distillery to be an eye-opener, then. Visitors to Cambridge city centre can also get hands on with the brand at its Green Street ‘Gin Laboratory’, selecting to make your own, taste through the range or even take part in a masterclass in molecular mixology.  LR Distillery: 20-22 High St, Grantchester, Cambridge CB3 9NF; Laboratory: 10 Green St, Cambridge CB2 3JU From £35 cambridgedistillery.co.uk

Ware, England

Out on a farm in the Hertfordshire countryside, monthly micro-distillery tours take place introducing visitors to the playful, illustrated bottles of Copper in the Clouds. The brand’s fruity gin expressions include an IWSC Silver-winning lychee and raspberry gin. The small scale of the distillery, founded in 2018, gives enthusiasts a chance to get up-close and personal on a 90-minute tour with the makers, learning how they craft their spirits and enjoying an energetically flavoured gin and tonic in their company.  LR Dowsetts Farm, Collier’s End, Ware SG11 1EF From £30 copperintheclouds.co.uk

Norwich, England

With its own gin academy and a bar up above serving zero waste cocktails, Gyre & Gimble has firmly established itself on the Norwich scene – and that’s despite launching in the midst of a pandemic. Its Alice in Wonderland-referencing spirits include an IWSC Gold-award-winning gin featuring discarded Pinot Noir pomace collected from a nearby vineyard. At the academy, you can select from a range of 30 botanicals to craft your own gin, with four G&Ts provided for liquid inspiration throughout the course. Finish up with a flight of Negronis at the bar, with twists on the drink showcasing Gyre & Gimble’s Nohow London Dry.  LR 14 Charing Cross, Norwich NR2 4AL From £75 gyreandgimble.co.uk

Henley, England

Meet Tony and Mac, the pair of alembic stills producing Henley’s small-batch creations and named after Master Distiller Jacob Wilson’s two gin-loving grandfathers. They take pride of place inside a repurposed threshing barn in Henley-on-Thames. Here, visitors can partake in a brief tour and tasting. Or they can opt for an in-depth introduction to the spirit by operating their own mini pot still in a masterclass that takes place in a barn festooned with fairy lights and fitted with a horsehoe-shaped bar – ideal for that all-important gin-fuelled post-lesson debrief.  LR Hampstead Farm, Binfield Heath, Henley-on-Thames RG9 4LG From £15 thehenleydistillery.co.uk

Maidstone, Kent

History indicates that gin has been made in Maidstone for more than 200 years and it continues today at The Maidstone Distillery, based in some of the old market buildings in the town centre. There’s nothing old-fashioned about the distillery itself or the bar where the tours take place; the design is geared towards impressing and entertaining visitors, rather than simply allowing them a look at a utilitarian production facility. Tours take 90 minutes and begin with a double G&T at the bar, followed by insights into how the distillery creates its spirits in the ‘experience room’, the tour itself and finally a return to the bar for a guided tasting. Cocktail masterclasses and gin-making courses are also available separately. WM 5 Market Buildings, Maidstone, ME14 1HP £22.50 themaidstonedistillery.com

Tidebrook, East Sussex

Another distillery situated in a beautiful place in the UK, Mousehall Estate sits in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in East Sussex. Wine lovers may be intrigued to see that the owners of Mousehall are Gary and Kathy Jordan of South Africa’s Jordan Wine Estate – its Kathy herself who is the guide for the distillery tour. In addition to learning about how Mousehall’s gin is made, the tour includes a five-part tasting of the gin and a sample of the brand’s vodka, followed by a complimentary Gin & Tonic. The wine connection means that Mousehall also has its own winery, with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vineyards on the land. WM Mousehall, Tidebrook, Wadhurst TN5 6PG £25 mousehall.com

MASONS OF YORKSHIRE

Yorkshire, england.

Karl and Cathy Mason started with a Facebook page called ‘G&T Friday’, where they tried and tested their way through gins. They soon decided they could do better, and established their own label in 2013 – but just six years into production, disaster struck for ‘Yorkshire’s first gin’ when a fire broke out at the distillery. Thankfully, the recovery was swift, with a new warehouse opening just outside Bedale later that year. A tour of the new Masons facility – which is still welcoming its first visitors, thanks to the pandemic – takes in a trip to the laboratory, where the ginmaker is riffing on its core range to create new flavoured expressions, from English lavender to that very Yorkshire thing: tea. The experience ends with a G&T of your choice, which seems rather fitting, actually.  LR Trinity Place, Conygarth Way, Leeming Bar, Yorkshire DL7 9EE £25 masonsofyorkshire.com

Plymouth Gin

Devon, england.

This one’s for the history buffs. Plymouth Gin happens to be home to the oldest working distillery in England, with the main stillhouse dating back to 1400. After the comprehensive gin tasting and tour, guests get the chance to meet the master distiller and taste the Plymouth Original Gin and its IWSC Silver-medal-winning Sloe Gin, then take a pew in the medieval hall that houses the Refectory Bar and Cocktail Lounge for both traditional and creative gin cocktail serves. LB 60 Southside St, Plymouth PL1 2LQ From £15 plymouthdistillery.com

Penzance, Cornwall

A brand created by four men with plenty of drinks experience gained from various hospitality roles in London, Pocketful of Stones is located in the centre of Penzance, just a short walk from the railway station, in Cornwall. The brand’s portfolio of spirits is not limited to gins, so there’s a brandy, whisky, liqueurs and even an absinthe to try if you visit the distillery, which also incorporates an enticing bar that opens Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. As well as learning about how the spirits are made and sampling the range, you’ll also hear more about the rather unusual backstory to Pocketful of Stones and how it made the transition from a pub basement in London’s Fitzrovia to a dedicated building on the Cornish coast. WM 13 Causewayhead, Penzance TR18 2SN £10 pocketfulofstones.co.uk

Bicester, Oxfordshire

The only gin distillery based on a World War II RAF base, Sky Wave offers visitors a 75-minute experience that includes a distillery tour, a tutored tasting plus a generous four complimentary Gin & Tonics. At the time of writing, the gin range consists of six varieties, including two flavoured with raspberry and rhubarb and orange and vanilla. Sky Wave’s Old Tom Gin scored an impressive 92 points at the IWSC 2023, so is one to look out for. If you’re travelling with people who don’t appreciate gin, Bicester Heritage and Bicester Village are nearby, so there are at least two attractions locally that you can use as bargaining chips if necessary. The distillery also hosts cocktail masterclasses and live distilling events. WM Bicester Heritage, OX27 8AL £24 skywavegin.com

Tarquin’s

Padstow, cornwall.

Around 15 minutes’ drive south of Padstow in Cornwall, where the brand has one of its own shops, Tarquin’s distillery sits on a windswept hill above the coast. The 90-minute tour consists of a Gin & Tonic on arrival, followed by an outline of the brand’s history, a masterclass on the botanicals used in production, a walking tour of the distillery and a tutored tasting of Tarquin’s four core gins. A nice extra touch is the option to wax your own bottle of the flagship dry gin, giving visitors a personalised keepsake from the visit as well as an excellent gin to drink once back home. There’s some great eating and drinking to be done in and around Padstow, and for those who enjoy their wine too, Camel Valley is only half an hour away by car. WM Higher Trevibban Farm, St. Ervan, PL27 7SH £18 tarquinsgin.com

Tiny Tower Liquor

Back in 2016, Martello Hall bar and micro-distillery opened in Hackney and gave London’s second gin craze some serious edge. Since then, the bar has spawned siblings all over town – and scaled up its production with the recent launch of Tiny Tower Liquor, a label under which to sell gin from across its sites and from its new urban distillery, Teatro Hall in Ealing. Tiny Tower’s new HQ is home to a much larger copper still – sitting pretty at 150 litres – and here, you can taste your way through a flight from the range, take yourself on a two-hour blending bender or finesse five recipes at a cocktail masterclass. LR 61 New Broadway, London W5 5AH Tasting, £25; classes from £60 teatrohall.com/distillery

Wyrd Gin (New Forest Spirits)

Hangersley, hampshire.

Wyrd Gin is produced in the New Forest in Hampshire, so the distillery is perfectly placed to combine with a day out exploring the national park. Head distiller Mark is the guide for the distillery tours and is a trained chemist, so has all the know-how you could wish for if you’re after the fine details of crafting a quality spirit. The tour includes a range of samples to try, as well as a complimentary Gin & Tonic on arrival, and lasts 90 minutes. If you’re looking for lunch or dinner in the area, it’s good to know that the distillery is only half an hour’s drive from Angela Hartnett’s restaurant at Limewood Hotel and The Pig at Brockenhurst. Wyrd also offers ‘Distil Your Own Gin’ experiences if the tour whets your appetite for spirit production. WM Forest Corner Farm, Hangersley, Ringwood BH24 3JW £25 wyrdspirits.com

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Gin distillery tours in Northern Ireland

Boatyard Distillery

County fermanagh, northern ireland.

The best way to explore Fermanagh’s waterways is by boat, which luckily is also one of the best ways to visit the Boatyard Distillery. Set on Lough Erne near the county town of Enniskillen (which, according to local legend, once had its own gin palace), it’s the first legal distillery in Fermanagh since 1890. The distillery is family-run – with the sweet gale botanical used in its gin grown on the family farm – and a small affair, but with a generous tour offering that includes a tasting and two gin cocktails. LB Tullybay Marina, 346 Lough Shore Rd, Drumcrow East, Enniskillen BT93 7DX Tasting, talk and tour, £50 boatyarddistillery.com

Donaghadee, Northern Ireland

Just off the harbour of Donaghadee in County Down, Copeland’s coastal spirits – named after the offshore islands once used as a base for smugglers bringing booze into Ireland – include rum and blended whisky, but its Classic Irish and Navy Strength gins were where the story began. It’s an impressive site, an old bottling company and historic picturehouse redeveloped in 2019 to encompass the company’s three pot stills. Learn more about the building’s heritage, take a view across the production floor and sample from the distillery’s citrussy range on a 90-minute yarn-filled tour.  LR Manor St, Donaghadee BT21 0HF Tour £22.50 copelanddistillery.com

Gin distillery tours in Scotland

Edinburgh Gin

Edinburgh, scotland.

While the subterranean bar and visitor centre might now have competition across the road from the more overt Johnnie Walker Experience, Edinburgh Gin is still a top attraction for spirit lovers in the Scottish capital. In a cave-like space you can learn to craft your own blend on a mini pot still or taste through the popular range of London Dry and flavoured numbers (Edinburgh Gin’s Rhubarb and Ginger expression has been a crowd pleaser for years and just scooped Silver with the IWSC). Other tour and gin tasting options include an evening themed around Scottish ‘tipples, tales and traditions’ or an indulgent evening of gin and chocolate pairing.  LR 1A, Rutland Place, Edinburgh EH1 2AD From £12 edinburghgin.com

Holyrood Distillery

Another essential Edinburgh stop-off, Holyrood is based at the foot of Arthur’s Seat. While whisky is at the core of the operation (this is Scotland, after all), the distillery has been branching out into experimental rum production as well as a range of classy, textured gins tipped for mixing in a Martini. Its Height of Arrows gin label offers a pure expression of juniper and also sees the team experiment in cask-aged offerings. At the distillery, see for yourself inside the on-site ‘spirits lab’ where the team take you through a tasting before unleashing you on your own craft cocktails to take with you back to the bar at the end of each session.  LR 19 St Leonard’s Ln, Edinburgh EH8 9SH From £16 holyrooddistillery.co.uk

Isle of Harris

Hebrides, scotland.

There can’t be many gin distilleries in the world with surroundings as dramatic as this one. Based in Tarbert on the Hebridean island of Harris, the Isle of Harris distillery sits a few metres from the shore and offers lovers of its seaweed-infused gin the chance to sample the product while hosts share the story of its creation a stone’s throw from where the signature ingredient is sourced. The distillery also makes its own whisky, which you can try on the tour along with the gin, and the local sandy beaches are as good as the drinks. It may be a little out of the way but a visit to this particular distillery is virtually guaranteed to be special. WM Tarbert, Isle of Harris HS3 3DJ £17.50 harrisdistillery.com

Praban na Linne

Isle of sky, scotland.

The Isle of Skye conjures images of whisky but it’s on the south-eastern coast of the island at Eilean Iarmain where you’ll find the Gaelic Gin still house, the home of Uisge Lusach gin. It’s tucked in amongst some historic buildings on the water’s edge overlooking the stone pier. The distillery’s shepherd’s hut is where tastings take place, giving visitors spectacular views across Loch Hourn to enjoy while sampling the gins (and the brand’s whiskies too, if you wish). The brand won medals for each of the three whiskies and two gins it entered in this year’s IWSC, so you’re likely to be as impressed by the spirits as you are by Skye’s stunning scenery. WM Eilean Iarmain, Sleat, Isle of Skye IV43 8QR gaelicwhisky.com

Isle of Mull, Scotland

Visiting the rugged Isle of Mull is a magical experience, Tobermory’s colourful row of seafront houses the place to aim for once you’ve stepped foot off the ferry. What makes it even more of a worthy destination is its Tobermory distillery, which admittedly has its history in Scotch production (first established in 1798) – but is making just as much of a name for itself in the 21 st century gin world. A 45-minute tasting session allows you to explore the range of three gins – each of which make good use of unique coastal and Hebridean botanicals, from samphire to wild heather. LR Ledaig, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6NR £18.50 tobermorydistillery.com

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The incredible but little-known gin distillery in Kent

You can watch exactly how the gin is made before enjoying a tipple

• 18:31, 15 JAN 2020

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Gin has become a trendy tipple for good reason - it's simply delicious.

So it is fascinating to see the complex and considered process your drink has to go through before it makes it to your glass.

And one Kent distillery has really poured their all into that process.

Copper Rivet Distillery in Chatham is the only "grain to glass" distillery in Kent, where you can see exactly how your drink is made before having a taste.

The team - based in Chatham's historic dockyard - produce small batches of gins, whiskies and vodkas from scratch in bespoke stills.

They undertake the complete process of brewing and distilling the gin from the grain to the glass, resulting a distinctive premium spirit.

All of the magic happens in the incredible Victorian Pump House No. 5, which has been renovated into the beautiful distillery you can see today.

Guests can take a tour round the building, meet the team and see the distilling process in action.

You can even get involved in the flavour of your gin and try some of the spirits before you leave.

Voted one of Kent's hidden gems, it's a great place for couples or groups.

Since it opened in December 2017, the distillery has received rave reviews from visitors.

It is rated 'excellent' on TripAdvisor,often receiving the top five stars.

Visitors always remark on the informative, friendly tour and beautiful building.

For more information visit their website here.

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