Bombay Sapphire Distillery to open in October

Bombay Sapphire’s new distillery and visitor centre at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, UK, will officially open its doors to the public on 1 October 2014, a year later than originally planned.

Originally scheduled for opening in autumn 2012, the former paper mill – which dates back to the 10th century – has undergone a multi-million pound restoration programme.

The centrepiece of the distillery is a Victorian inspired glass house, featuring two Botanical Glasshouses – one tropical and one temperate – displaying 10 hand-picked botanicals from all over the world used to create Bombay Sapphire Gin.

“This is a truly exciting time for Bombay Sapphire as we open our doors to the public worldwide and share our story with them for the first time,” commented Valerie Brass, global marketing director of Bombay Sapphire gin.

“Our aim was to create a world class distillery, built to mirror the fundamental principles of our brand – beauty, creation and integrity.

“Everything we do from our iconic blue bottle, to the 10 exotic Bombay Sapphire botanicals and our unique Vapour infusion process, demonstrates our commitment to quality and innovation in gin distillation.”

Interactive maps will be provided to help guests guide themselves through the distillery, including the Botanical Glasshouses, Botanical Dry Room with dakin stills and the Heritage Room depicting the mill’s history, before finishing in the Mill Bar.

The Empire Room will also be opened to visitors interested in participating in brand training masterclasses.

In May 2013, Bombay Sapphire’s distillery became the first distillery and refurbished building was awarded a sustainability award for its building method.