Gin Distilleries: Where Your Favourite Gins Come From

If you love a crisp London Dry or a floral New Western gin, you’ve probably wondered what goes on behind the bottle. The answer lives in gin distilleries – places where botanicals, steam and a lot of passion combine. In this guide we’ll break down how gin is made, point out some standout distilleries, and give you tips for a great tasting trip.

How Gin Is Made

First things first: gin starts with a neutral spirit. That spirit can be grain, sugar beet, or even potatoes, but the goal is a clean canvas with little flavour. The magic happens when the spirit meets botanicals – juniper, coriander, citrus peel, and whatever the distiller wants to highlight.

There are three main methods. The most common is pot still distillation. The spirit is heated, vapour rises through a basket of botanicals, and the scented vapour condenses back into liquid. This method gives a clear, clean gin with a strong juniper punch.

Column still distillation works similarly but uses a taller column to separate the vapour more precisely. It’s great for larger batches and often produces a smoother gin.

Finally, some craft makers use the bathtub method – soaking botanicals in the spirit for hours or days before a short distillation. This extracts deeper, more nuanced flavours, especially from delicate herbs.

After distillation, most gin is diluted to about 40% ABV, filtered, and bottled. Some distilleries add a final touch of water from a specific source to enhance the taste. The whole process can take a few weeks to several months, depending on the style.

Top Distilleries to Visit

Ready to see the action in person? Here are a few gin distilleries that combine great tours with memorable drams.

Hendrick’s (Glenkinchie, Scotland) – Known for its cucumber‑rose gin, Hendrick’s offers a quirky, immersive tour. You’ll walk through a Victorian steam engine room and get a taste of their secret infusion process.

Bombay Sapphire (Camden Town, London) – The iconic blue bottle comes from a state‑of‑the‑art facility. Their tour includes a glass‑blowing demo, a botanical garden walk, and a tasting bench where you can compare the original and experimental batches.

Monkey 47 (Schwarzwald, Germany) – Tucked in the Black Forest, this distillery uses 47 botanicals, many sourced locally. The tour is scenic, and the tasting room serves the gin neat, on the rocks, and in a classic cocktail.

Four Pillars (Melbourne, Australia) – A modern craft space with a focus on sustainability. They let you blend your own small‑batch gin under the guidance of a master distiller – a fun hands‑on experience.

The Botanist (Isle of Islay, Scotland) – A coastal distillery that uses 22 wild herbs from the island. Their tasting hall offers panoramic sea views, making each sip feel like a fresh breeze.

When you book a tour, ask for a **palate cleanser** like a slice of citrus or a light cracker. It helps you notice the subtle shifts between botanicals. Also, bring a notebook – the aroma notes and production quirks are worth remembering.

Whether you’re a seasoned gin lover or just curious, visiting a gin distillery gives you a front‑row seat to the art and science behind that bottle on your shelf. Grab a friend, schedule a tour, and toast to the journey from grain to glass.