The Devon gin scene is thriving and if you have ever fancied trying to make your own gin, here are the gin schools to show you how. All run from local Devon distilleries, you can be sure to have some expert guidance and insider tips to perfect your blend!
Plymouth Gin
The daddy of all Devon gins, Plymouth Gin is where it all began. As well as learning about the rich history of the distillery, if you do the Master Distiller’s Tour, there is an in-depth tasting of seven gins AND a distilling master class. You get to choosing botanicals and distil your own gin, which you can take home with you. Though I have my eye on the ultimate experience – Smeaton’s Tower experience – which starts by having cocktails up a lighthouse with the Master Distiller himself, fish and chips in the Barbican before Master Distiller’s Tour. And if that wasn’t boozy enough, you can chill out in their Refectory Bar afterwards!
Dartmouth Distillery Gin School
On the Calancombe Estate, an award winning Vineyard, Winery and Distillery in the South Devon countryside, you’ll find the internationally award-winning Dartmouth Distillery Co. Here you can learn from the Head Distiller in their masterclass, where you will learn the history of gin, the art of distilling and produce your own bottle of bespoke gin to take home.
Salcombe Gin School
Awarded best small visitor attraction at the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards, Salcombe Gin School is a great place to learn the art of distillation. Unique among Devon gin schools as the only distillery you can reach by boat! In the safe hands of the expert distillers, you’ll create your own recipe, choose your botanicals, take charge of a mini copper pot still and distil your own bottle of gin. To make it truly your own, you even get to name your gin, bottle it and personalise its label. To round off the day nicely, you can relax at the Boathouse, the distillery’s waterside bar, sampling your creation.
Devon Gin School at Devon Distillery
Run from the Cider Press Centre at Dartington, the Devon Gin School team will show you how to choose your own botanical blend and help you make your own unique bottle of gin to take home. You can even design your own personal label for your 35cl bottle.
Main image credit: Devon Gin School at the Devon Distillery