Sipsmith was the first copper-pot based distillery to start in London in 189 years and it is credited with spearheading the rise of small independent gin distillers in London.
When it opened in 2009, it was one of only four London-based gin distillers and now it is one of 24 gin distilleries operating in London and, with the exception of Beefeater, most of the others are small boutique distilleries. The other well-known gin distillers have moved out of London with Gordon’s, Hendricks and Tanquery produced in Scotland and Bombay Sapphire made in Hampshire.
Although it was only founded in 2009, Sipsmith has grown very popular within the UK and it is the only gin served in the House of Commons.
What to see at the Sipsmith distillery
The distillery tour gives you a lesson in the history of gin in London and the tour also explains how gin is made. The tour concludes with a tutored tasting of the Sipsmith’s range, which includes not only gin but also vodka and other liquors.
Visiting the Sipsmith distillery
The Sipsmith gin distillery is on the site of a former microbrewery on a quiet residential street in Chiswick in West London. It is around a 10–12-minute walk from Stamford Brook tube station (on the District line) and it’s a five-minute walk from Chiswick High Road, where there are regular buses into Hammersmith.
Despite the suburban location, there are other several points of interest within walking distance including Fuller’s brewery, Chiswick House and Hogarth’s House.
At £25 a shot, the tour is a pricy experience but it does include several drinks and a gift bag to take home. The 90-minute tours operate on Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday afternoons.
If you enjoyed your visit to the Sipsmith gin distillery, you may also want to take a tour of the Beefeater Gin distillery in London and the Shakespeare Distillery near Stratford-upon- Avon.
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