Eight members and two wives visited the Bombay Sapphire gin distillery at Laverstoke Mill, on the banks of the River Test near Whitchurch, for the final Out and About of the year. Most of the present mill was built in the 19th century to supply banknote paper to the Bank of England. Since 2010 it has been beautifully adapted to gin production and the old buildings now house the stills, though unfortunately photography is not allowed inside them for safety reasons. Happily, the two modern Botanical Glasshouses that have been added to house the plants used to flavour gin are very photogenic and flood-lit, and the whole site exterior is attractive. The photographic allure of the visit was complemented by the opportunity to see how gin is made and enjoy the finished product in the bar. See images from the visit below.
