Page 155 - WDT MAGAZINE PORTUGAL

Bark from Indo-China, Cubeb Berries from Java and
Top: Within the glasshouses at Bombay
Sapphire, guests can experience the ten
exotic botanicals infused into the spirit
copyright Bombay Above: The gin producer
is operating in the historical Laverstock Mill
copyright Wibke Carter. Opposite:
Highclere Castle is the real Downton Abbey
copyright Highclere Castle. Opposite:
Some railways stations along the
Watercress Line look like a 1950s television
show copyright Wibke Carter
154 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2019
Grains of Paradise from Ghana. The very first gin had a
much humbler beginning. In the 1400s, a distilled
spirit was flavoured with juniper to improve the taste
and subsequently called “Genever”.
A visit to Bombay Sapphire is more than just a
boozy day out. It’s a journey through the history of
Laverstock Mill, its connection to the Bank of India,
and a close-up of the Vapour Infusion distillation
process. Gin lovers can create their own variation in a
cocktail masterclass. At the end of the tour, I get a
complimentary G&T, stored in a little takeaway bag, as
I have to drive sober to my next stop.
Highclere Castle, prominently known as Downton
Abbey, has been the home of the Carnarvon family for
over 300 years, and gin was and is the drink of choice
for generations. Enjoyed in the “Highclere Style”, the
traditional method of indulgence involves a cocktail
made with gin, tonic, a fresh orange squeeze and peel,
and finished with a rosemary sprig.
“Juniper has grown wild on the estate since the
days of the ancient Romans so it’s just like we were
meant to make our own gin. We’re also using
botanicals influenced by the castle's garden including
lime flower, lavender and home-grown oats,” says
Hannah Gutteridge.
In June, only a few months before the lives of the
Crawley family and their servants will hit the big
screen, Highclere Castle launched its own London Dry
Gin. No doubt, the nail biting dramas at Downton
Abbey are much more enjoyable with a good G&T at
hand and thanks to this latest release we may feel just
that tiny bit closer to Lady and Lord Grantham.
After all the delicious, liquid tastings over the
weekend I am ready to put up my feet and what a
better way to finish my trip than with a ride on the
Watercress Line? Since 1865, the county’s only
standard gauge heritage railway has been chugging its
way through the green hills and picturesque small
villages of Hampshire, some of which look like out of a
1950s BBC television show.
As I settle into the vintage carriage, I begin
reading the brochure given to me. Turns out I
should’ve waited a few more hours and taken the
evening departure that day. The steam-hauled Real
Ale Train, or RAT, on which passengers can sample
local ales while traveling for ten miles through idyllic
countryside is one of the most popular rides. Of
course it is! In this part of England, I learnt, you can’t
go wrong with a drink made in Hampshire.
IF YOU GO:
www.visit-hampshire.co.uk
www.hambledonvineyard.co.uk
www.hattingleyvalley.com
www.bombaysapphire.com
www.highclerecastle.co.uk
www.watercressline.co.uk