Silent Pool Gin Distillery Tour; Surrey Hills
Discover the magic of the Silent Pool Gin Distillery, nestled in the heart of the Surrey Hills and steeped in the legends of the region on a Distillery Tour!
If you're a fan of gin and are looking for a unique experience in the heart of the English countryside, then a visit to the Silent Pool Gin Distillery is a must-do activity! Located in the stunningly beautiful Surrey Hills, the distillery tour gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how their award-winning gin is made alongside it's history and evolution.
Envisaging a sustainable distillery producing artisan spirits from locally sourced ingredients founders Ian McCulloch & James Shelbourne started a hunt for the perfect location to start producing gin. In 2014 they discovered Sherbourne Farm and its cow barns on the banks of the Silent Pool. Inspired by the setting, they reached out to the landowner The Duke of Northumberland to get permission to restore the buildings and Silent Pool Distillery was born!
Arriving in beautiful spring sunshine, we made our way to the Distillery courtyard for our pre-booked tour. Whilst we waited on our other participants we were lucky enough to enjoy a complimentary cocktail the mixologists were trialling in The Pool Bar! A fantastic spot to enjoy a tipple (or two!), with fantastic decoration and covered seating for all weathers. Plus there's even 'Dog Gin' for well-behaved 4-legged visitors!
We began the tour by venturing down to the mythical and absolutely stunning Silent Pool itself. The fable of the Silent Pool is a well-known legend and has made the pool a popular attraction in the Surrey Hills. I won't spoil the fable here, as the extremely knowledgeable tour guides will do a much better job of storytelling! However, the legend of the Silent Pool has had a significant influence on artists, writers and on the creation and marketing of Silent Pool Gin. The tour experience explains the numerous ways the location, design and innovation of the distillery have been impacted by the haunting tale and the beautiful surroundings. It's truly fascinating, the history fan in me loved learning all about this and I love uncovering secrets on tours too!
Back in the distillery, we continued our discovery about the botanicals and distillation process used for Silent Pool gins. The passionate guides take visitors through each of the 4 step of the gin-making process, from the sourcing of the botanicals to the distillation and bottling of the final product. You'll be able to see the distillery's copper stills, and how they are used to create Silent Pool Gin's signature flavour. We also learnt about the distillery's approach to sustainability from production, to retail and their partnerships with other local businesses to preserve the area of outstanding natural beauty they reside in.
A fascinating aspect of the tour is learning about the botanicals used in the gin. The distillery uses a mix of classic and unusual botanicals to form their Silent Pool Base, along with their ever expanding special editions and their range of the Small batch gins & liqueurs. Visitors can see and smell the different botanicals to really understand how the balancing of the complex flavours is achieved to ensure each ingredient serves a purpose and complements the last without dominating the palate.
Once we understood the botanicals & distillation process it was time to enjoy samples of the various gins, to test our palates and discover our personal favourites. The tasting includes a selection of the distillery's gins, including their signature Silent Pool Gin and some of their more experimental varieties.
The tour concludes with the best location – the Silent Pool shop! The perfect place to purchase your next bottle of gin, glasses and many other gifts! We came away with new bottles of gin, glasses, straws, a gorgeous candle holder, fragrance mists for cocktail making and even Silent Pool & Mr Tipsy alcoholic ice cream!! Tour participants receive a £5 voucher to use in the shop towards your purchases.
After the tour you are welcome to stay for more drinks in the The Pool Bar or I'd highly recommend visiting some of the other wonderful businesses on the estate. We thoroughly enjoyed an absolutely delicious feast of truly some of the best Indian food at Mandira's Kitchen. A fantastic treat after the tour in beautiful surroundings, with delightful staff and delectable food that you won't be able to resist buying more of to take home as well! (Blog post coming soon!)
Overall, a visit to the Silent Pool Gin Distillery is a unique and informative experience that offers a glimpse into the innovative world of gin-making. The beautiful location in the Surrey Hills only adds to the charm of the distillery, making it an excellent destination for gin lovers .
Notes:
- Take a jacket & wear sensible shoes as elements of the tour are outside and continue in all weathers. (open toe shoes and heels are not permitted)
- No under 18's allowed
Cost: £20 per person – booking is necessary. Gift vouchers available.
Time: approximately 1.5 hours.
Transport: Nearest train station is Guildford, which is 20 minutes away by taxi. There is a limited parking off the A25, with no parking at the distillery itself. The car park to the distillery is a short walk uphill.
Website: Silent Pool
Date: March 2022
