Visiting the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill

I've wanted to visit the Bombay Sapphire Distillery for ages. So for my husband's birthday, I bought him tickets for a tour of the gin distillery (these were absolutely not bought for me of course).

I was hoping to book the Gin Masterclass for us both, but sadly, this was not available on the day, so we opted for the "Discovery Experience" instead. This is a self-guided tour of the mill which includes a complimentary cocktail for £16. It was great because you could go round the mill at your own pace and listen to the various pieces of information about the distillery and the history of Gin and Bombay Sapphire as we went round.

Our favourite bit (other than actually drinking the gin!) was going to the Botanical Dry Room and creating our own aroma profile to see what styles of gin and gin cocktails we prefer. You basically go round the room and sniff a range of the botanicals that go into gin and Bombay Sapphire. You then stamp a piece of card and it lets you know whether you prefer Pine, Spicy, Earthy, Citrus or Floral gins.

You then hand your card to the staff in the bar and they are supposed to use your card to serve you the perfect cocktail based on your preferences. Although this didn't actually work in practice because the bartender just asked us to pick a cocktail that was closest to our stamps.

It didn't matter because we both ended up trying quite a few cocktails each. My favourite one was "Rosy Rain" which was described as "a long, creamy and sherberty cocktail incorporating Bombay Sapphire, Martini Rosato, Bottle Green Rhubarb and Schweppes Salty Lemon Tonic. my husband really enjoyed the "Queen of Hearts" cocktail which contained Bombay Sapphire, white chocolate liqueur, Bottle Green Raspberry Cordial bound together with egg whites. I also loved the Gin Basil Smash and Tonic - basically, we loved them all!

We were so lucky because, even though it was September when we visited, it was such a sunny day. The distillery looked glorious in the sunshine and we were able to sit outside for our lunch and also to enjoy our cocktails. We could have spent all day sitting in the sunshine, sipping on the fabulous gin.

The only slight downside to the day was the cafe. We went there early for lunch and, although the food was delicious, the cafe itself was a bit poky and you couldn't have a glass of wine or gin with your lunch as they only served soft drinks. They did offer to box up our lunch and we could take it to the bar area to eat it, but we didn't really want to eat out of a box. Presumably, there is some licensing issue, but given that the bar is next door to the cafe, it seemed a bit ridiculous.

We stayed the night at the Watership Down Inn which was 10 minutes walking distance from the distillery. The rooms were clean and comfortable and we had a really, really nice meal there in the evening.

A Classier Canary

I was pretty snobbish about Lanzarote before I went. I kind of imagined a scene from Benidorm with Brits throwing up on street corners, party games by the pool side, promoters dragging you into bars to drink from fish bowls and restaurants with pictures of full English fry ups outside. Yes I have been to Magaluf!

However, Costa Teguise in Lanzarote was nothing like that. In fact, I was pretty impressed.

Accommodation

Overall the resort, compared to some of the huge Spanish mega builds, is pretty attractive. There are a few ugly 70s and 80s style block hotels, but in the main there are lots of pretty, white buildings interspersed with the black, lava gardens for which the island is renowned. We stayed at the HPB Santa Rosa hotel, which is on the South West of the resort, very near to the Playa Bastian Beach. It's a great hotel. No animation teams organising club 18-30 type games, no loud music and nice and peaceful at night (yes, I am pretty middle aged!)

The view from Hennessey's Bar, by Playa Cucharas

Restaurants

The Santa Rosa hotel has lots of bars and clubs nearby. But for me, the nicest bars and restaurants are over to the South East of the resort, just up from Playa Cucharas. 

If you like Tapas, I would really recommend El Bocadito which has an amazing selection, although you might want to bring your Spanish dictionary otherwise ordering can be guesswork! We had a delicious bottle of wine at this restaurant too, Emilio Moro 2008, which I would heartily recommend. The 2007 version is available from Majestic in the UK. Portabello is great for Italian food and if you like nutty, Italian waitresses! If you want to eat by the sea front, El Maestro and La Pesquera share the same owner, and have a lovely chilled out vibe, with cool Spanish music. I had paella and sangria for just 7 Euro. 

Enjoying a cocktail at the Captain Hook Bar, yes, they do come with sparklers!

Nightlife

This isn't the sort of place you'd go for a stag weekend or to dance the night away. Overall, its pretty quiet, principally populated by families and couples. There are lots of bars with fairly naff pub style singers, crooning along to a Casio or a laid down track, and the odd karaoke night. 

For me, by far the nicest cluster of bars is around the Pueblo Marinero area. Built by Cesar Manrique (people are pretty obsessed with him in Lanzarote), the area is a cluster of typical canary style buildings, all white, simple and archy, and designed to look like a Canarian Fishing village (even though it is nowhere near the sea!). We had a drink at the Captain Hook bar, where you can get lots of nice cocktails and they give you a blanket if you get too cold! They have music playing most nights, and the first time we went, we enjoyed lovely live Spanish Guitar music.  

There are also some nice bars down by the Playa Cucharas. We had a very OTT cocktail at Robinson's Bar, and also Hennessey's is nice for a more traditional pint. Both have spectacular views out to sea, but can be a bit windy!

Beaches

El Jablillio beach

Costa Teguise has five beaches. Probably the nicest one is the Playa Jablillo beach which is a small, horse shoe shaped beach with beautiful turquoise water that's perfect for swimming in. It's a bit more sheltered from the wind too, which seems to constantly blow in Lanzarote. Playa Cucharas is a larger strip of white sand that has more bars and restaurants nearby, it also has a public toilet (but no loo roll!). You'll also be able to watch lots of hot windsurfers charging through the waves! 

It's free to lie on the sand, but to hire two sunbeds and an umbrella costs 10 Euro.

Getting there

The main Lanzarote airport is about a 20 minutes drive away and is called Arrecife airport. By far the highlight of the airport is that you can sit outside at the Carling pub, enjoy the sunshine with a glass of wine and watch the planes land. All airports should have an outside terrace, the perfect way to end a holiday!

Nearby

Most of the hotels organise day trips, you can also hire a car or book something through the many Last Minute Travel stores in Costa Teguise. There's lots to do and the costs can vary from a few Euro to around 100 Euro depending on the scale of the trip.

Timanfaya National Park, it's beautiful

I'd recommend a visit to the Timanfaya National Park, where you can see the bizarre looking lava fields and volcanoes. If you love a glass of wine, it's worth going to look at one of the wineries purely because of the unique way they grow their vines. 

Finally, the Sunday market in Teguise is pretty good for a visit. Alongside the usual fake Fendi Bags and belts are artisan foods and wines, and local arts and crafts. Teguise is also a really attractive little town, and quite different to the beach side holiday resorts. If you do stop for lunch in Teguise, I'd recommend Bodega de Santa Barbara as they have a sheltered sunny terrace, where we enjoyed a platter of salami and goats cheese, accompanied by a super cold glass of El Grifo Malvasia Colleccion white wine.

A vineyard in Lanzarote!

Downsides

Nowhere is perfect, and there are some downsides to Costa Teguise. The main one is the fact that you can't lie on the beach without getting hassled. Whether from the man selling the sunglasses (and other illegal substances!), the people offering massages or those wanting to braid you hair, it is really irritating and incessant. You get it the most in La Cucharas beach from my experience. 

It's also impossible to get a decent breakfast there, unless you buy it from a supermarket. I love a Spanish style breakfast with meats, cheeses and fresh fruit, or a lovely piece of crusty bread topped with ripe tomatoes. When I went to Ibiza, I found somewhere that did fruit kebabs and champagne for breakfast, which was amazing. However, this is impossible to find. You have a choice of Full English Breakfast, Vegetarian English Breakfast or Superior English Breakfast!

I'd love to hear if you've visited the resort, and what your favourite parts were. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.

Places I love around Sydney

I've been to Sydney several times in the past, but generally as a fairly penniless traveller. But having just returned from a trip to visit my brother, I've had a bit of an insider's view of the nice places to eat and drink in and around Sydney and I thought I would share them with you. Remember, Sydney is not a cheap place to play in, but many restaurants do BYO which can help balance the budget! Although it can be pricey, the quality is generally excellent, and you get lots of variety of cuisine and genuinely fresh ingredients.

The Opera Bar

With two of Sydney's most iconic landmarks in view, The Opera Bar couldn't be better located. Described as "the world's best beer garden", you can sit outside and admire the coat hanger and the Opera House, or if it rains (take it from me, it often does in Sydney) you can sit inside too. The big pull is the stunning view, but they have a lovely selection of food and wines, and for Sydney, it's not too frighteningly priced. I'd recommend the sharing plate which is a beautiful tray of little tasting bites- a bit like a high end tapas dish- and is perfect to share. Ideal if you want a break from shopping at the rocks, or for pre opera snack while marvelling the Sydney skyline.

Woolwich Pier Hotel

Sydney is built on a large port and there is a great network of ferries that offers a fun and convenient way to navigate the best spots. One of the ports is Woolwich and it's worth stopping off here to go to this hotel - or pub as we would call it in the UK. Built overlooking the Woolwhich peninsula, the wrap around veranda offers a great aspect from which to watch the boats go in and out while enjoying the bistro style dining. I had an amazing salad of Baby Beetroots, Yarra Valley Goats Cheese,Torn Croutons, Cherry Tomatoes, Watercress and Red Onion with merlot vinaigrette washed down with a lovely glass of cold crisp Sauvignon Blanc. The ordering system is a bit strange where you have to pay for the food downstairs, you're given a device which buzzes at you when your food is ready and then you have to go collect it. A bit of a fiddle for such a classy place, but maybe you burn a few more calories.

Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney harbour and a former imperial prison and Naval base. Although the Jamaican style Island Bar is a little ramshackle as it is made from recycled shipping containers, the wood fired Pizzeria looked pretty good and they do a wide selection of cocktails. The location gives you a beautiful view of the Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge, and the Island has some interesting art work and historical nods to the colonial past of Sydney. A fun place to get a bit tipsy on a sunny day !!

Sydney Fish Market

This might not sound like the most classy of places to go when in Sydney, but worth it for the experience alone. When you walk into the market, you find yourself in the company of what seems like thousands of other people from every imaginable country. In group formation you walk round the market, very, very slowly, past trays and trays of the strangest looking fish. Cat fish, dory, place, prawns, lobsters, flatheads, scallops, squids, rays, the list is endless. You can obviously purchase all the fresh fish, but you can also choose from a wide range of cooked platters. It's really reasonably priced and since you pay per platter, you see people walking out with trays piled high with fish. We controlled ourselves and enjoyed some calamari rings and battered flathead. And, you can buy wine by the bottle which you then drink on the harbourside, watched by hungry sea birds. Free wifi too which is an absolute rarity in Australia.

Bavarian Bier Cafe, Manly Wharf

If you go to Sydney, you've got to take a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. You get to sail past the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and up past the coast with the stunning city skyline in the background. Manly has some great surf shops, a wide and touristy beach and waves perfect for any surfing fan. Before you leave, I think it's the law that you have a litre of mango beer at the Bavarian Bier Cafe on the wharf. Of course there are other beers to enjoy and you don't have to have mango juice in yours, but for me, it is the perfect refreshing drink after a hot day on the beach. There's a good pizzeria next door too. 

The Riverview Hotel

Described as a local landmark in the heart of Balmain, imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw a painting on the wall of "Southampton Docks". The nearest large town to where I live in the UK. So The Riverview Hotel gets a mention for that reason really! We ate in the bar, but you can also eat in the dining room and the hotel has recently been awarded 'Gastronomic Hotel of The Year' at the prestigious AHA Awards for Excellence (apparently). Not a cheap eatery, but pretty good quality food and a wide selection of wines and beers. They have an interesting tapas style tasting menu as well as gourmet pizzas and daily specials which are more substantial. I had the tasting plate which was three dishes for $25. 

And if none of that suits, why not do things the traditional Australian way and have a Barbie? With a lovely glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir or an old fashioned stubby- I'm a fan of a Coopers or a Little Creatures!!

A Santorini sunset

An ex was something of a sunset chaser, so I’ve seen the sun disappear into the sea many, many times. Whether California or Wales, I’ve seen and photographed them all. However, the sunset over Oia in the Greek island of Santorini takes some beating, and renewed my faith in the magic of a sunset.

Although the crowds tend to flock to Oia to watch the sun slip into the caldera, if you get a good spot early, you’ll feel like the only people in the world.

We watched the spectacle from a hidden away bar called Sun Spirit. Claiming to be the “most proposed to point” in Santorini, the romance was lost on me as I was there with a friend. But there was quite an air of anticipation both from those waiting for the magic to happen, and from the numerous women who were dressed for the fatal question to be posed.

View from Sun Spirit

You’ll find it by going to the main viewing platform above the castle ruins, and turning right towards the sunset. When you reach a wooden windmill, you’re there.

Kastro is another classy restaurant with an even classier view that’s perfect to watch the sun fade from yellow, to orange, to deep red. Tables can be reserved, and it’s good for small groups and for enjoying the delicious mix of Greek and wider Mediterranean food.

Wherever you watch the sunset, ensure you have a glass of cold, dry Assyrtiko or Nykteri white wine in your hand. Two local grapes that are best enjoyed bathed in an orange glow or in one of the many island vineyards. Such as the Santo Winery which is also a great place to go and watch the sunset while enjoying a glass of wine. In fact, when I was in Santorini a couple we met were getting married there and the photos with the orange sun meeting the sea in the background were just beautiful. The vineyard sits in a small town called Pyrgos, near to the middle of the crescent shaped island, and the small town is worthy of a wander if you if you fancy venturing outside of the winery itself.

View from Fira

Fira is slightly trumped by Oia in my opinion for the sunset. None the less, the town is probably slightly more interesting than Oia, and so a sunset trip there is a must if you are not sunsetted out. The eve we went, the sea was literally swamped with cruise ships, which were putting on a light show of their own as the happy cruisers attepted to capture the moment on their cameras. We went to a restaurant called Ristoroni to watch the show. Possibly one of the best meals we had in Santorini and the company and the view made it a night I'll never forget. Despite the many margeritas.

There are several UK flights a day directly into Santorini. Alternatively, you can fly to Athens and get a boat to the island as part of an island hopping experience. You’ll dock at the island base and get a donkey to the cliff top. Not for the feint hearted (or the sensitive nostrilled) but perhaps worth it for the experience.