Bombay Sapphire Aperitivo Evenings offer cocktails and food

Emily Roberts and I were invited to try out their Aperitivo Evenings, on a Friday, which features a cocktail masterclass, a chance to explore the grounds, and small plates!

After a hardworking Friday, we put our pens down and picked up our IDs, as we ventured to the Laverstoke brewery.

Jasmine and Emily enjoy their cocktails (Image: Newsquest)

The number 76 bus was so seamless, 25 minutes from the town centre, and dropped us off outside the brewery, sparing us from a venture in the rain.

We were guided through a masterclass to make a Laverstoke cocktail, something that was created for the brewery’s opening in 2014.

I felt a little starstruck, when I was on holiday to Seville last September, I spotted a Laverstoke on a cocktail menu, and I was so cool to see something from our town so far from home!

The masterclass took us through step by step, from whacking the mint to pouring the ginger beer to preserve the fizz- I felt like a mini bartender by the end.

This was my first Laverstoke cocktail, and it was expertly made, if I do say so myself!

The result of our masterclass (Image: Newsquest)

After our bartending stint, we were left to enjoy our cocktail and explore the grounds.

This was my first trip to the brewery, and I was taken aback by the glasshouses and the red brick buildings, it was gorgeous and so fun to explore.

The former Portals Paper mill site is accompanied with wildlife, being home to otters and eight species of bat.

Inside the glasshouses are examples of the ingredients used to make Bombay Sapphire’s famous gins.

Looking at the ingredients! (Image: Newsquest)

We also had a peek inside a room which showcases their ingredients, allowing visitors to smell and taste the treasures, including angelica root, grains of paradise, cubeb berries and orris root.

One of the lovely Bombay Sapphire staff explained how the ingredients are steeped in the gin through what is essentially a giant metal teabag.

After a wander around, we were given a free lemon cocktail to enjoy while moving to phase two- the food.

The Aperitivo Evening includes a chance to purchase small plates, of which we took advantage.

The small plates (Image: Newsquest)

We enjoyed sourdough bread, olives, mozzarella and tomatoes with pesto, and figs and Manchego.

We did not skimp on the food, and we found it to be delicious; my taste buds tingled with the enlightenment at the pairing of figs and Manchego.

Our evening was topped off by a free Bombay Sapphire balloon glass which we could take home!

For one person, the evening costs £35 which includes the cocktail masterclass, the lemon cocktail and a Bombay Sapphire balloon glass.

To find out more, see: www.bombaysapphire.com/distillery/tours-experiences/aperitivo-evenings/