Hotels near the Plymouth Gin

England's oldest working distillery is still turning out fine Plymouth Gin and is happy to let you in on the secret of how it's made with a tour of the production process.

Hand-crafted in the same way since 1793, this unique gin is one of only three styles - the others being London Gin and Dutch Gin. Unlike other gins which are often made anywhere in the world, Plymouth Gin can only be distilled within the ancient walls of Plymouth. This makes it the only gin with a geographic designation, similar to a Bordeaux wine's appellation controlée.

Plymouth Gin also happens to be the only 18th-century gin that is still batch distilled in the original distillery. Its three main ingredients are neutral grain spirit, a blend of botanicals and Dartmoor water.

The tour is of interest for the distillery itself as well as for the gin. The historic building dates back to 1431 and was the final lodgings for the Pilgrim Fathers before they set sail to the New World.

And of course no such tour would be complete without a tasting session. Just don't drink too much.