Make a gin & tonic – that’s what my Dear Colleen print says. So, imagine my excitement when I discovered that the Bombay Sapphire distillery had begun offering public tours of their distillery in Laverstoke, Hampshire.

Housed in an impressive former paper mill, on the banks of one of the area’s crystal clear chalk streams, and with an incredible tropical house, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, no less (of Olympic torch fame), the setting on its own is memorable.

Add to that a tour around the stills, giving insight into the production process, the chance to smell and taste each of the ten botanicals that go into the Sapphire blend, and then the opportunity to sample the end result in a bespoke cocktail, and you can’t fail to have a good time.

The perfect way to mark 12 years with my special someone.