Shannon
16 July 2019
When visiting the Cornish coast and countryside, a brewery or distillery tour should definitely make the shortlist of things to do during your stay. Whether you’re an avid gin fan, an IPA expert or just keen to expand your knowledge on the fascinating processes involved in creating alcoholic beverages, there’s a tour for you in this region! Plus, a number of them are also family-friendly so even if you’re travelling with kids in tow you’ll still find somewhere to visit.
These are our top recommendations…
Skinner's Brewery is one of our personal favourites, and all their bottles have been inspired by the stunning Cornish landscape and culture. Keep an eye out in the local pubs for their beers and ales on draft - the distinctively beautiful logo artworks will tempt you in - and once you’ve taken a sip, you’ll want to know all their secrets! So, why not head off on a brewery tour? We’ve recently teamed up with Skinner's to give away a case of their latest addition, Towans lager, a £500 holiday voucher and a tour of the brewery. Head over to Cornwall Life to enter.
*Competition closes October 31st 2019
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A trip to Colwith Farm will enlighten you as to how premium spirits are created from start to finish and also give you the chance to sample a selection in a tasting session on the working farm. Special classes for gin fanatics are also available to book. Here you can learn all about the distilling process before making your very own 70cl bottle using hand-selected botanicals which suit your tastes to take home and enjoy. Colwith Farm also offers bespoke events from gin & cheese nights and music events to cocktail masterclasses and plenty of other special experiences too!
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This one is for the cider fans! Wander through their production facilities, see the apples from the courtyard to the press and fermentations, take a trip to the underground cellar, explore the ‘cyder’ making museum and enjoy a full product sampling session: here you’ll learn all about the unique product and brand history. A Healeys tour is suitable for all the family too, with the kids’ favourite part usually being the tractor ride through the Orchard, and with sessions ranging from 20 minutes to 1 hour 45, you’ll be able to slot a visit into any time schedule.
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Perhaps among the most well-known breweries in the area, St Austell offers a fascinating tour of the premises that they have occupied for more than 150 years. There are two tour options on offer, lasting from 90 minutes to 2 hours. Both include a sampling lesson in the Small Batch Brewery as well as a beer token for the finale. During your visit you’ll learn all about St Austell’s history, their brewing process as well as details on some of the classic favourites and newest, most exciting brews yet.
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Offering a selection of brewing experiences, from short tours to ‘The Ultimate Beer Brewing Experience’ where you can get fully stuck in, Driftwood Spars is a great day out for grown-ups. You’ll either be based at the seaside brewery or the microbrewery and will have Pete the brewer on hand to capture your attention with his wealth of knowledge throughout the experience. Those who don’t wish to participate, can see all the action through the glass wall in the shop, watching and learning as the magic happens.
Browse our range of cottages near St Agnes.
Although not all of our favourite distilleries or breweries offer tours, you can still sample their goods at a number of local establishments. So, with that in mind we’d recommend keeping your eyes peeled for the following on your next holiday to Cornwall:
- The Wrecking Coast Distillery, the producers of an INCREDIBLE clotted cream gin.
- Moorland Distillery, who are the proud makers of a superb Apply Brandy and Schnapps that can be found at a number of local festivals and events around Cornwall offering up samples.
- Curio, a brand that have created an impressive range of artisan gins, rums and vodkas inspired by fragrant local botanicals.
- St Ives Liquor Co., a family-run business that distil their very own range of fruity gins, limoncellos and even an extra special marmalade. They also run a fantastic gastro bar, SILCo. Searoom, serving up creative cocktails and delicious tapas food by the Cornish coast.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.