Branding Visitor Experiences
The Bombay Sapphire Distillery Visitor Centre is an example where branding meets the visitor centre experience. If you are not partial to cocktails or the odd Gin & Tonic, Bombay Sapphire is a well known blue glassed London Dry Gin. Although the distillery is in no sense a museum, as a visitor experience it has a lot to offer.
Bombay Sapphire recently moved to Laverstoke Mill, which was originally the home of the Portals Paper Mill since the eighteenth century. The Bombay brand has only been around since 1960, and they are keen to stress the heritage of their brand, so a historic mill provides an excellent new setting.
Visitors can stroll through the distillery with their map guide which also activates audio points located throughout the site providing additional information. There are plenty of chances to get to grips with all the processes of creating gin, as well as a guided tour of the gin stills by the enthusiastic staff. And before you ask, your entry ticket includes a complimentary gin based cocktail, the ultimate in interactivity. Although the distillery explores the history and botany of gin, no doubt the aim of this visitor centre is for Barcardi (the owners of Bombay Gin brand) to promote this brand.