The Dartmouth Distillery Company

The Dartmouth Distillery Company sits just outside Kingsbridge, where they're making proper gin and rum with the kind of attention to detail that makes you understand why people get passionate about what they drink. You walk through their working distillery and actually see the stills, smell the botanicals, taste what they've made that week. It's hands-on without feeling forced - they let you understand the process rather than just selling you something.

The gin is excellent. The rum's worth trying too, especially if you're the sort who cares about where things come from. The team know their stuff and aren't precious about it either. You're looking at a couple of hours here if you take a proper tour and stay for a tasting, though you could do a quick 45 minutes if you're just passing through.

This works brilliantly alongside a glamping break at Hidden Hill Devon, which is just down the road - grab a bottle, head back to your hot tub, and you've got the making of a proper evening sorted. Families with teenagers who are into food and drink will get something out of it. History types less so, unless you're interested in distilling heritage specifically.

Check ahead for opening hours and whether tastings need booking - they're not massive and can fill up, especially weekends. Worth the detour if you're in the area, and the gin genuinely does travel home better than most.