Isle of Wight Distillery
Discover award-winning Mermaid spirits crafted with island botanicals and a commitment to sustainability. Taste the true spirit of the Isle of Wight.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Fewer crowds, more relaxed
Isle of Wight Distillery
Best Time
Fewer crowds, more relaxed
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Discover award-winning Mermaid spirits crafted with island botanicals and a commitment to sustainability. Taste the true spirit of the Isle of Wight.
"The Mermaid Gin, Vodka and Rum are absolutely fantastic. Tasting is believing, you won't be disappointed."
🎯 Book a Tasting Session
Highly recommended for sampling spirits. Call it a tasting, not a tour!
🍹 Try the Gin Flight
A great way to sample multiple spirits. Staff are knowledgeable and welcoming.
Quick Facts
Hours
Rating
4.3 · 131 reviews
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Mermaid Gin & Vodka Tasting
The Mermaid Bar
Sample the award-winning Mermaid Gin and Vodka, known for their unique island botanicals and sustainable production.
+1
Mermaid Spiced Rum
The Mermaid Bar
Warm up with the new Mermaid Spiced Rum, a fiery tipple perfect for cooler days.
Cocktail Creations
The Mermaid Bar
Enjoy expertly crafted cocktails featuring the distillery's spirits, praised for being well-made and not watered down.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Book Your Tasting Experience
Getting There & Timing
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🎯 Book a Tasting Session
Highly recommended for sampling spirits. Call it a tasting, not a tour! +1
🍹 Try the Gin Flight
A great way to sample multiple spirits. Staff are knowledgeable and welcoming. +1
🚗 Travel Smart
Factor in ferry/hovercraft times. Bus stop is conveniently located outside. +1
🌿 Sustainable Spirits
Learn about their eco-friendly packaging and production.
Tips
from all over the internet
🎯 Book a Tasting Session
Highly recommended for sampling spirits. Call it a tasting, not a tour! +1
🍹 Try the Gin Flight
A great way to sample multiple spirits. Staff are knowledgeable and welcoming. +1
🚗 Travel Smart
Factor in ferry/hovercraft times. Bus stop is conveniently located outside. +1
🌿 Sustainable Spirits
Learn about their eco-friendly packaging and production.
🍽️ Food Looks Good
While not the main focus, the food is reported to look delicious.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Visitors generally praise the Isle of Wight Distillery for its fantastic Mermaid spirits, particularly the gin and rum, and the friendly, family-like atmosphere. The tasting experience is a highlight, offering a good way to sample their range. However, some feel the 'tour' is misleadingly described and is more of a tasting session with limited distillery insight, and the journey to the island can be costly.
"Met Malcomb and the team, friendly polite and fantastic family atmosphere. The Mermaid Gin, Vodka and Rum are absolutely fantastic. Tasting is believing, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommend and will be returning."
Steve Jones
"We really enjoyed our afternoon here - definitely do the gin flight! Really helpful staff and tasty cocktails, with a nice view outside. We didn’t do the distillery part, I don’t think it’s worth it as it’s tiny, and we didn’t eat although food did look really good as well. Definitely worth a visit!"
Ceri M
"This is a really nice bar. Drinks are good and food is good. We did pay for the tour though, but calling it a tour is incredibly misleading. Its a tasting course with a 2 minute intro of each of the distilleries own drinks while you sit in the bar. Which is fine, but we got a bus out expecting maybe a 20 minute tour and some tasting. We are obsessed with mermaid gin so the tour was disappointing. Maybe just call it a tasting session. Also there is no difference between the price for the virgin experience and the tasting platter at the bar. Its the same thing.
We had cocktails afterwards to use up some time. We spent almost 45 minutes getting there. The tasting session dosent take long really. The cocktails were really well made and thankfully not watered down."
Beck
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
You can reach the Isle of Wight by ferry or hovercraft. From London, it's around a 2-hour journey. +2 Once on the island, the distillery is accessible by bus, with a stop conveniently located outside.
Getting on and off the island can be expensive, with ferry prices starting from around £61.50 return and hovercraft from £8.50 one way. +1
Yes, you can drive to the Isle of Wight via ferry. The distillery is located on the island, and parking availability should be checked locally.
Public transport, including buses, is available. Many visitors also use taxis or their own vehicles to explore.
The journey from London to the Isle of Wight typically takes around 2 hours, including ferry or hovercraft travel. +1
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
It's highly recommended to book a tasting session in advance, especially during peak times. While you can visit the bar, a tasting experience offers the best way to sample their spirits. +1
Some visitors describe the experience as more of a tasting session rather than a traditional distillery tour. It involves sampling spirits while seated in the bar area, with a brief introduction to the products. +1
A tasting board with 7 shots (10ml each) of local rums and gins costs around £10. Note that the price for a 'virgin experience' and a tasting platter at the bar may be the same.
Opening hours can vary, so it's best to check their official website or social media for the most up-to-date information.
Yes, you can visit the bar to enjoy cocktails and purchase drinks. However, the tasting session is a popular way to experience their range.
🎫 🍸 Onsite Experience
You can sample their award-winning Mermaid Gin (including Zest and Pink varieties), Mermaid Vodka, and Mermaid Spiced Rum.
Yes, cocktails are reported to be very well-made and not watered down, offering a great way to enjoy their spirits.
While the focus is on spirits, the food served at the distillery looks really good, according to visitor reviews.
The atmosphere is described as friendly, polite, and having a fantastic family feel. It's a nice bar with a good ambience.
You can purchase their spirits and some merchandise. However, some visitors noted a lack of specific items like pin badges.
📸 📸 Photography
The distillery, with its Mermaid branding and coastal location, offers visually appealing elements for photos, especially the bottles and cocktails.
The bar area, the beautifully presented gin bottles, and any outdoor seating areas can make for great photo opportunities.
As the 'tour' is more of a tasting, access to the actual distillation equipment might be limited. Focus on capturing the brand and the tasting experience.
The distinctive Mermaid branding on the bottles and associated merchandise provides a strong visual theme for photography.
Lifestyle shots featuring cocktails, product photography of the spirits, and scenic shots incorporating the island's charm are popular.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit