The Gin Lab

"Puerto Natales is not the most obvious location for a craft gin producer, and that makes the Last Hope Distillery all the more welcome. Founded by Australian couple Matt and Keira, who fell in love with this part of Patagonia after hiking the W Trek in Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in 2015, it offers excellent free tours that draw a steady stream of visitors (Wednesday to Sunday, 5.30pm in English, 6.30pm in Spanish). On the tours, you learn about the gin-making process, taste the various botanicals that give the spirit its distinct flavor, find out how Last Hope's gin has been given a uniquely Patagonian twist and of course sample the finished product. Afterward, grab a seat in the attached bar for a perfectly mixed cocktail featuring the house dry gin or a deep-purple version flavored with sweet-sour calafate berries. Whiskey production is in the pipeline, but in the meantime, the bar has an extensive range of whiskeys produced by other distilleries. The inventive snacks and sharing platters are to die for. Highlights include a reuben sandwich made with guanaco pastrami, hummus with hazelnut dukkah (a tasty Middle Eastern spice blend) and, for those with a sweet tooth, a sticky date pudding with a bourbon butterscotch sauce."