Looking for some inspiration for Christmas gifts for the gin-lover in your life? Or just for your own wish list? If it’s simply spirits you’re after then check out my gin reviews and subscription guides. Or even last year’s festive favourites. But if you’re looking for something a little different then look no further, here’s my pick of the best books, prettiest jewellery and a few other gorgeous gifts for the gin-obsessed!
Charity gifts have been gaining in popularity since Oxfam’s first goat herds went up for grabs. Alongside this, we’ve seen an increase in brands that do good, and gin is no exception. There’s Ginerosity, the profits from which go towards helping young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds; One Gin, which funds water projects in the world’s poorest communities; and Graveney Gin, which gives 10% of its profits to conservation charity Gearing Up For Gorillas. But what if you’re looking for a gift that’s a little more generous or rather more tangible? Well, The National Trust for Scotland, the country’s largest conservation charity, have just launched the Love Gin Hamper and it could be just the thing you’re looking for for the gin-lover in your life.
When I first came across Turncoat Gin, and met its founder – Terry Langton – at the small and intimate Catford Gin Festival earlier this year, I was intrigued. At first its seemingly simple bottle didn’t particularly leap out at me, but it did grab the attention of my somewhat geeky husband. And the more I chatted to Terry, learnt about, and tasted, Turncoat Gin, the more it grabbed me too. From the backstory, to the brand, to the bottle, this gin is different.
Boozy advent calendars have to be the best addition to the Christmas festivities since a stuffed stocking first appeared at the foot of your bed! And, better still, 2017 has seen the line-up grow larger than ever. From rum and bourbon to absinthe and mezcal, there is something for every spirit lover. There’s even a Naga Chilli Vodka Escalation Advent Calendar with each of the twenty-four daily drams of vodka increasing in heat from 10,000 to 240,000 scovilles! But one of the newest additions to the market, and almost certainly the most beautiful, is That Boutique-y Gin Company‘s first ever Advent Calendar.
Since I first wrote about Craft Gins in April 2017, the company has continued to go from strength to strength. They recently added 58 Gin’s Navy Strength to their online shop and are also the first online stockist of Australia’s Underground Spirits Gin. But, more excitingly than that, they have also just launched their second limited-edition gin, this time in collaboration with Masons Yorkshire Gin.
When so many new gins are launching every month in the UK and further afield, how do we bloggers and enthusiasts keep up? I like to keep a close eye on Instagram and Twitter where I share my finds with a #newginalert, while gin festivals are also a great way to not only hear about new releases but taste them too. I can still walk into a bar or pub and spot a gin that I’ve yet to try, but it’s pretty rare that I’ll never even have heard of it before. But that was how I first came across Inshriach Gin, and that was just the beginning of this serendipitous story.
One Time Gin is back! Originally launched on 1st January 2017, the UK’s only limited-edition gin subscription club has recently relaunched after a (slightly longer than anticipated) hiatus. And they’re even bigger and better than before!
Gin A Ding Ding 