Well, there goes April and an entire month lived in lockdown. Strange times indeed. I do hope you’re all keeping well and adapting ok; I think I am!

Booze News

Amid so much uncertainty, the news that hospitality will likely be one of the last industries to come out of lockdown is very worrying indeed for all us gin-lovers, and especially for those who make and sell spirits, so don’t forget to do your best to support them in these tough times.

Congratulations to all The Gin Guide Awards 2020 victors, which have been announced this month. It was a real honour to join the judging panel this year and I reckon we found some truly worthy winners.

New Gin Alerts

So many distilleries have switched to producing much-needed hand sanitiser this month, but some intriguing new gins have also been released, including Hernö Pink BTL Gin (a pink bottle of London Dry Gin distilled with strawberries and rose petals, as opposed to another bottle of coloured and sweetened pink gin), City of London Lime Navy Strength Gin and The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

My Month in Gin

Despite the lockdown I’ve attended some great gin events this month – from the comfort of my living room of course – including Manly Spirits’ Lilly Pilly launch, which featured a tour of their distillery in Australia, and a Greensand Ridge live tasting including a fantastic cocktail-making session with Josh Linfitt of Propping Up The Bar. There are loads of similar events popping up – which are great opportunities to see behind the scenes and try some new spirits and serves – so check out what your favourite brand is doing. I’m already signed up for a Tarquin’s tasting on 13th May and, if you want to take part, you can pick up your bottle of Cornish Dry Gin from Gin Kiosk with 10% off if you enter discount code SWDLIVE.

I’ve also been cheating on gin with just about every spirit under the sun; brandy, vodka, whisk(e)y, rum… Don’t worry, gin is still my best and my favourite, but I got an amazing opportunity to study for my WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits courtesy of Pernod Ricard and I couldn’t say no. It’s a great chance to learn more about all the other spirits out there, which I’m really enjoying, and it’s rather novel to have some homework of my own when I’m not attempting to homeschool my kids!

Welcome to My Collection

Thank you to Bullards Spirits for their Old Tom Gin with its ingenious packaging which you’ll see more of during #GinADayMay; The Lakes Distillery for their stunning bottle of Pink Grapefruit Gin and also to Atom Brands for Ableforth’s Bathtub Gin with which I raised a very tasty virtual cheers recently!

Catching Up and Looking Forward

There’s only one thing on my mind right now and that’s #GinADayMay 2020! I really hope you’ll be taking part and I’ll see you on the other side! 🍸🛎🛎