It’s only a couple of weeks since I wrote my last gin monthly so it truly does feel like time is flying as we race towards the end of the summer. It’s been a good one for me (even if I am also really looking forward to sending the kids back to school!) as I hope it has been for you; here’s what my August looked like…

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Booze News

Having written about how distilleries are harnessing renewable energy for Gin Magazine last year, it’s fantastic to hear that Scotland’s Arbikie has secured permission to install a wind turbine, electrolyser, hydrogen storage and hydrogen boiler system to enable them to become the world’s first distillery powered by zero-carbon green hydrogen. Congratulations to all the teams involved!

New Gin Alerts

Beefeater’s Rhubarb & Cranberry Gin has probably stolen all the headlines this month, but other notable releases included Papillon‘s red grapefruit-forward Ruby Gin, Kerr’s Navy Strength Gin from The Borders Distillery, Shed 1’s Ulverston Gin featuring locally foraged linden, comfrey, blackcurrant leaves and elderflower (among others) and Levin Down Goodwood Gin which lists wild gorse flowers and mint among its botanicals.

My Month in Gin

I spent the first two weeks of the month in wonderful Wales and, although I failed miserably at making it to even one operating distillery, I did achieve a flying visit to Anglesey’s Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogochtwo (!) as well as The Pembrokeshire Gin Co‘s colourful store in Tenby and the Welsh Sisters‘ delightful shop in New Quay. Thanks to my sharp-eyed daughter I even stumbled across a very exciting but not-quite-yet-operational distillery! I can’t tell you much more than that now, but watch this space as I’ll be sure to let you know all about it when I can.

After all that fun, I had the pleasure of seeing my latest article published in Gin Magazine and also squeezed in a little virtual judging for The Spirits Business Awards 2022 and a little in-person judging for The Craft Distilling Expo’s inaugural Ready To Drink/Ready To Serve competition. Rest assured though, the picture below was only taken well after the judging had finished (and I have no idea what Microsoft Teams thought it was up to with the other one)!

Welcome to My Collection

I was a little late to the Craft Gin Club party this month as I was away when my box arrived but I was delighted to discover Lantic Gin’s Morva edition – featuring magnolia flower, rose petals elderflower and birch sap – alongside an array of drinks and snacks. I was also over the moon to receive Japan’s 135° East Gin, Holyrood’s Height of Arrows Bright and Heavy, Thunderflower FireShip and a Negroni-themed box of goodies including Cocchi Vermouth di Torino and Boatyard Double Gin.

I also couldn’t resist purchasing a couple of bottles of wonderful Welsh gin on my travels – Llanfairpwyll Anglesey Dry Gin and Welsh Sister’s Morwyn Dry Gin – and a couple of gin pins including this beauty from In The Welsh Wind, which I had hoped to pick up direct from the distillery but ended up buying online when I couldn’t drag the kids away from the beach in time to get there!

Catching Up and Looking Forward

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Gin Magazine yet, you can already read my latest article on sustainable bars online here. As for next month, we’ve not only got Negroni Week to look forward to from 12th to 18th September, but also Bee’s Knees Week from 23rd September to 2nd October. And, if you want to plan a little further ahead, you can also purchase your tickets for London Cocktail Week (actually eleven whole days from 13th to 23rd October) right now! Until then, enjoy the last few days of the summer and I’ll see you next month. 🍸🛎🛎