February might be the shortest month but I still seem to have packed a lot in. Read on to hear all about it, as well as the latest release from Hendrick’s Cabinet of Curiosities!

Booze News

Oh dear, I can’t remember any proper booze news so I’ll totally cheat by telling you how chuffed I was to be included in a fabulous all-female shortlist for IWSC’s Emerging Talent in Spirits Communication Award. Congratulations to Kate Malczewski, editor of BarChick, who won the trophy!

New Gin Alerts

And now for the real booze news: Hendrick’s have released a new gin! Launching today (1st March 2023), the latest limited-release gin from Leslie’s Cabinet of Curiosities is Flora Adora. A delightful addition to the Hendrick’s collection, Flora Adora takes inspiration from the garden and is infused with floral botanicals – such as hibiscus and lavender – alongside their signature rose and cucumber. Technically this new gin alert should feature in my March Gin Monthly but, seeing as I was lucky enough to first taste it last year (!) and attend the launch in February, here it is! Keep reading to see a few more pics from the London launch…

And now, without further ado, let’s give February’s gin releases some love too! It’s an international affair this month with New Zealand’s Scapegrace Distillery launching a Blood Orange Gin (which I’m told is en route to the UK), and France’s Audemus Spirits releasing 160 hand-made and hand-painted bottles of Anne-Sophie Pic Gin, featuring bee’s wax, blackcurrant buds, lemon and rooibos. Closer to home, Crossbill has released its maritime-inspired seasonal Winter 2023 Gin made using sea buckthorn and dulse seaweed, and – ahead of the Coronation in May – The Royal Collection Trust has launched Royal Windsor Pink Gin, infused with raspberries grown at the Castle.

My Month in Gin

My month kicked off not with gin, but with a wonderful evening of mindful drinking and indulgent eating Upstairs at The George, courtesy of Cornwall’s High Point Drinks. It was an absolute treat to meet founder Eddie Lofthouse and learn all about his non-alcoholic fermented Ruby Aperitif over a three-course meal with low-and-no cocktails, including probably the best low ABV Negroni (aka Lowgroni!) I’ve ever had.

I was also beyond excited to attend that Hendrick’s launch in the utterly perfect surroundings of The Treehouse at Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals. In true Hendrick’s style, brand ambassador Luke Condell (aka @homiesandnegronis) treated us to delicious canapés and stunning Flora Adora cocktails – my favourite being the Summer 75 – as we met some of Leslie Gracie’s nectar-loving friends including this beautiful butterfly (or was it a moth…?)!

Finally, I was also delighted to attend the Gin Magazine Awards Gala Dinner at The Waldorf Hilton where I had the pleasure of catching up with industry pals over a delicious meal as the winners of the World Gin Awards and Icons of Gin, and latest inductees into the Hall of Fame, were announced. Congratulations to all the winners, but especially to Hernö who won World’s Best Old Tom Gin (again!), Four Pillars who were deservedly declared Sustainable Distillery of the Year, and Bombay Sapphire‘s master distiller, Anne Brock, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Click here for the full results.

Welcome to My Collection

In addition to my wonderful High Point and Hendrick’s goody bags, I’ve also grateful received Craft Gin Club’s February box featuring Modern Love Gin, premium London Dry Gin ARAXA – which features satsuma, goji berries, vanilla and sansho pepper among its botanicals – and a couple of tempting miniatures of [Prototype] Gin which I can’t wait to crack open soon.

Catching Up and Looking Forward

I finally selected my top ten gins of 2022 at the beginning of February so, if you haven’t already, why not give that a read? As for March, with the Tonic and Mixer Masters, Gin Guide Awards and IWSC judging – on top of an article, a presentation and… everything else – it’s going to be a little bit manic! And, assuming I survive all that, at the end of the month I’ll be heading to San Francisco to judge for the ADI International Spirits Competition! Bring it on! 🍸🛎🛎