There’s been a little bit of everything this month – from judging and presenting to publication – and an awful, awful lot of gin, so read on to catch up with everything I’ve been up to.

Booze News

While many of us breathed a sigh of relief when Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme was delayed until October 2025, I’m sure no-one wanted to hear that Circularity Scotland had subsequently called in administrators and made all their staff redundant.

The industry was also shaken by the news that Sir Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive Officer of Diageo, passed away just weeks before he was due to retire. And in yet more sad news, Green Room Distillery announced that they suffered a devastating fire at their Balham site. Although they lost almost everything, including some 3-year-old barrel-aged sloe gin, luckily no-one was hurt and industry friends and generous crowdfunders are already helping the team get back on their feet.

New Gin Alerts

Hot on the heels of many other celebrity-owned gins, Welsh Rugby Union player Sam Davies and his semi-professional footballer fiancé Elianna Chavez have launched Toca Vida Gin made in partnership with Hensol Castle Distillery, and Shed 1 Distillery have released Yiayia Gin; a collaboration with Masterchef Champion Irini Tzortzoglou, and featuring a blend of juniper, fig leaves, olive leaves, rose pelargonium, vine leaves, oregano, lemon leaves and more.

Warner’s also launched Blossom Gin, made with elderflower and rose petals, to celebrate World Gin Day, Mason’s have marked their 10th Anniversary with a gin featuring two different varieties of juniper, distilled three ways, and Scotland’s Wolfcraig Distillers have released an eponymous gin infused with botanicals from the wild landscapes of Stirling. 

My Month in Gin

A super busy month kicked off with me chairing a panel at The Gin Masters 2023 in the amazing surroundings of private members club Home House. A great day of judging was nicely rounded off with an impromptu behind the scenes tour followed by a cheeky cocktail or two at Upstairs at Rules.

I was also super honoured to be invited to speak at The Gin Guild’s Ginposium this year, where Rosie Milsom and I contributed to a strong environmentally-focused schedule with our talk on sustainable packaging. With lots of other brilliant presentations, some delicious accompanying gin samples, and a great discussion between industry legends Christopher Hayman and Desmond Payne – concluding with the announcement that Desmond will be the Guild’s new Grand Rectifier – it was a fantastic day all around!

In time-honoured tradition, I then spent World Gin Day at Junipalooza where I had a blast! While I’m still not convinced running Junipalooza and La Piñata alongside each other was particularly successful, I definitely took advantage of the reduced size to catch up with old friends and try new products alike. As always, some of the most exciting tipples were the ones hidden under the countertops or those in painfully short supply – hello Full Circle Craft Distillers Black Bamboo Gin and Brighton Jammy Orange Gin! – but among my highlights were also Broken Bat Gin, Spiced Stag Gin and Papillon Dartmoor Classic Gin. And I also loved The Gower Gin Company‘s Negronis and Aker’s English Aperitif (though quite what it was doing at a gin show I can’t work out!).

I also had a great time at the inaugural Positive Spirits show the following weekend! Bringing everything – from alcohol-free and agave spirits to vodka and whisky – under one roof, all the exhibitors were united by a commitment to making a difference and shaping a better world. In addition to witnessing the launch of The Sustainable Spritz collaboration between Avallen, ecoSPIRITS and London Essence, and attending some truly inspiring talks, I loved catching up with old friends Greensand Ridge, The Oxford Artisan Distillery, Boatyard Distillery and North Point Distillery, and also making new ones at Brixton Gin, Dutch Barn Vodka, Gattertop Drinks and Sin Gusano.

I was also honoured to join the judging panel for the IWSC Green Spirit Initiative Award – the shortlist for which will be released on Wednesday 5th July with the winner announced at the IWSC’s Awards Celebration on 19th October – and delighted to see my latest article published in the Gin Annual. Pick up a copy now or have a sneak pick here!

Welcome to My Collection

I was absolutely deluged with samples in June for which I am incredibly grateful so – without further ado – thank you for, and a big welcome to, NorweGin, Broken Bat Gin, GWYR Sunflower Gin, all of the Antidote Gins (twice!), Cascave Premium and Cave Aged Gins, and my old favourite Kyrö Gin (which also came with a £5 discount code – KYRODINGDING – for you lovely lot!). And thank you to me for buying me a bottle of the delicious Stag Spiced Gin which – I’ve since discovered – I also awarded an amazing 96 points at the IWSC! What good taste I have!

I’ve also received lots of marvellous minis in the form of Gin in a Tin‘s 35ml bottles, Sustainaholics‘ selection of 50ml “Alumini” bottles (which I would love to see on board my next flight!) and this lovely little goody bag from Positive Spirits!

And last but not least, in the not-gin category I’m delighted to have received a bottle of KAH Tequila Blanco ahead of Tequila Day on 24th July, a selection of Vinca canned wine and the highly-recommended Botivo non-alcoholic botanical drink for when I need a night off! Oh and I may also have purchased a little bottle of Sin Gusano Agave Spirits too because I couldn’t resist it…!

Catching Up and Looking Forward

July will be kicking off with Imbibe Live – and I’m also very much looking forward to getting stuck into some more judging for The Gin Cooperative Awards – but, other than that, I’m hoping it’s going to be a bit of a quieter month! Hope you have a one too🍸🛎🛎