From my debut as a spirits columnist, to a distillery trip, a bit of judging and attending an awards dinner, it’s been a pretty hectic October. Alongside some exciting new releases and additions to my collection, there’s plenty to read about this month.

Booze News

The IWSC 2023 Awards announcement may have dominated headlines recently (and indeed you can read more about the event and the winners below) but I was delighted to see that Greensand Ridge received Highly Commended recognition in The Sustainable Use of Raw Materials and for The Waste Prevention & Management Award at Footprint’s 2023 Drinks Sustainability Awards. Congratulations!

New Gin Alerts

There’s been a few new releases that have caught my eye this month including 6 O’Clock’s Spiced Orange & Cranberry Gin, Elephant Gin’s African Explorer limited edition created to mark the brand’s ten year anniversary, Salcombe’s Four Seas collaboration to celebrate the RNLI’s 200th anniversary and Caroni – produced by resting Engine Gin in rum barrels from the Trinidad distillery that was established in 1918, closed in 2001 and rediscovered in 2004. And I also have to give a special mention to Sipsmith’s beautiful new bottles which also made their debut this month.

My Month in Gin

I’ve been a big fan of Warner’s Gin since 2016 so it was a real treat to finally pay a visit to their Northamptonshire farm at the beginning of the month. As well as a brilliant distillery tour and tasting, we explored all three beautiful botanical gardens where Warner’s grow many of their own ingredients (and are self-sufficient in three) and even got a little insight into the art of beekeeping with Conservation and Sustainability Manager Jonny. It was a truly wonderful day and I was blown away not only by their many spectacular spirits (including their recently released Botanical Rum spiced with dandelion, and something else you won’t have seen yet!) but also by the team’s generosity, passion and damn hard work.

I also squeezed in a little work this month judging The Pre-Mixed and RTD Masters at The Knight of Notting Hill, and The Liqueur and Speciality Masters 2023 at The Leaf and Cane. Both days were really interesting with a great variety of products to try and some real gems discovered. Keep your eyes peeled to find out who won what…

I didn’t make it London Cocktail Week this year but I did have the best time celebrating Mr Lyan‘s 10th birthday at Sea Containers London. Kicking off in the stunning Lyaness Bar overlooking St Paul’s and the Thames, we then (re)visited four Lyan bars: the now defunct Dandelyan, Amsterdam’s Super Lyan, the OG White Lyan and Washington’s Silver Lyan. The way they recreated not only the look but also the atmosphere of all four bars in the compact hotel rooms was remarkable (despite the odd wobbly wall!) and the cocktails were exceptional. And of course I couldn’t resist popping into Shoreditch’s Seed Library on the way home to tick off all six Lyan bars in one night – a feat I’m told few have achieved and one that will never be possible again!

I also had a blast at the IWSC 2023 Awards Celebration at Camden’s Roundhouse! Following a tasting of this year’s Gold and Trophy winning wine and spirits, we were treated to a magnificent meal (and on my table rather a lot of brilliant baijiu!) before we took to the dance floor to throw some shapes! Congratulations to all the winners but especially to Four Pillars who won International Gin Producer for a remarkable third time, Gyre & Gimble who took home the UK Gin Producer Trophy and to Two Drifters Rum who very deservedly won the Green Spirit Initiative Trophy. 

Welcome to My Collection

Thanks to the Warner’s team for sending me home from my visit with a bottle of their brilliant 10th Birthday Old Tom Gin and for a cheeky discount on the second bottle of Harrington Dry Gin I couldn’t resist picking up as well! Thanks also to The Bottle Cocktail Shop for their cracking Cazcabel Margarita, to Lanique for their Rose Liqueur and matching glassware, and to Thirlings Dry Gin and Marlish Tonic Water for their match made in Northumbria. I’m also delighted to add three simply stunning bottles to my gin collection; Isle of Harris Gin, Melifera and the brand new release from Sky Wave.

Catching Up and Looking Forward

If you missed my announcement at the beginning of the month, you might not know I’m the new spirits columnist for New Zealand’s Drinkbiz magazine but, fear not, you can still read my first column here! And, if that leaves you wanting more, I’ve also recently written a piece about Guala Closures for the IWSC. Looking ahead, November looks like it will be a busy one with lots more gin judging for me as well as Australian Gin Day on 18th November and World Gibson Martini Day on 20th November. Hope you have a great month and see you next time!🍸🛎🛎