From drinks judging to gin launches and distillery trips to grand expeditions it’s been one hell of a busy month, and that’s before I even get started on the booze news! Read on to find out what you (may) have missed out on…

Booze News

March was yet another mixed month for booze news. On the one hand Sacred Spirits and Sipsmith celebrated 15 years in operation, while businesses also welcomed the news that alcohol duty has been frozen for a year and controversial spirits duty stamps are to be abolished. But on the other hand, there are further reminders of how tough the drinks and hospitality industry is at the moment, as House of Boë entered administration and Portobello Road Distillery announced the closure of their brand home (and also the world’s first gin hotel) which opened in 2016.

New Gin Alerts

Two years in the making, the long-awaited Aberturret Gin finally launched in March. Designed by Lalique, Aberturret features 14 botanicals enhanced in richness and complexity by a splash of The Glenturret Single Malt New Make Spirit. However, if it’s a taste of Scotland’s oldest distillery you’re after, it’s worth noting that the gin is not (currently) made at The Glenturret, but at Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh (home to Pickering’s Gin).

March also saw the release of collaboration between Hernö and three-star Michelin chef Björn Frantzén to produce én Gin; a London Dry Gin infused with Nordic and Asian flavours including kombu, sansho pepper, buddha’s hand and sea buckthorn. Meanwhile Brighton Gin have collaborated with chef Kanthi Thamma to produce The Spice Circuit Gin infused with curry leaf, black pepper and cardamom.

My Month in Gin

This month I had the pleasure of not only joining the judging panel for the The Gin Guide Awards again, but also judging for Great Taste for the very first time. All competitions have their different procedures and Great Taste is no exception; instead of judging lots of similar spirits (for example London Dry Gins) in flights alongside each other, at Great Taste each product is assessed individually so you might find yourself switching from gin to rum to pre-mixed cocktails to vodka to whisky in just one hour! I also spent one morning taking part in their general food judging which was equally, if not even more, fun! A real challenge for the palate, I nonetheless loved working my way through everything from cake to roast lamb to anchovies, ice cream, chocolate and olive oil, and I also learnt a lot along the way too!

After a morning’s judging for Great Taste I returned to central London to attend Hendrick’s amazing cabaret party at Omeara, to celebrate the latest release from their Cabinet of Curiosities. Inspired by a historic fruit-based libation that was in vogue in Paris in the early 20th century, Grand Cabaret Gin is infused with sumptuous stone fruit flavours and sweet aromatic herbs and tastes incredible served in their signature Royale cocktail, combining cranberry, lime and a touch of sugar syrup topped with champagne for added decadence.

As if all that wasn’t enough, the very next morning I flew up to Scotland to spend a couple of nights staying in one of the stunning ÖÖD Mirror Houses on The Arbikie Distillery estate in Angus! Despite looking minimalist from the exterior, inside the mirror houses are warm and welcoming with wonderful views and a super comfy bed. And ours also included a private sauna and a couple of drams of whisky to whet our appetite ahead of visiting the distillery.

Inside the distillery, we were treated to their excellent gin and vodka tour – which includes the entire process of making spirit from scratch and finishes with a terrific tasting of gins and vodkas made from wheat, potatoes and even peas – as well as enjoying their fantastic food and cracking cocktails. If you’re in the area I can’t recommend a visit more highly!

Fully rested, relaxed and rejuvenated after two nights in our mirror house we also managed to sneak in a visit to the The Gin Bothy Experience in picturesque Glamis and a tour of The Port of Leith Distillery (and cocktail or two in their top floor bar) before boarding our flight home!

Finally, I had another extraordinary night out at Gingerline’s immersive dining experience The Grand Expedition in East London with Whitebox Cocktails. After tunnelling through a maze of shipping containers and sand bags and descending down a dark staircase, we were welcomed with a Whitebox Negroni before boarding our hot air balloons for a round-the-world trip including a delicious four-course meal, an accompanying flight of cracking canned cocktails and amazing entertainment!

Welcome to My Collection

I received a wonderful selection of goodies this month! In addition to Sacred‘s stunning new bespoke bottle of London Dry Gin, Gin Bothy‘s Original Gin (which was included in the top 25 Oscar nominees’ gift bags!) and this Jaisalmer Gold Negroni kit to celebrate Holi, I also received World of Zing‘s Blood Orange Negroni (packaged in a lightweight Frugal Bottle), Trash & Treasure‘s Citrus Vodka and Tropical Rum made from ingredients that would otherwise have gone to waste, Shanky’s Whip Irish Whiskey Liqueur and these pretty cans of Wicker Basket Tea Spritz.

I was also delighted to receive an Achroous Gin x Riedel gift set for my birthday (alongside some wonderful coasters, pins and glassware that I haven’t had time to photograph!) and I couldn’t resist purchasing one last bottle of Papillon Gin before they closed their distillery doors on 31st March. A bitter sweet addition to the collection indeed.

Catching Up and Looking Forward

If you missed them why not catch up with the IWSC sustainable glass seminar I recorded in January, or my latest column for Drinksbiz which is all about English Whisky? And, if you’re up for a challenge, you can also check out this year’s prompts for #GinADayMay which kicks off on May 1st. I hope to see you then if not before! 🍸🛎🛎