October was a hell of a busy month for me with one week alone sounding like something out of Chumbawamba’s Tubthumping: I went to a bar launch, I went to a Tequila launch, I went to a vermouth launch, I went to a vodka launch! As a result it’s taken me days to pull all of this together so please make it worthwhile and have a read.

Booze News

There’s been some very sad news of late. Alongside another distillery – Windsor’s The Tarbay Botanist – announcing its closure (see image), the industry was hit hard by the news that Adnams‘ Head Distiller, John McCarthy, died at just 55. A true Master Distiller, I didn’t know John well but he was kind and generous enough to help me with some research over the years. He will undoubtedly be greatly missed.

New Gin Alerts

A few new limited editions have caught my eye this month. First up, Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin has released an Expedition Strength exclusively for travel retail. Bottled at 46.5% ABV it is made with the brand’s original seven botanicals, but is said to have a more enhanced and concentrated flavour. We’ve also been treated to a sneak peek of the next release from Hendrick’s Cabinet of Curiosities – Sunspell Gin – which is described as delivering warm citrus and harmonious spices, layered on top of their signature cucumber and rose recipe.

Meanwhile Le Tribute has pushed the boat out with their first limited edition – Countryside Gin – celebrating the richness of nature with a unique blend of botanicals including black cardamom, lavender, mallow flower and sage, and Brockmans have gone completely wild with Wÿld: a new annual release gin, limited to 3,000 bottles in 2025, and with a suggested retail price of £350!

My Month in Gin

Due to an unfortunate combination of poor health and prior commitments I didn’t make it to a single London Cocktail Week event but that does not mean October was a quiet month. In addition to the publication of my latest Drinksbiz column and a couple of days judging the Pre-Mixed, RTD and Hard Seltzer Masters and the Liqueur and Speciality Spirits Masters, I also found time to undertake my WSET Level 2 in Spirits with the marvellous Mixing Class, securing a Pass with Distinction (and a score of 96% dontchaknow)!

Alongside the work and studying there was lots of fun to be had, including joining a cocktail masterclass with Janis Muzikants – Head Bartender at The Savoy’s Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay. In the intimate and opulent surroundings of the 1890 bar – and following a delicious welcome drink – we shook up a classic Margarita, stirred up a Martini (dry with a twist for me), and picked up a ton of tips and tricks, including how to achieve a perfect salt rim. However the main lesson I learnt was the importance of heaps of high quality ice and plenty of patience (and how desperately I need a second freezer!). If you fancy having a go yourself check out their festive drinks masterclasses taking place from 3rd to 27th December.

Following that I hotfooted it to the Rare Tea Company‘s stunning headquarters for an elevated house party to celebrate their 20th anniversary where we were treated to these exclusive Jasmine Silver Tip Vodka Martinis. Made in collaboration with Whitebox Cocktails using Grey Goose vodka infused with white tea scented with jasmine flowers, the martinis were deliciously delicate but definitely packed a punch too.

The busiest week I’ve had in a while kicked off with the soft launch of luxury cocktail bar Muse at RSA House. I really liked the space but was blown away by the cocktails and also the careful consideration gone into selecting the products and brands the bar work with. My favourite cocktails of the night were the Crimson & Clover – an exquisite Clover Club featuring incomparable Capreolus’ Raspberry Eaux de Vie – Blackadder featuring Hepple’s Sloe & Hawthorn Gin and Vault Aperitivo’s Bitter, and the earthy and smoky Wild Carrot Margarita, but next time I’m definitely trying the Truffle Martini too!

From the sublime Muse to the ridiculous Apollo’s Muse; the exceptionally extravagant and brilliantly bonkers bar at Mayfair’s Bacchanalia! Reputed to be the world’s most exclusive member’s club, Apollo’s Muse is bedecked with floor-to-ceiling marble alongside ancient Greek and Roman artwork and sculptures (including one rumoured to be worth a cool £3million!). Usually way out of my price range, we were welcomed in to celebrate the launch of The Lost Explorer’s new, and first, Tequila. Better known as a Mezcal brand, The Lost Explorer recently collaborated with Maestro Tequilero Enrique De Colsa to create the delicious 100% Agave Blanco Tequila which, with its mineral, herbaceous and spicy notes, is undoubtedly worthy of sipping slowly in the most sumptuous surroundings you can muster!

I also had a wonderful time at the rather more sedate launch of 58 and CO’s new vermouth. The latest addition to their CO-LAB Series – which sees the distillery partner with like-minded brands to turn surplus produce into experimental spirits – the sweet, white vermouth was created by fortifying Laylo’s “past its best” 2021 Pinot Grigio and blending it with botanicals, including lemon verbena, wormwood, Egyptian lemon, Cox apples and vanilla. I was super impressed with it neat, and mixed with soda, and also loved the mini white negroni we sampled made using  Beesou – an all natural bitter honey aperitif – and 58 and CO’s own London Dry Gin.

Last but not certainly not least, I also had the enormous pleasure of attending a boozy lunch at The Ivy Market Grill with Altamura Distilleries. Over a delicious three-course cocktail pairing menu, co-founder Frank Grillo explained how the “accidental” brand came to be. Having moved from the States to Italy, Frank was inspired to create a vodka using the same ancient grains as in Puglia’s Pane di Altamura, the only bread in the world with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Currently third-party distilled in Poland (but with plans to build a distillery in the pipeline), Altamura Vodka is made using the same specific varieties of durum wheat from one family’s Altamura farm, and is charcoal-filtered five times to create a smooth spirit with a slight creaminess on the nose and subtle sweetness on the palate, which tastes fantastic in a 3:1 Martini!

Welcome to My Collection

I’ve been very fortunate to receive a little bit of everything this month, including two lovely bottles of gin – Death’s Door Gin from the States and Landfall Navy Strength Gin from Stornoway Distillers – a bottle of Reposado Tequila from Mijenta, and a great goody bag from 58 and CO including their delicious new British Bianco 2024 Vermouth. Then there’s also a bottle of The Pathfinder Hemp and Root – a distilled non-alcoholic spirit from the US – some samples of The Choya Umeshu, some cracking canned cocktails from The Manhattan’s Project and Whitebox‘s new Espresso Martinis made by leading bartender Pietro Collina. And last, but certainly not least, a super cute Renais Gin pin given to me by the lovely Jack Sotti!

Catching Up and Looking Forward

If you haven’t already had a read you can now check out my latest column for Drinksbiz, in which I ask if it really matters where and how a gin is made. I’ve also written a couple of other pieces for the IWSC including this piece on the science of carbonation. As for November, which is clearly well underway already, there’s definitely a few more days of judging ahead as well as another deadline or two to hit before the end of the month. Wish me luck! 🍸🛎🛎