Happy day 15 of Ginvent! Today we drink Hayman’s London Dry gin to celebrate it being Friday and the fact I survived my first week of my new job eek. Their award winning gin is made to a secret family recipe of 10 botanicals such as juniper, coriander, lemon and orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg and liquorice. They also make an Old Tom gin, Sloe gin, Family Reserve and Royal Dock gin – along with some limited releases. Each bottle is hand made and hand bottled to ensure that each bottle is up to their standards. The Hayman’s have distilling in their blood; in 1863 James Burrough was a curious pharmacist who made gin as well as a number of medicinal ingredients which filtered through the family and became the producers of Beefeater gin. When the family business was sold, they set up Hayman’s gin to carry on the tradition.
Month: December 2017
Ginvent 2017 – Martin Miller’s Gin
Happy Day 14 of #ginvent! Today we are sampling Martin Miller’s gin which I’ve already reviewed and you can read more about here.
Currently a full size bottle of Martin Miller’s is on Master of Malt for £24.83 – and you can find it in most supermarkets.
Make sure you check out Martin Miller’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Let me know your thoughts on Twitter and Instagram.
Ginvent 2017 – Elephant Gin Elephant strength
As we enter the second half of Ginvent, today we are trying the Elephant strength version of Elephant gin. what is Elephant strength you ask? Well, it’s 57% navy strength. But Elephant gin have a theme going on… I’ve been able to try a special edition Elephant gin through Craft Gin Club (here) and their Sloe gin (here) so I’m excited to see how this one compares. Continue reading
Ginvent 2017 – Poetic License Old Tom Gin
We are halfway through Ginvent and today’s offering is Poetic License’s Old Tom gin. The team behind Poetic License don’t believe in being like everyone else. They want to be bold, create new flavours and be hands on – they hand crush their botanicals before the maceration process and gently boil them to bring out the best of the flavours. As well as gin, they make their own vodka in Gracie – the team’s column still which is actually a hybrid with a pot still which to allow them to make their gins. They produce a Northern Dry gin (big punchy juniper and cardamom), a Picnic Gin, a range of liqueurs, and today’s gin, the Old Tom. Old Tom gins are traditionally sweeter than a dry gin and Poetic License’s edition includes rose petals and oak casks. Fun fact: one of my favourite cocktails is a Tom Collins. Just if you’re interested.
Ginvent 2017 – Colonsay Gin
It’s day 11 of Ginvent and I am very excited. Not only have I just completed my first day at my new job, but I have also heard lots of good things about Colonsay gin, so I can’t wait to dig into this. Made by a husband and wife team (the Geekie’s) who left their Oxfordshire home to build their new house on the remote Hebridean island of Colonsay. Their new home combines with their love of gin and their goal is to make, not only a viable life for themselves on the island, but also to contribute to the ongoing sustainability and development of their island economy. I should point out that this island is so remote, it takes 2 and a half hours to get there by boat to the mainland (which only happens three times a week in the winter) or a twice weekly PLANE. They also run a weekend for gin lovers including accommodation in their home and picnic lunches, catered dinners and a gin tasting. Just something to consider if you want a remote weekend away. With lots of gin.
Ginvent 2017 – Bishop’s Special Edition Gin
Last year during Ginvent we sampled Bishop’s Gin and you can learn more about it here. I was lucky enough to be one of the few that received the special edition gin as not everyone did due to production issues. However, the special edition gin is marmalade flavoured. And we all know how much I LOVE orange… so this should be fun… Continue reading
Ginvent 2017 – Campfire Gin
It’s day 10 of Ginvent and I went out last night so we’re actually trying the day 9 gin – for which I am very happy. I have heard lots of good things about today’s gin and have wanted to try it for ages, and now I can! Today we try Campfire Gin, a gin from Tring that appeared after 18 months of experimenting and a successful crowdfunding campaign. They use 10 botanicals in their gin, including hazelnut, coffee cherry, lavender and golden berry. As well as their original recipe gin, they also produce a Navy Strength and Cask Aged gin, along with seasonal variations. So let’s end the wait and see how this tastes. Continue reading
Ginvent 2017 – Sacred Cardamom Gin
Welcome to week two of Ginvent! At the quarter way mark we today try
Sacred Cardamom gin. Sacred gin is apparently the only commercial distillery based in a residential house. Ian Hart had toyed with the idea of making a gin – specifically a London Dry style gin made in London by a Londoner – and in 2008 he made this dream a reality. Most gins are distilled in a pot still, but Ian used his science background to try a vacuum distillation process. This allows it to distil at a lower temperature and create deeper, richer flavours. After 22 attempts, the panel of taste testers down his local pub decided that try 23 was the one. Since then, the range has grown to include eight gins, two vodkas, two whiskys, three vermouths, a pre-made negroni and a rosehip cup. The gins available focus on a key botanical note, which today is showcasing cardamom. Of all the things I’ve learnt since starting this blog, my love of cardamom is probably the best. So this should be an exciting evening.
Ginvent 2017 – Slingsby Ruhubarb Gin
We’ve finished week one
of Ginvent and I’m excited for today. Slingsby gin is one of my favourite gins, and today we are trying their rhubarb gin. I’m not a massive rhubarb fan, or a flavoured gin fan, but this is one is one I’ve heard plenty of good things about. Made in Harrogate, Yorkshire, they focus on all of the ingredients in their gin. Particularly their water. Harrogate was the first place in Britain to bottle their fresh water and St John’s Well (discovered in 1631) was recognised as medicinal and restorative. Their botanicals are focused on this ethos, using locally sourced and hand picked plants to complement the fresh water and pure single grain spirit used to make their gin. So, let’s see how the rhubarb version tastes. Continue reading
Ginvent 2017 – 6 O’clock Gin
Happy Day 6 of Ginvent! Today we’re sampling 6 O’clock gin… which I’ve tried already (review here). So that’s today’s post nice and simple. Also, did you see what they did there? Day 6 is 6 O’clock Gin. Clever.
A bottle of 6 O’clock gin is currently on Master of Malt for £31 and you can find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.