GIN SAFARI AT MR FOGG'S
GIN FOR THE WIN By Janice Tober
From the Queen Mary 2 to London’s best bars, one devotee of the spirit begins a quest to find Britain’s best gin cocktails
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n 1839, Samuel Cunard originally launched the Cunard Line to carry mail to and from the UK and North America via Halifax. He would never have imagined that, 100 years later, his ships would be carrying some of the world’s most glamorous passengers, from celebrities to royalty, during the Golden Age of transatlantic crossings. I was keen to experience some of that dazzle myself when I boarded the Queen Mary 2 in New York for the journey to Southampton. Then I planned to explore the place that made gin famous — London. I expected the QM2 to be quintessentially British and offer a proper afternoon tea, a full English breakfast and — most importantly for me — a happy hour that included plenty of gin and tonics. I had visions of imbibing these cocktails on
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the windswept deck, wrapped in a blanket on a wooden lounger while watching the ocean waves swell and sway as I sipped. My heart leapt when I discovered Cunard not only has a fine selection of gin, but also its very own private line, 3 Queens Gin from Edinburgh-based Pickering’s Gin. (Coincidentally, it is owned by the great-nephew of a former Cunard captain.) Of the brand’s three gins, my favourite was the more intense Queen Elizabeth, made with botanicals from the Far East, including lotus root, star anise, Kaffir lime leaves and cardamom. It’s ideal for a full-flavoured G&T with a kick of spice. After arriving in Southampton, I made the trek to London to continue my gin discovery tour. The first stop was
© MR FOGG'S GIN PARLOUR
HAPPY HOUR
