Gin Explorer Book V3.0

O F F I C I A L E V E N T PA R T N E R

ALL PRODUCTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY & POSSIBLE CHANGE GIN FESTIVAL LTD CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE DRINKS SERVED HERE ARE FREE FROM NUTS, EGGS, SEAFOOD OR ANY OTHER ALLERGENS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED GIN FESTIVAL LTD,

CONTENTS WELCOME 3 THE PERFECT G&T 7 GIN JOURNEYS 8 BAR A 11 FOOD PAIRING WITH GIN 20 BAR B 23 DEHYDRATED GARNISH 32 BAR C 36 WHAT WE THINK: GOTIK UK EXCLUSIVE 51 BAR D 52 INTERVIEW WITH: JAMES PORTEOUS 60 ABOUT US 66 GIN CHEAT SHEET 68 INDEX 70 1

HOW TO EXPLORE GIN FESTIVAL TOP UP

Top up your cashless wristband, either online or at the top up station; bars do not take cash.

EXPLORE THE GIN BOOK

Take a look at the gins available here at Gin Festival and gin in general.

CHOOSE A GIN

Decide on a gin and go to bar A, B, C or D – whichever matches with the bar in the book.

ADD A MIXER

After your chosen gin and appropriate garnish have been served add a Fever-Tree tonic from the bar or go to the Fever-Tree table for a selection of mixers.

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7

gin festival

Journeys

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STICK TO ONE PATH OR SAMPLE FROM EACH – THE CHOICE IS YOURS… DISCOVERING GIN Whether you are new to the

world of gin, or a seasoned traveller, our recommendations are a fantastic place to start your journey today. Give these light and summery beauties a try...

GIN COLLECTOR Some of us (like our founder Jym) get really (really) excited by gins we’ve never seen before. We’ve hunted out a variety for you, from home‑grown to European, taste our selection of the newest craft gins.

EUROPEAN GIN EXPLORER We have travelled around Europe to track down the best gins for you. Take a tour with us and sample these tasty treats, from old school, to modern styles with a twist.

1. PJ’S ELDERFLOWER BAR C 2. TINKER BAR A 3. ADURO PINK PASSION BAR C 4. PINK PEPPER BAR C

1. RAMSBURY BAR B 2. CUCKOO GIN BAR A 3. SANCTION GIN BAR A 4. TOVEL’S GIN BAR C

1. PJ’S BAR C – BELGIUM 2. GOTIK BAR C – PORTUGAL 3. GIN PIÙCINQUE BAR C – ITALY 4. FISHERS GIN BAR A – ENGLAND 5. ORKNEY JOHNSMAS BAR A – SCOTLAND 6. N GIN VLC BAR C – SPAIN

BAR A MARIE DS RECOMMEN

JYM DS RECOMMEN

T INKER GIN

HALF HI T CH GIN

YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

LONDON, ENGLAND

Refreshingly light and fruity, Tinker is a unique small batch gin. Made using the modern Spanish approach, this is a fresh and innovative gin. Up-to-date botanicals, including liquorice and elderberries, are beautifully complemented by classic orange and lemon to create a contemporary classic. Brilliantly light with well-rounded berries and gentle sherbet, Tinker has smoother aftertaste, finishing with soft elderberry. British made, Spanish style and the perfect choice for a Gintonic.

‘The G with the Tea’, Half Hitch combines black Malawian tea with bergamot to create a gin that’s reminiscent of Earl Grey tea. Sweet orange meets more traditional citrus notes, with warming nutmeg and light bell pepper spice. A dry, piney flavour appears at the finish making this a complex yet fresh and inviting spirit.

GARNISH PEAR

GARNISH ORANGE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE LIGHT TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 40%

ABV 40%

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BAR A

CUCKOO GIN

FISHERS GIN

LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND

SUFFOLK, ENGLAND

Get back to basics with the eco-friendly Cuckoo Gin. Light, fresh and classic, with piney juniper and a hint of citrus. This is a straightforward, traditional gin with a soft tang on the nose, developing into a warm palate where juniper blends with citrus and cinnamon. A pleasant, dry finish with a hint of peppery coriander.

Inspired by the Suffolk Coast, Fishers Gin is a herby and aromatic gin, distilled at the Adnams Copper House Distillery.

A full bodied, herbaceous and aromatic gin, the unique English botanicals give it a distinctive savoury coriander spice with a deep citrus warmth. A hint of dried seaweed and ginger give this a medium sweet finish. Add a slice of lemon and a splash of tonic for a refreshing yet extraordinary taste of the coast.

GARNISH ORANGE PEEL AND GINGER

GARNISH LEMON

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 43%

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ABV 44%

BAR A E XCLUSIVE

LEEDS GIN WHI T E ROSE YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND ABV 40%

By distilling a high quality, pure grain spirit with some of the best botanicals available, Leeds Gin have made a fantastically delicate gin. The heady bouquet of juniper berries, cassia, apricot and the subtle aroma of Yorkshire’s famous white rose petals, gives it a unique freshness.

BURLEIGH’S LEICESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND ABV 40%

This gin is bursting with big, robust flavours! An initial hit of dry juniper is swiftly followed by pine, eucalyptus and citrus. There are very noticeable spicy and floral notes in the background with a long parma violet, pine and eucalyptus finish

GARNISH APPLE

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

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Citrus Gins FOR THE GIN YOU WANT...

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BAR A

ORKNE Y JOHNSMAS

PINKS T ER

ORKNEY, SCOTLAND

CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND

Explore the magical Scottish Isles through Orkney Johnsmas Gin. Taste local heather and mint alongside classic botanicals for a gin full of flavour. Orkney Johnsmas Gin opens with a fragrant burst of roses, heather and mint. Subtle juniper blends with the pepper and heady floral notes that dominate on the palate, followed by a luscious finish reminiscent of Turkish Delight.

Deliciously dry, Pinkster is made with only 5 botanicals including, most importantly, raspberries! The juniper shines without being overpowering but the raspberries contribute both soft, fruity flavour and the tart dryness of the berries. Light spice and pepper emerge from the dryness. Motivated by the creators own wheat allergy, Pinkster is totally glutenfree. Altogether, this is an agreeably British gin!

GARNISH RED APPLE OR LIME

GARNISH MINT AND RASPBERRY

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 41.3%

ABV 37.5%

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3 FOR 2 ON SELECTED GINS

ONLINE ONLY

VISIT GINFESTIVAL.COM/342

BAR A

POE T IC LICENSE NORT HERN DRY GIN

POE T IC LICENSE OLDÂ T OM GIN

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND

Poetic License Northern Dry Gin is made by a small batch distillery in the North East who are proud to craft wild spirits. It instantly assails the senses with big, punchy juniper, finely balanced by green cardamom. Delicate, perfume like citrus notes come from lemon, lime and eucalyptus while vanilla and pepper vye for attention. A perfectly clear and delightfully unusual drink.

A wonderful rose-gold colour, Poetic License Old Tom is a fantastic offering.

Aged in oak casks, this unusually woody gin is well balanced by rounded sweetness and light floral notes. Sweet yet peppery and incredibly distinctive, Poetic License Old Tom Gin is made in by Poetic License, a distillery that set out to craft wild spirits.

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT

GARNISH APPLE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE GINGER ALE

ABV 43.2%

ABV 41.6%

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BAR A

PREMIUM HARROGAT E GIN

RAIS T HORPE MANOR OAK AGED DRY GIN

HARROGATE, ENGLAND

YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

Premium Harrogate Gin is as fresh and clean as the Harrogate Spring Water used to make it. Tangy pink grapefruit blends superbly with hints of lavender. This use of only the finest premium ingredients has created an exceptionally smooth gin. This is crisp yet gentle on the palate, with the zesty sweetness of pink grapefruit and a touch of lavender coming through on the finish. A new classic is born.

Raisthorpe’s Oak Aged Gin is a traditional gin, distilled using Yorkshire Wold spring water, has a unique botanical recipe.

As the name suggests, it is rested in oak barrels, giving the gin a wonderfully smooth and mellow character with hints of spice, pepper and piney juniper.

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT

GARNISH LEMON

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE LIGHT TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 43%

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ABV 42%

SANC T ION GIN LONDON, ENGLAND ABV 43%

Sanction Gin was created by Gin Without Borders - founded to highlight and bring together the diverse and beautiful flavours of the world. Heavy on the nose, earthy and sweet on the palate, this brand new gin combines both sweet and bitter orange peel with a variety of herbs and roots, with a hint of cardamom finding its way through. Expect a complex and mature flavour with a full body and a long finish.

GARNISH ORANGE PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

VISIT GINFESTIVAL.COM

FOR MORE GIN FUN

FOOD PAIRING WITH GIN

We’re pretty used to pairing food with wine – steak with a bottle of red, something rich and white with chicken. In the last few years, we’ve even become used to pairing beer with our food too. There is, after all almost nothing better with a good curry than a crisp, chilled glass of beer.

But did you know that the earliest recorded food pairing involves gin?

Gin and gingerbread to be precise.

In the 18th Century, the Thames

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would freeze over so solidly that Londoners could not only skate across it, but they held Frost Fairs – shops and stalls would line the river, horses and carriages would walk across it, and when the cold got to you, you could buy hot gin and gingerbread to warm you back up.

Since then, and the advent of one of the most recognised couplings in the world, the G&T, we have moved on in both styles of gin and our own flavour preferences. Gin then would

have been far stronger in alcohol than now, sugar was often added after distillation, and the cheaper options often adulterated with all sorts of additives.

Our tastes have changed too; we have many more influences from around the world which have made their own mark on what we eat, and what we enjoy drinking. So what pairings would work with a modern gin?

A crisp, clean, London Dry G&T is possibly the easiest one to pair.

Something with a kick of citrus like Bimber London Dry, served with a citrus garnish would work well with something as classic as fish and chips. The citrus will cut through the crisp fattiness of the batter, the citrus and the fish are synonymous – gin and seafood are a match made in heaven.

Staying with that theme, Chinese spring rolls, or even Vietnamese summer rolls work beautifully with something light and fresh. Martin Millers with its cucumber notes, or even Hendrick’s would balance out the spice of a rice paper wrapped prawn roll and an astringent chilli dipping sauce.

One that might surprise you is Indian spices – take slightly spicier gin – Batch Gin, or Sacred Cardamom, or their Coriander with a light spiced

curry and you’ve got a perfect match.

Even something like the citrus heavy (but not sweet) Jensens Old Tom will work well with pakoras, bhajis and samosas – again cutting through the fat and complementing the lighter fresh notes in a good yoghurt dip.

Stepping away from the G&T, a good dry sloe gin, like that from Sipsmith, is a perfect pairing for the cheeseboard, working particularly well with blue cheeses. If sloe is a little sweet for you, then a rich genever, like Few’s Publican Genever, with its whisky notes will work beautifully with hefty strong cheeses.

Finally, dessert. Instead of reaching for a sweet dessert wine, reach instead for a gin, or gin liqueur. I’ve often splashed a little Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger into a rhubarb crumble, so it stands to reason that sipping it with a pannacotta served with stewed rhubarb would be heavenly. For something indulgent, a bread and butter pudding with Zymurgorium Manchester Marmalade Gin – especially if you’ve thrown in some chocolate chips.

There’s something in every course to match with a gin or two. The only difficulty is which gins to choose.

Written by Charlie Hoosan-Sykes, www.ginfuelledbluestocking.co.uk

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BAR B

BROCKMANS PREMIUM GIN

BL ACKWOODS 60% V IN TAGE DRY GIN

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

SHETLAND, SCOTLAND

Brockmans’ unusual combination of botanicals creates a seductively smooth and well balanced gin. Luscious and bright, Brockmans is a firm move away from traditional dry gins. Bold berry essences add a sense of modern luxury.

This is a sweet and innovative gin, with an emphasis on enjoyment over following the rules. Brockmans is a fabulous spirit with a taste like no other.

A fantastically strong offering from Blackwoods (at 60% this is the strongest gin at the festival); sharp, dry and complex. The floral notes on the nose are nicely balanced with juniper. There is a rich mouth feel with pleasant citrus flavours followed by a long, dry finish. Despite its navy strength ABV, Blackwoods 60% is a remarkably smooth gin!

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT AND BLUEBERRIES

GARNISH MINT AND LIME

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE GINGER ALE OR INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE AROMATIC TONIC

ABV 40%

ABV 60%

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BAR B

CUCUMBER GIN SHROPSHIRE, ENGLAND ABV 40%

Perfect for a G&T, Cucumber Gin is a delicate and refreshing gin. Made by the English Drinks Company, Cucumber Gin is an English summer distilled and bottled.

A secret blend of 10 botanicals creates a delicate and unique spirit with a very apparent cucumber sweetness, alongside touches of mint and a very smooth and mellow finish.

ELEC T RIC SPIRI T CO. ACHROOUS LEITH, SCOTLAND ABV 41%

Electric Spirit Co.’s Achroous Gin is rooted in a passion for spirits, and a love of design; both bottle and spirit are vibrant, modern and instantly recogniseable.

It is made with juniper, coriande, orris, liquorice, angelica, fennel seed and Sichuan peppercorns, creating a sweetly spiced gin with citrus and floral notes, and a perfect aniseed finish.

GARNISH CUCUMBER

GARNISH ORANGE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE ELDERFLOWER TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE LIGHT TONIC

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BAR B E XCLUSIVE

ELEC T RIC SPIRI T CO. LUX

JAGGI PREMIUM GIN SWEE T BLEND

LEITH, SCOTLAND

PERTHSIRE, SCOTLAND

Taking Electric Spirit Co.’s trademark boldness, Lux is warming and bright.

Ripe orange, with grape-like flavours and the soft, juiciness of dates are seamlessly blended with traditional, spiced botanicals. Sharp, piney citrus and peppered juniper hold together beyond the sweetness of the fruits.

Jaggi Premium Gin - Sweet Blend - Orange Label is a handcrafted delight of a gin.

Softly sweet citrus balanced by a kick of cardamom. A soft, mellow opening with a subtle hint of orange and cardamom on the nose. This continues onto the palate along with peppery juniper, mild cassia root and the warming spice of carraway.

Enjoy a touch of anise and tangy lemon grass on the finish. This gin is smooth and sweet, reminiscent of an old tom.

GARNISH ORANGE

GARNISH ORANGE OR STRAWBERRIES

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

ABV 41%

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ABV 42%

BAR B

JAGGI PREMIUM GIN CI T RUS BLEND PERTHSIRE, SCOTLAND ABV 42%

This is a delicate, tasty, small batch gin.

Subtle citrus blends with light juniper, ideal for summer. Beautifully light on the nose with a hint of orange followed by bright juniper, citrus and sherbet on the palate. A touch of bayleaf and nutmeg provides a gentle finish. Jaggi Premium Gin - Citrus Blend is nice and smooth, a solid choice for a summer night.

PINK 47 KENT, ENGLAND ABV 47%

A multi-award winning gin, Pink 47 is a classic London Dry. Encased in a diamond shaped bottle (styled on the Khavaraya pink diamond), this is strong and smooth yet perfectly crisp and compelling. There is a wonderful explosion of dry pine and citrus that avoids the harshness often associated with drier spirits.

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT

GARNISH LEMON

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE AROMATIC TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE ELDERFLOWER TONIC

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F A N TA S T I C G I N S E X P E RT LY S E L E C T E D & U N I Q U E TO E AC H F E S T I VA L

A L S O F E AT U R I N G F U L L G I N & TO N I C S F RO M T H E B R A N D RO O M

Gins on this bar may not be available on the off licence

BAR B

PURPLE RAM

RAMSBURY GIN

YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND

Enjoy prominent juniper and cardamom notes on the nose with a delicate bloom of orange blossom, followed by warm sweet spice. There is a burst of clean cinnamon and juniper spice on the palate with orange and grapefruit and the delicate fragrance of honeysuckle. This is followed by a long and balanced finish with a peppery juniper body, followed by the mellow resolve of sweet nuts.

A classic London Dry with an up-to-date twist. This unique combination of savoury juniper and tart quince is both fresh and warming. A crisp yet full flavoured gin with the quince being heavily apparent on the nose, before leading into traditional juniper on the palate, followed by juicy notes of apple and pear. Ramsbury Gin is invigorating with a warming hint of spice lingering on the finish.

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT AND FRESH BASIL

GARNISH APPLE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 40%

ABV 40%

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BAR B

SILV ER F OX GIN

S T. GILE S

WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND

NORWICH, ENGLAND

A bespoke London Dry, Silver Fox Gin is extraordinarily smooth, thanks to being distilled five times. Inspired by the English countryside, Silver Fox Gin is full of flavour with a refreshing citrus burst and a wonderfully smooth finish. The care lavished during the distillation process means that you really taste the carefully selected botanicals, leading to an intensely aromatic dry gin, with pomelo citrus balancing the delicious savoury notes of cedar.

This is a juicy citrus forward, modern classic, with a nod to the past. St. Giles in London was the location of many notorious gin shops in the 1700s and is also the historic road in Norwich where this gin is lovingly crafted. Enjoy lemon and a hint of cardamom with notes of tobacco and biscuit on the nose. This develops into a smooth citrus palate, with a hint of lemon and orange sherbet, that increases and lingers for a tasty finish.

GARNISH ORANGE

GARNISH ORANGE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE LIGHT TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 40%

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ABV 42%

TWO TOKENS

Head over to the

COCKTAIL BAR

b r a b u Rh mble.

Ru s u o m a F

and have our…

T WO BIRDS LEICESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND ABV 40%

Two Birds is a wonderfully aromatic gin with sage, coriander and lavender acting as a vanguard. A classic London Dry in style yet full of big pine and winter berries whose floral note adds an intriguing piquancy. Two Birds Gin is fresh yet delicate and endlessly reminiscent of true, countryside spirit (it’s even distilled in a self-made still)!

GARNISH CUCUMBER PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

Featuring Edinburgh Rhubarb and Ginger Gin Liqueur.

DEHYDRATED GARNISH When it comes to garnishing your gin and tonic, the recent move over to goblet style copa glasses has given a larger ‘real estate’ space to play with in terms of what you choose. Thinking back to a time when your choices were limited to lemon, lime or if you were lucky some grapefruit, things have certainly evolved.

Hendrick’s gin started the trend when they launched their ‘most unusual’ gin and encouraged us to garnish with cucumber wheels or spirals. It was the first real elevation of the garnish in a G&T, and just look how far we’ve come since.

The possibilities are endless in terms of fruits, flowers, herbs and spices that you can add as a garnish to your G&T, much

like the choice of botanicals in the gin itself. Have you ever, however, considered the use of a dried garnish rather than fresh?

Dried garnishes have a number of advantages. They’re easier to store than fresh fruit, last for a long time (especially if you’re able to vacuum seal them!) and mean that you can make use of fruit that would otherwise be discarded.

Which fruits can you dehydrate though? Well, pretty much all of them, though you’ll get betterlooking results with some over others. Also, some will definitely pair better with gins than others (I’m still to find a gin that pairs with dried banana).

Due to the differences between these types of fruit, you’ll need

to dehydrate some for longer than others due to a number of factors.

These include the thickness of the slices of your fruit, temperature, humidity, water content, and the type of fruit that you’re dehydrating. Approximate timings are therefore included for some fruits below; although please note they’re expressed as a range as this is not an exact science and it depends on the time of year, type of equipment and where you are in the world! See next page for “How to” Guide.

We suggest exploring the following fruits for garnishing G&Ts: • Citrus wheels will dry out to form stunning garnishes. Slice them nice and thin so that the flesh becomes almost transparent after dehydration allowing the light to shine through. Examples include lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit, blood oranges (drying blood oranges is a great way to prolong their use as they have a short growing season). Approximate timings: 5-8 hours.

due to their structure. In terms of slices, strawberries work best as they’re easy to slice, and will take 7-12 hours to dry out. For other berries like raspberries and blueberries you can dehydrate them whole, but you’ll need to leave them for much longer.

• Pome fruits like apples and pears are like citrus - slice them thinly enough and once they’re dried the light passing through them will produce a stunning effect. They’ll take 7-16 hours depending on the variety (there’s a huge difference in water content of different varieties) • Wash the fruit, and for citrus make sure that you’ve lightly scrubbed the skin to remove any wax.

• Tropical fruits like pineapple, mango and mango can add tropical notes to your G&T. They’ll take around 10-18 hours to dry out due to a high water content.

• Berries are a bit of a tricky one Turn page for “How to” Guide.

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HOW TO DEHYDRATE FRUIT

Get yourself a really sharp knife or a mandolin (careful with your fingers, use a guard for the mandolin if you have one) and cut the fruit into slices around 1/8th of an inch thick (3-4mm).

A mandolin will help you to be consistent with the thickness of your slices.

The easiest way to do the dehydrating itself by far is to get hold of a purpose made dehydrator. It’s then simply a case of arranging in a single layer, setting the temperature and timer and turning on.

Dehydrators are able to operate at lower temperatures and circulate the air more effectively.

The best way to dehydrate fruit is to go low and slow, to ensure that the structure of the fruit is preserved. This is especially important for the more delicate fruits like strawberries.

However, if you’re not going to start a home production line for dehydrated fruit to supply all of

your friends and family, shelling out for a dehydrator is probably a little silly. And it is possible to use your oven at home, it just takes a bit more time and preparation.

Firstly, make sure you’re not going to need the oven for the next 10-18 hours or so, depending on what you’re dehydrating!

Place your fruit in single layers on a metal rack over a baking tray to ensure air is able to circulate across both sides of the fruit.

Turn your oven on to the absolute lowest setting it can go on, and make sure the fan is on if your oven has one. Then simply put your garnishes in there and wait.

Turn them now and again and remove once they’re dry.

There are a number of ways to store your dehydrated fruit once you’ve made it:

Easy: Put in airtight jars and store in a cool, dark place.

(it’s really important to dehydrate low and slow if you do this though!).

Medium: Put into freezer bags. Ensure as much air as possible is removed, wrap tightly so completely sealed and put in the freezer.

Add herbs and spices (dried) to the fruit before dehydrating to produce dried fruit with extra flavour. Think cinnamon apples, chilli pineapples etc. Just don’t go too heavy, as you don’t want to overpower your G&T.

Hard: Vacuum pack them (but you’ll need access to a vacuum sealer!).

Written by Emma Stokes, www.ginmonkey.co.uk

Top tips and other ideas for dehydrated fruits: If the fruit you’re dehydrating has bitter elements (like the pith and skin of citrus fruits) then you can cover them with sugar syrup before dehydrating. This will ensure they’re not as bitter. They’ll also crisp up nicely

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BAR C

1831 BLUE GIN

5 CON T INEN T S

BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN

HAMBURG, GERMANY

Created by Manuel Acha Distillery, the oldest company in the Basque Country, 1831 Blue Gin has a distinct blue colour and herbal flavour. Five times distilled and made with mineral water from the Nervion river with; juniper, clove and cinnamon: its vibrant colour belies the fact that this is a flavorsome and gentle spirit.

5 Continents Gin is a melting pot of botanicals sourced all over the world.

The 47% ABV lends warmth to the savoury grains and peppery juniper. This is an aromatic gin, opening with cubeb pepper and grains of paradise on the nose, peppery juniper quickly asserts itself on the palate blending with faint overtones of fresh eucalyptus and a hint of cardamom spice on the finish. If you enjoy a strongly flavoured gin with a kick, this is the one for you.

GARNISH LEMON

GARNISH LEMON

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 40%

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ABV 47%

BAR C MARIE DS RECOMMEN

JYM DS RECOMMEN

ADURO BELL PEPPER

ADURO DE V IL’S TAIL

DOLOMITE MOUNTAINS, ITALY

DOLOMITE MOUNTAINS, ITALY

Well rounded, warming, bursting with pepper and a refreshing, dry finish. Aduro Bell Pepper is a complex gin, brilliantly balanced between the savoury pepper and sweeter citrus. There is no mistaking the fresh green pepper with a hint of chilli.

A gorgeously warming drink that conjures up memories of relaxing by a cosy fire.

Aduro Devil’s Tail has a vibrant, spicy warmth, with a distinctive Mediterranean touch. Use of the world’s hottest chilli creates an aromatic explosion! A gorgeously savoury gin with prominent Mediterranean flavours. It opens with cardamom and fiery chilli with a hint of pepper and develops into a warm spicy finish that is totally invigorating.

GARNISH BELL PEPPER

GARNISH LIME

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH NEAT OR FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 40%

ABV 40%

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BAR C

ADURO PINK PAS SION

T OV EL’S GIN

DOLOMITE MOUNTAINS, ITALY

TRENTINO, ITALY

Intensely fruity with strawberry, kiwi, raspberry and tropical fruits on the palate, balanced by a light floral flavour.

Perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Opening with the fragrance of tutti frutti sweets, this develops into a bright burst of berries and tropical fruit. This is lightly balanced by floral notes and a soft, dry finish.

This is a London Dry with an Italian twist.

Slightly sweet notes of sarsaparilla blend with piney juniper, the clean mountain waters of the Dolomites and zesty local lemons for a complex, yet light, flavour.

The aroma of aniseed and sarsaparilla burst softly on the nose and develop on the palate, along with lemon and more earthy flavours of angelica and gentian.

Tovel’s Gin has a beautifully long finish with the aniseed continuing to develop into licorice and vanilla flavours.

GARNISH RASPBERRY, MINT AND ORANGE

GARNISH LIME

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE AROMATIC TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 40%

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ABV 45%

BAR C

ELEPHAN T GIN

GIN DAV ID

HAMBURG, GERMANY

TUSCANY, ITALY

Handmade in Germany, inspired by Africa, Elephant Gin is floral and fruity, with 15% of proceeds go to support African elephant charities. Distilled with 14 botanicals (including rare, African ingredients: Baobab fruit, Buchu plant, African Wormwood, Lion’s Tail and Devil’s Claw), spice is at the fore, joined next by floral tones and well-rounded fruit and is finished by delicately long and dry, juniper.

Taking inspiration from Michelangelo’s David, the silky smooth Gin David perfectly exemplifies the beautiful craftsmanship Italy is renowned for. Distilling a wine alcohol base with a secret selection of aromatic herbs, the gin is then filtered through white Carrara marble before being diluted with water from natural Tuscan springs. An exceptionally smooth and clean spirit with beautiful fragrant floral undertones.

GARNISH APPLE AND GINGER

GARNISH LEMON

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE ELDERFLOWER TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 45%

ABV 40%

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www.black-tomato-gin.com

World’s 1st gin distilled from Black Tomatoes

Reveal the mystery

BAR C

BL ACK T OMAT O GIN

GO T IK

BRUINISSE, THE NETHERLANDS

RIBATEJO REGION, PORTUGAL

100% organic, Black Tomato Gin balances sweet and savoury to produce a beautiful spirit. The powerful fruitiness of tomato is tempered by its own tanginess and the peppery kick of juniper. They have drawn inspiration and ingredients from their location with the signature black tomatoes grown near the distillery and using a splash of water from the local wetlands.

Gotik is an exceptionally smooth and complex London Dry gin. Created in Portugal, local flavours inspired this distinctive, balanced, slightly spicy gin. There is an instantly noticeable sweetness on the palate, perfectly balancing the savoury and herbaceous notes. An unusual combination of botanicals all make themselves known with cinnamon and red fruits appearing first on the palate, before developing into a lightly spiced cardamom finish.

GARNISH BASIL AND JUNIPER

GARNISH ROSEMARY

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 42.3%

ABV 40%

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BAR C

K - 25

K ALE VAL A GIN

AMURRIO, SPAIN

NORTH-KARELIA, FINLAND

K-25 is fantastically citrusy gin with a magnificent blue tone (thanks to the use of lily root). Distilled an incredible 14 times by the oldest distillery in Basque country - Manuel Acha; K-25 glows with bitter and sweet orange, lemon, mandarin and coriander. This is skilfully combined with a light floral note and a deliciously complex, spiced tone.

Named after a Finnish Epic, Kalevala Gin is a gin driven by attention to detail, using organic botanicals and water from their own well to create a gin which is as intriguing as it’s namesake poem.

Rich juniper is immediately apparent on the nose, while rosemary and raspberry leaves combine on the palate to create a wonderfully fresh yet slightly savoury taste.

GARNISH ROSEMARY

GARNISH LIME

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 45%

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ABV 46.3%

BAR C

MARUL A GIN EMBLEM, BELGIUM ABV 40%

Get taken back to your childhood and the taste of fruit salad sweets with Marula Gin. Softly sweet and floral with a hint of peach and citrus. Expect a fragrant burst of peach on the nose, developing into the fruity taste of marula and a hint of orange blossom. Enjoy a long, aromatic finish with peach and rose petals combining for a taste very reminiscent of fruit salad sweets.

GARNISH PEACH PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

MARUL A GIN POMEGRANAT E EMBLEM, BELGIUM ABV 40%

Bursting with pomegranate, berries, a hint of citrus and lavender, M ​ arula Gin Pomegranate is perfect if you have a sweet tooth. This is a very accessible gin, enjoy aromatic blackberries on the nose, developing into the soft red fruit of pomegranate, raspberries and strawberries and faintly tart marula. This has a beautifully long, sweet finish, with a hint of orange blossom and rose petals.

GARNISH ORANGE PAIRS BEST WITH NEAT OR FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

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BAR C

N GIN V LC

PINK PEPPER

VALENCIA, SPAIN

COGNAC, FRANCE

This is a softly sweet gin with fragrant citrus, lemon sherbert and subtle vanilla flavours - a tasty treat. Opening with a burst of mandarin and lemon sherbert on the nose, which continues and blends with notes of blueberry, vanilla and warming cardamom on the palate. Closing with a beautifully crisp, medium dry finish.

A totally unique, intense and aromatic gin, Pink Pepper has two almost distinct forms, sweet and spiced! When chilled, piquant notes of pink pepper and juniper are prominent. As the beverage warms, soft patisserie tones comes to the fore with tonka, honey and vanilla. Playing upon France’s perfumery associations, Pink Pepper is created using a non-chill filtered process, similar to perfume. A thoroughly French gin.

GARNISH BLUEBERRY AND LEMON

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 39%

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ABV 44%

BAR C

PIÙCINQUE

PJ GIN DRY

ASTI, ITALY

LUBBEEK, BELGIUM

[Pronounced Pyu-chink-way] There can be no doubt that Piùcinque is Italian, gorgeous mediterranean flavours of sage, bergamot and citrus blend with warming ginger. Piùcinque is proud to go #backtobasics mixing modern flavours and traditional methods for a unique taste. Opening with citrus and fresh sage on the nose, then developing into warm almond and ginger on the palate, a hint of floral notes linger for a beautifully dry finish.

A beautifully clean, straightforward, dry gin. Enjoy the powerful savoury taste of juniper and light, fresh flavour. Fresh and piney, traditional juniper comes to the fore before being tempered by warming citrus and the lightest touch of spice. PJ Gin Dry is designed to be experimented with - try it with your favourite tonic and garnish. If you don’t have a favourite then use our recommendations as a great place to start.

GARNISH SAGE

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT AND MINT

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

ABV 47%

ABV 40%

45

BAR C

SKULLY LONDON DRY NETHERLANDS ABV 41.8%

This is a smooth gin, with warming notes of coriander, tangy citrus and punchy juniper up front. Distilled in the traditional London Dry style, Skully Gin is filled with warming, herbal notes coming from the distillation of liquorice, cardamom and orris root. These flavours are supported with spiced citrus such as sweet orange and candied lemon that builds into a long and quite complex finish with all the flavours perfectly balanced to create a fantastic example of a modern London Dry Gin.

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SKULLY TANGERINEÂ T WIS T NETHERLANDS ABV 41.8%

This gin is all about tangy citrus, combining chinese mandarine, tangerine and bitter fruits with a hint of sweet vanilla for a fresh, zesty drink. The combination of sweet and bitter botanicals and fruits creates a balanced tangerine flavour that carries through this gin. The initial fragrant orange zest develops into really pronounced mandarin and tangerine flavours that pair beautifully alongside the piney juniper and slight spice from orris root and coriander.

Enjoy a warming finish with a hint of spice.

GARNISH LEMON

GARNISH ORANGE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

BAR C

SKULLY SMOO T H WASABI

SKULLY ORIEN TAL CI T RUS

NETHERLANDS

NETHERLANDS

Taking their classic London Dry Gin as a base, Skully Gin then redistill this with ginger, mint, sweet orange and wasabi root to create a gin with a very distinct aroma and smooth taste. Fiery ginger and wasabi are tempered by big flavours of fresh mint and lime that develop into a strong and lingering finish that leaves warmth on the palate. Perfect paired with either ginger ale or classic tonic, this is definitely a unique gin!

Inspired by fragrant and exotic flavours from a journey to the orient this gin blends floral, lemony Buddha’s hand with tart, citrus yuzu for a lovely crisp flavour. The use of yuzu fruit as well as increasing the levels of sweet orange, lemon and lime make this gin both refreshing and smooth.

Aromatic citrus peel leads into sharp, clean notes of lemon and grapefruit on the palate, which is packed with citrus flavours including lime and sweet orange, followed by fresh pine flavours from the juniper on the finish.

ABV 41.8%

GARNISH GINGER & MINT PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE GINGER ALE OR FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

ABV 41.8%

GARNISH PINK GRAPEFRUIT PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

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CONTEMPORARY GINS FOR THE MODERN DRINKER.

SIMPLE, NATURAL AND VERSATILE. APPLE ELDERFLOWER DRY RASPBERRY

BAR C

PJ GIN ELDERFLOWER

PJ GIN RASPBERRY

LUBBEEK, BELGIUM

LUBBEEK, BELGIUM

PJ Gin Elderflower is gloriously fresh and floral. Citrus tones cut through sweet elderflower for a smooth drink that goes down a little too easily! Lovingly handcrafted by master distiller Pieter-Jan and his team at the Craft Spirits Company, this is a soft, smooth gin dominated by perfumed elderflower on the nose. Fresh lemon tones give PJ Gin Elderflower a lively kick all of it’s own.

PJ Gin Raspberry is amazingly fruity, with the dry gin perfectly balanced by the sweet, summery raspberry bursting through. Lovingly handcrafted by master distiller Pieter-Jan and his team at the Craft Spirits Company, this is a beautifully aromatic gin. Gorgeously tart raspberry explodes onto the nose, developing into a sweeter, almost jam like raspberry on the palate, with a long finish full of fruity flavour.

GARNISH RED BELL PEPPER

GARNISH MINT AND RASPBERRIES

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

ABV 40%

ABV 40%

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BAR C

PJ GIN APPLE LUBBEEK, BELGIUM ABV 40%

PJ Gin Apple is a very accessible light and sweet gin with a phenomenal explosion of apple on the nose. Lovingly handcrafted by master distiller Pieter-Jan and his team at the Craft Spirits Company, this is an incredibly aromatic, fruity gin. After the green apple bursts onto the nose, it coats the palate with a crisp, fresh taste which fills the mouth and leads into a lasting finish.

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PUERT O DE INDIAS S T RAWBERRY GIN CADIZ, SPAIN ABV 37.5%

Puerto de Indias Strawberry Gin is soft and delicate. It has intense aromas of strawberry and juniper on the nose while those flavours are subtle and joined by delicate touches of liquorice and gentle citrus notes. It’s creation almost didn’t happen – the master-distiller added mashed strawberries from a failed attempt at making a liqueur to a new project and Strawberry Gin was born.

GARNISH APPLE

GARNISH STRAWBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE GINGER ALE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE ELDERFLOWER TONIC

WHAT WE THINK

G OT I K U K E XC LUS I V E

WE LOVE TO HUNT OUT NEW FLAVOURS AND WE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PORTUGUESE TREASURE JUST FOR YOU. EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE IN THE UK RIGHT HERE AT BAR C AND ONLINE AT GINFESTIVAL.COM

This Portuguese number, in it’s claret and gold, stands out. As does the steam punk style wheel, an interesting variation of old and new, which strikes well with the almost cinnamon sweetness and deep root/woody end. Gotik has an interestedly varied taste in the mouth without an overall bitter piney after taste.

This is a gin for the gin fan who likes an experience and not a classic London dry.

Jym Harris, Co-Founder of Gin Festival

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BAR D

ADDINGHAM SLOE GIN YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND ABV 25%

Addingham Sloe Gin Liqueur is a classic English in liqueur, flavoured with rounded sloe berries and subtle almonds. The sloes are foraged from the countryside surrounding the village in which the boutique business is based. This is a fabulously smooth and tart sloe gin, the epitome of a traditional craft.

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BOË BRAMBLE LIQUEUR SCOTLAND ABV 20%

Lovingly created in small batches using award winning Boe Superior Gin, the rich, fruitiness of Scottish Brambles give a delightful and distinctive taste, aroma and appearance. Starting with unmistakable flavours of blackcurrants, blackberries and black raspberries that develop notes of apple and citrus towards the finish before leading into a lingering, sweet finish.

GARNISH ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL

GARNISH APPLE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE LEMON TONIC

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE MEDITERRANEAN TONIC

BAR D

BOË PE ACH AND HIBISCUS LIQUEUR SCOTLAND ABV 20%

The tanginess and berry-rich flavor of Hibiscus combined with fresh peaches, gives Boë Peach and Hibiscus Liqueur a sweet fruity, taste. Reminiscent of peach sweets and a certain peach flavoured spirit, this is perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

BOË V IOLE T GIN SCOTLAND ABV 41.5%

A well-presented gin with the light, floral notes of violet and lavender, blending with sweet berries. Enjoy a soft burst of violet, lavender and blackcurrant on the nose followed by faint juniper, apple and blackcurrant on the palate. Closing with a medium finish reminiscent of apple and blackcurrant cordial.

GARNISH PEACH

GARNISH BLUEBERRIES

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE SODA WATER

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

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BAR D

BRAECKMAN VANILL A JENE V ER

CASPYN CORNISH SUMMER CUP

OUDENAARDE, BELGIUM

LONG ROCK, CORNWALL

Produced entirely in-house at the Braeckman Grain Distillery, this flavoured jenever is a real treat! Braeckman’s Vanilla Jenever is a soft and creamy liqueur with a fantastic level of complexity that comes from its juniper malt wine base.

Not overly sweet, the malt and juniper flavours meld together perfectly.

An exceptionally tasty summery drink, packed full of fresh raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and warming spices. This Cornish Summer Cup perfectly blends floral and fruity notes with berries on the nose, citrus developing on the palate, followed by cinnamon lingering for a soft, spicy finish

GARNISH NONE

GARNISH MINT, RASPBERRY AND ORANGE

PAIRS BEST WITH NEAT

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE GINGER ALE

ABV 17%

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ABV 25%

BAR D

EDINBURGH GIN PLUM & VANILL A LIQUEUR

EDINBURGH RHUBARB & GINGER LIQUEUR

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

To make Edinburgh Plum and Vanilla Gin Liqueur, juicy, ripe plums have been macerated with soft Madagascan vanilla and then infused into Edinburgh Gin to create an indulgent liqueur. A beautiful deep plum colour, the flavour is sweet and intense plum flavour with hints of almond and a creamy, vanilla finish.

Much like the 200 year old copper pot they use to distil, Edinburgh Gin is steeped in history and creativity, their inimitable Rhubarb and Ginger Gin Liqueur, their creativity has truly excelled itself. Tangy spring crop rhubarb macerated with oriental ginger and lemon zest is infused into Edinburgh Gin to create a nostalgiainducing rose-hued tipple.

GARNISH NONE

GARNISH APPLE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE SODA WATER

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE SODA WATER

ABV 20%

ABV 20%

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TAKE HOME SOME GIN VISIT THE OFF LICENCE TO TAKE HOME YOUR NEW FAVOURITE GIN OR GIN GIFT

BAR D

SOV EREIGN SPIRI T S APPLE & BL ACKBERRY LIQUEUR

SOV EREIGN SPIRI T S ELDERFLOWER & GOOSEBERRY LIQUEUR

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND

A rich and warming drink, Sovereign Apple and Blackberry Gin Liqueur, perfectly melds crisp gin with homely, autumnal flavours. Somewhat reminiscent of a favourite crumble, the soft berries and sharp apple are a stunning combination.

Sovereign Elderflower and Gooseberry Gin Liqueur is made by carefully blending a fabulous British gin with the delicate sweetness of elderflowers and the tart, freshness of gooseberries. Fruity yet floral, these English hedgerow flavours work wonderfully with the aromatic nature of gin.

GARNISH APPLE

GARNISH LEMON

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE LEMONADE

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE SODA WATER

ABV 20%

ABV 20%

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BAR D

SWEE T PO TAT O PLUM GIN LIQUEUR EVESHAM, WORCESTER ABV 25%

Sweet Potato Plum Gin Liqueur is deliciously smooth and sweet. Plum and cherry flavours blend with a hint of marzipan for a rich, fruity taste. This is perfect for those with a sweet tooth opening with steeped plums on the nose.

Plums continue through to the palate where they are joined by rich cherries, a hint of almond and the vanilla flavour from the sweet potato, for a long finish reminiscent of fruit cake.

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Z YMURGORIUM MANCHE S T ER MARMAL ADE MANCHESTER, ENGLAND ABV 40%

Zymurgorium Manchester Marmalade Gin provides a total sensory experience. An explosion of citrus combines with vanilla to evoke a summer in Seville. Bursting with the tangy flavours of tangerine, lime, lemon and Seville oranges plus Madagascan Bourbon Vanilla mix. Enjoy the creamy bittersweet taste, with a delicate fine aroma and notes of soothing orange blossom.

GARNISH NONE

GARNISH ORANGE

PAIRS BEST WITH NEAT

PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE INDIAN TONIC

TWO TOKENS

Z YMURGORIUM SWEE TÂ V IOLE T MANCHESTER, ENGLAND ABV 19%

Zymurgorium Violet has an incredible parma violet flavour with a good gin presence; it manages to avoid the tendency towards a syrup like viscosity that many gin liqueurs have. The sweet violets used to create this beautiful gin liqueur give it a sweet pastel flavour and provide a strong violet aroma.

GARNISH LEMON PAIRS BEST WITH FEVER-TREE LEMONADE

INTERVIEW WITH

JAMES

PORTEOUS AT ELECTRIC SPIRIT CO.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE GIN?

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I was living in London when things were really kicking off with craft beer there, and decided to move back up to Edinburgh to study a MSc in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot Watt.

To begin with, I actually wanted to set up a brewpub, after seeing how Beavertown Brewery got going with Duke’s in Haggerston. During the course I realised that I was more and more interested in distilling – I wrote my thesis on a specific aspect of gin production - and by the time I left, I was set on putting together my own little distillery. Gin gives you enormous freedom to be creative, but with much less waiting around to see if your ideas have worked than with whisky. That said, I don’t intend to stop with gin - there’s a lot of hugely interesting spirits out there to play with.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR GIN IN YOUR OWN WORDS?

Achroous (meaning ‘without colour’) sums up what I try to do with every gin I make - keep the botanical bill short, and focus on a small number of key flavours that balance well with classic gin characteristics. In this case, the two more unusual botanicals are fennel seed and Sichuan peppercorn.

I love cooking with fennel seed, particularly the anis sweetness it brings - there’s a little of that in this gin. Sichuan peppercorns lack the acrid, aggressive flavour you’d get from black peppercorns, and bring a crazy mix of citrus, flowers and spice. Together, this gives a gin with a big, floral nose, a very delicate spice on the palate, and still enough of a juniper hit to grab on the inside of your cheeks. Go to bar B to try Electric Spirit Co. Achroous.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR GIN FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE LUX

Lux was a joint project between the guys at Gin Festival and myself I’m a big fan of collaboration, it’s a great way to bring fresh ideas into the distilling process. Initially, we chatted about doing something with horseradish and wasabi, but the flavour profile of the trial batches was a little jarring against the juniper character of gin. It would have made a great vodka! Instead, we looked at some fruitier options, and settled on dates, raisins and orange peel, with a little nod to Achroous in the form of a smaller dose of Sichuan peppercorns. For me, it’s got a bigger juniper profile that my other gin, while the fruit brings an interesting sweetness to it, with just a little tickle coming through from the pepper. Go to bar B to try Electric Spirit Co. Lux.

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GIN GIVES YOU ENORMOUS FREEDOM TO BE CREATIVE. 62

YOU’VE GOT ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE BOTTLES ON THE MARKET, HOW DID YOU DO IT?

Cheers! Before distilling, I studied at Glasgow School of Art and worked as a designer, so it was pretty inevitable that I’d create both the brand and the look of the bottle myself, rather than farming it out to an agency.

My main consideration was that in a market as crowded as gin, the last thing anyone needs right now is another clear bottle with a white label, peppered with buzzwords.

Neon tends to be favoured by the scuzzier end of the alcohol market - I was keen to challenge that perception, and back it up with some crisp, direct-printed detail on the front of the bottle. It’s a modern company, and a modern gin, so the bottle needed to reflect that.

cleaning’s done. If it’s a delivery day, I’ll be cutting about all over town with a load of gin, chatting to my customers and distributors and making sure everyone’s happy and has what they need. If it’s a paperwork day, I’ll be sitting in front of spreadsheets, emails and accounts and trying/failing not to get distracted. For me, the key difference between this and my last job is that it’s my own company, something that I created in every respect. Building something from scratch is frustrating, exhausting all-consuming at times. Ultimately, it’s incredibly satisfying.

WHAT IS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR JOB THESE DAYS AND YOUR PAST JOB?

As a one man show, I’ve got every job in the company, so nothing’s typical. If it’s a distilling day, I’ll be in by 8am to get the still on, and I’ll be there until the last drop comes off in the evening and the

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AFTER A DAY IN THE DISTILLERY, WHAT DO YOU DRINK AT HOME?

In the summer, I’m a sucker for a post-work negroni - Achroous works a charm alongside Campari and a decent vermouth like Cocci Rosso - but I’m also heavily into whisky. Glenfarclas 105 is probably my go-to when it comes to a dram, and I’m a big fan of Balvenie as a distillery. Like I say, I’ve always been big on beer, so after a typical day in front of the still, and in typical Scottish weather, you’ll usually find me with a beer - Rothaus Pils, anything from Magic Rock’s experimental series, or Buxton’s Trolltunga, which is a bonkers, delicious sour IPA.

GIN AVA ABL AT BAIL RB E

ABOUT US JYM & MARIE

GinFestival.com is on a non-stop tour across the UK, bringing some of the world’s finest gins with it.

Established in 2013, with the first event held in Leeds, GinFestival.com began with husband and wife team, Jym and Marie Harris, who love gin and wanted to create events where people could go to find new gins, learn more about the spirit and have an excellent time along the way.

These days, the events are bigger and better. There is a fantastic range of new gins, with exclusive offerings and even more to choose from than ever before. We bring with us a wealth of knowledge from distillers, brands and industry experts as well as providing fantastic food and amazing entertainment. Visiting cities and towns all across the UK, it’s grown massively: more events, a dedicated team, an online shop, but the idea of providing fantastic gins to more and more people is still at the heart of GinFestival.com.

We are UK’s premier gin events company, here to help everyone find their new favourite gin, to champion small producers and put on a damn good event.

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IVAL T S E F N I G

2016

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GIN CHEAT SHEET

WHAT

WHERE

A juniper flavoured spirit.

Predominantly the United Kingdom, Spain and the USA, also, worldwide.

Can be found in various forms, including but not limited to: London Dry – clean, dry, piney, citrus.

Old Tom – soft, sweet, traditional, gentle spice.

New Western – modern, innovative, botanical democracy, varied.

Liqueurs – sweet, flavoured, infusions, below 37.5% ABV. Also seen: Jenever – a juniper distilled malt wine and the precursor to gin.

PGI – unique style, specific to an area, e.g. Mahon Xoriguer.

Barrel rested – gins left to ‘age’ in barrels, take on characteristics of the wood.

Compound – neutral spirit infused with botanicals.

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Gin was first made in the 17th century by soldiers who’d tasted jenever during their time in the Netherlands and tried to recreate it back in the UK. Their end product was very different to the Dutch drink, piney, spiced and citrusy, it was a new drink, and a firmly British one - gin.

Unsurprisingly, gin h as undergone some changes in the last 300 years. While many of these changes have occurred in gin’s home country, both Spain and the USA have played an instrumental role in the last decade.

Spain has created and helped push a softer, sweeter style of gin whilst America is responsible for the popularity of balanced and bold gins that don’t place juniper at the forefront.

GIN CHEAT SHEET

WHEN

HOW

13th Century - Now

Pints, Purl, G&T, Cocktails and Gintonic

Gins origins are somewhat blurred; historians with a focus on booze tend to be a little hazy.

Timeline 1st Century AD – Greek alchemists discover distillation.

12th Century AD – First known use of distillation for alcohol.

13th to 15th Century AD – Jenever is thought to have been created at some point during this period.

17th Century AD – The creation of gin in the UK. 20th Century AD – Gin fell spectacularly from fashion.

21st Century AD – Advent of second Gin Craze.

WHY Why not?

Really, why not?

The how of gin is very much down to personal preference but has, over the centuries, developed from pints of neat gin (and boy, would that gin be rough - made in a pot still and with very questionable ingredients), to hot gin punches on the frozen Thames.

The good old fashioned G&T was de rigeur for a while, thanks to tonic’s medical abilities (its key ingredient, quinine is an antimalarial prophylactic) before cocktails, or ‘mixed drinks’ took over. With a plethora of options and mixtures, cocktails reigned supreme for quite some time before being beaten to the post by the Spanish Gintonic.

The Gintonic may sound similar to a G&T, what with both of them relying on gin and tonic, yet the Spanish variant is a sharper, fresher and more innovative style of drink that reflects specific flavourings and styles rather than such a prescriptive recipe as the G&Ts ice and a slice.

69

INDEX

5 Continents ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������36 1831 Blue Gin �������������������������������������������������������������������������������36 Addingham Sloe Gin �����������������������������������������������������������������������52 Aduro Bell Pepper ��������������������������������������������������������������������������37 Aduro Devil’s Tail ���������������������������������������������������������������������������37 Aduro Pink Passion ������������������������������������������������������������������������38 Black Tomato Gin ���������������������������������������������������������������������������41 Blackwoods 60% ���������������������������������������������������������������������������23 Boë Bramble Liqueur ����������������������������������������������������������������������52 Boë Peach and Hibiscus Liqueur �������������������������������������������������������53 Boë Violet Gin �������������������������������������������������������������������������������53 Braeckman Vanilla Jenever ��������������������������������������������������������������54 Brockmans Premium Gin ����������������������������������������������������������������23 Burleigh’s �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������13 Caspyn Cornish Summer Cup �����������������������������������������������������������54 Cuckoo Gin �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������12 Cucumber Gin ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������25 Edinburgh Gin Plum & Vanilla Liqueur ������������������������������������������������55 Edinburgh Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur �������������������������������������������������55 Electric Spirit Co. Achroous ������������������������������������������������������������25 Electric Spirit Co. Lux ��������������������������������������������������������������������26 Elephant Gin ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������39 Fishers Gin �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������12 Gin David ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������39 Gotik �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������41 Half Hitch Gin ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 Jaggi Premium Gin Citrus Blend ��������������������������������������������������������27 Jaggi Premium Gin Sweet Blend �������������������������������������������������������26 K - 25 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������42 Kalevala Gin ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������42 Leeds Gin White Rose ���������������������������������������������������������������������13 Marula Gin ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������43

70 INDEX

Marula Gin Pomegranate �����������������������������������������������������������������43 N Gin VLC �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������44 Orkney Johnsmas ���������������������������������������������������������������������������15 Pink 47 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������27 Pink Pepper ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������44 Pinkster ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������15 Piùcinque �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������45 PJ Gin Apple ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������50 PJ Gin Dry �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������45 PJ Gin Elderflower ��������������������������������������������������������������������������49 PJ Gin Raspberry ����������������������������������������������������������������������������49 Poetic License Northern Dry Gin ������������������������������������������������������17 Poetic License Old Tom Gin �������������������������������������������������������������17 Premium Harrogate Gin �������������������������������������������������������������������18 Puerto de Indias Strawberry Gin ������������������������������������������������������50 Purple Ram �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������29 Raisthorpe Manor Oak Aged Dry Gin ��������������������������������������������������18 Ramsbury Gin ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������29 Sanction Gin ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������19 Silver Fox Gin ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������30 Skully London Dry ��������������������������������������������������������������������������46 Skully Oriental Citrus ���������������������������������������������������������������������47 Skully Smooth Wasabi ��������������������������������������������������������������������47 Skully Tangerine Twist ��������������������������������������������������������������������46 Sovereign Spirits Apple & Blackberry Liqueur ������������������������������������57 Sovereign Spirits Elderflower & Gooseberry Liqueur ����������������������������57 St Giles ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������30 Sweet Potato Plum Gin Liqueur ��������������������������������������������������������58 Tinker Gin �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 Tovel’s Gin ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������38 Two Birds �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������31 Zymurgorium Manchester Marmalade Gin ������������������������������������������58 Zymurgorium Sweet Violet ��������������������������������������������������������������59 INDEX 71

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