Gin

Eden Mill 12 Gins of Christmas

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Each year Eden Mill launch there 12 Gins of Christmas and each year we talk about it, then drink all 12.

Same this year so here you go;

12 Gins of Christmas release for 2017 is a luxury boxed gift set comprising 7 brand new, distinctive, and delicious gin additions that complement the 5 core gins included in the set.

Each of the 5cl gins is uniquely handcrafted and your gin gift box is completed with a pair of tulip-shaped gin glasses.

The 12 Gins of Christmas are:

1 x 5cl Original Sea Buckthorn Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Love Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Hop Gin (46% ABV)

1 x 5cl Oak Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Golf Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Botano Gin (45% ABV)

1 x 5cl Rai Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Mulled Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Slackwater Gin (47% ABV)

1 x 5cl After Dinner Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Orange & Clove Gin (42% ABV)

1 x 5cl Juniper Trio Gin (42% ABV)

2 x Branded Tulip Glasses

1 x Gin Tour Voucher for one (worth £10) – supplementary tour vouchers are available here.

1 x Booklet explaining the story and inspiration behind each gin as well as its suggested serve.

Cheers Eden Mill and Merry Christmas, this will last a decent time.  Well 12 days of it.

Makar Xmas Minitures

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So another one on our favourite list.  Makar have launched their mini gin trio gift pack.

I probably should chat about Makar a bit but you all should know.  We have chatted about them several times (I was meant to do a blog on the Gin Awards where Makar Aged Oak won best aged Gin award).

Makar launched these at The St. Enoch Christmas Market.  Each pack is presented in a festive foil wrap and contains one Makar Original Dry Gin, one Makar Old Tom Gin and one of either of the cask matured expressions; Makar Aged in Oak or Makar Aged in Mulberry.

The gift packs are available to purchase exclusively from the Makar stalls at the Christmas markets in George Square and St. Enoch Square and are soon to be available on on online shop. 

Priced at £15, the artisan gift is perfect as a stocking filler, or as a treat for yourself to try three of Scotland’s most-awarded gins in 2017.

Only 2000 festive packs have been created in this limited-edition release, so be quick off the mark if you want to pick up a box in time for Christmas. The Makar gift pack will be available in non-festive packaging throughout the year after the Christmas period.

Edinburgh Christmas Gin

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So next up is an act which is very comfortable providing a lot of gifts and variety and if your need lots of gifts Edinburgh Gin have box sets of all their products for every Gin lover.

Just came up with a new hastag #Ginglealltheway 

It might be rubbish.

So EG have launched their Christmas Gin (again).

If you have not seen or tried it, think of mulled wine but doing something similar for Gin.

The Christmas Gin is flavoured with an special Yuletide botanicals, which is essentially added the normal London Dry EG.  By Christmassy we mean, frankincense and myrrh and classic juniper, this makes for a warming gin either to sip or mix with.

To nose and taste, Rich aromatics include zesty sweet orange, while a finishing note of nutmeg adds comforting yuletide warmth.
The Gin is Bottled at 43% ABV and can be enjoyed as a G&T with orange garnish, Or a Christmas Negroni, the sweet myrrh providing balance to Campari’s bitter finish.
Thank you Edinburgh gun website there.

https://www.edinburghgin.com/our-gins/christmas-gin
Thanks

Graeme 

Pickerings Gin Baubles

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So like I said sorry for being away but here we are.

Let’s have a review of the best of British Gin Christmas presents. 

To start with I need to cover something I was meant to chat about following the Scottish Gin Awards, which is Pickerings Christmas Baubles.

So what are they?  Well in short they are standard baubles you would put on your tree but filled with Gin.  No complaints there.  The only disadvantage here is you can’t keep them to next year and keep bringing them out without your tree smelling like you’re some alchy. 

Last year Pickering’s launched these little beauts and they sold out far too quick.  This year there is no issues as they have been packing since the summer.

Each bauble is filled with 5cl of Pickering’s and there are six in the box.

Retailing at £30 for the six is an excellent price and these would be great for a Xmas present, along with a wee treat for yourself and your now alchy tree.  

All we need now is fever tree or Fentimens to launch tonic stars and we are laughing (how would the ice and garnish work??).

Link to the shop below.

https://shop.pickeringsgin.com/products/pickerings-gin-baubles

Piping Live – Brockmans

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Last on our list for Piping Live and by no means least we have Brockmans. Now I have been waiting to get this on the list for a long time. At the Juniper festival in Edinburgh I was pairing up Brockmans with the new Pink Grapefruit tonic from Fentimans and I can honestly say it wasn’t like drinking Gin and Tonic, it was its own class. So much so I kept handing people tasters of Pink Grapefruit tonic and sending them over to the Brockmans stand.

Brockmans is the creation of one man Bob Fowkes who for years worked for the big companies such as Diageo. Bobs vision to create a gin Like No Other coupled with his knowledge of the market and marketing abilities gave birth to Brockmans which is indeed a Gin like no other, as no other Gin delivers the flavour Brockmans does.

Brockmans comprises of Blackberries, Cassia bark, Liquorice, Lemon Peel, Coriander, Angelica, Orange Peel, Almonds, Orris and Juniper (it is a Gin). The botanicals are steeped in pure grain spirit for hours to release their oils. Then, Brockmans is distilled in a 100 year old traditional copper still.

To smell you get straight of the bat that blackberry, which makes you think you could be about to taste a flavored vodka (which isn’t all Gins at heart) right and floral on the nose, its bloody excellent on the nose to be honest. To taste the Juniper is there but it’s sweeter, as the wintery fruit taste along with the citrus are dominate. There is also a wee bit of heat which is ginger bread like (you won’t get this with tonic though). Neat on the finish it is dry, which is a great balance from the sweetness on the nose.
Its honestly a wonderful Gin, well done Bob.
Remember we will be running two tasting events at Piping Live on Wednesday 9th August (from 5pm) and Friday 11th at the Piping Centre, Glasgow.

Tickets are available for Friday only now as Wednesday is sold out and can be found following the below link:

Wednesday 9th:
https://pipinglive.co.uk/events/2017-piping-live-presents-glasgow-gin-club-wed/

Friday 11th:
https://pipinglive.co.uk/events/2017-piping-live-presents-glasgow-gin-club-fri/

Thanks

Graeme

Piping Live – Minus 33

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Minus 33 was originally crafted by scientist at the Locabev Laboratory in Rosyth.  Minus 33 comes in at 33% so technically does not qualify as a London Dry Gin but It is a Juniper distilled spirit (which is also one of their taglines).
After 3 years and 539 test tubes of experimentation Locabev decided that the optimum strength for a really smooth spirit was 33%. This makes it the perfect drink for those on a diet as it comes in at 46 calories per serve. The decision to have a gin at 33% came after blind taste tests and those doing the tests came back and said they preferred the 33% version.  Which is fantastic news when you have just started a Gin company and it turns out you don’t have an EU category Gin.

Although Minus 33 was conceived in the lab, it’s now crafted by Cory the genius behind Silent Pool, to Sams recipe. 

To taste Minus 33 it is fresh and floral with hints of juniper, citrus, lavender, elderflower and angelica.

We have worked with Minus33 loads in the past and every time he does a tasting (assuming he hasn’t broken his leg), you are in for a treat, expect lab coats and cocktails.

Remember we will be running two tasting events at Piping Live on Wednesday 9th August (from 5pm) and Friday 11th at the Piping Centre, Glasgow.

Tickets are available for both nights and can be found following the below links, Wednesday is nearly sold out though.
Wednesday 9th:
https://pipinglive.co.uk/events/2017-piping-live-presents-glasgow-gin-club-wed/

Friday 11th:

https://pipinglive.co.uk/events/2017-piping-live-presents-glasgow-gin-club-fri/

Piping Live – Valentia Gin

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So our first Gin to be featured at our two events for Piping Live is Valentia.

Valentia Gin comes from the Sierra Nevada mountains in Granada, Spain where (I read) the water is known for its exceptional purity. The Gin is double distilled in small batches in a traditional cooper pot still. Valentia is made using “Mediterranean botanicals” which are; Juniper (it is a Gin), Angelica, Cardamom, Thyme, Coriander, Rosemary and Valencia citrus fruits.

When we have discussed Valentia in the past we described it as the perfect Gin for that feeling that you are on holiday as itsfresh, fruity and definitely citrusy.

To taste there is the initial juniper hit but it is like a punch, it’s a level hit, this fades quickly to leave the citrus fruit. To make it had an orange sherbet flavour.

One of the added bonuses of having Valentia along is you get to meet Alfonso. For the ladies reading, Alfonso is Spanish, well dressed and owns a Gin company. You can’t really go wrong there and his chat is on point.

I’m pretty sure he is due me a pint from juniper festival too.

Remember we will be running two tasting events at Piping Live on Wednesday 9th August (from 5pm) and Friday 11th at the Piping Centre, Glasgow.

Tickets are available for both nights and can be found following the below links, Wednesday is nearly sold out though.

Wednesday 9th:
https://pipinglive.co.uk/events/2017-piping-live-presents-glasgow-gin-club-wed/

Friday 11th:
https://pipinglive.co.uk/events/2017-piping-live-presents-glasgow-gin-club-fri/

Summerhouse Drinks

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Ok so as we start to slow down our own events in the run up to end of the year, it’s time to do some reviews and blogs of gin and gin related folks we have worked with in the past year.  
This week we focus on Summerhouse Drinks, a company who’s tonic and other soft drinks we love and enjoy working with.

Summerhouse Drinks is run by Ross and Claire Rennie from their family farm at Peathill near Fraserburgh. Claire runs the day to day business with another two members of staff and Ross, a Chartered Accountant, has responsibility for all things financial. As a small team, they pride themselves on their artisan approach and are committed to producing products that don’t have artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or sweetners.
Prior to starting Summerhouse Drinks. Claire had started and ran Berry Scrumptious, which specialised in producing fresh chocolate covered strawberries. In early 2014, two flavours of lemonade were launched under the Summerhouse Drinks brand. The lemonade proved so popular that the decision was made to sell the Berry Scrumptious brand to new owners so that Summerhouse Drinks could be given full attention.
By January 2015 there were four flavours in the range: Misty Lemonade, Scottish Raspberry Lemonade, Hint O’ Mint Lemonade and Lavender Lemonade, the latter two made using mint and lavender grown in the walled garden on the farm. The Hint O’ Mint Lemonade was proving to pair particularly well with gin and it was at this discovery that lead the team to develop Scotland’s first tonic water.
After extensive taste testing, ‘Walter Gregor’s Tonic Water’ was launched in April 2015, named after the Victorian minister in the Parish of Pitsligo where Summerhouse Drinks is based. It uses mint grown in Walter Gregor’s former garden as well as a number of other botanicals to give it a light and crisp flavour. As Peathill is located less than half a mile from the sea, it also picks up salty notes which means that it pairs particularly well with coastal gins. 
http://www.summerhousedrinks.com/

Recommended with The Botanist, Isle of Harris Gin, Rock Rose, Shetland Reel, Kirsty’s Gin from Arbikie, Pickering’s 1947, Eden Mill Original, Edinburgh Gin’s Seaside Gin.
We promise we will get them along to a gin club in 2016.
Thanks

Graeme

Juniper Festival – Glasgow

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Its been over a year since we at Gin Club along with Gin Superfan Ger (And Gers mate, who ever he was), attended Juniper Festival in Edinburgh and now it has come around again but this time Solid Liquids have brought the event to Glasgow, our home turf (unless you count Blairgowrie).

Btw I like the awkward photo of Stuart at Juniper Festival

Our first experience of Juniper festival was their first year and ours, even though it only involved Kate and Stuart, I think I was uninvited by the cousins so they can chum out and get drunk without me.  Thankfully though as it was our first year it was where we met 90% of the Gins we would go on and feature that year (lots of those Gins are still in the shed too).

Last year in Edinburgh was my first taster of Juniper festival, but before I delve into it let me go through what Juniper Festival is, in their own words:

“The Glasgow Juniper Festival will be the first outside of Edinburgh and we will have over 30 vareties of Gin from 18 different producers as well as some lovely tonics to try. Our Festivals are set up where once inside you can taste any of the gins on show which are all served up by the people who know them best – the people behind them! If that wasn’t enough we are also taking over the Poetry Club at SWG in which to host talks on Gin related subjects presented by some of our exhibitors.”

What that means you get to wander around the SWG, where 18 lovely Gin Distillers will have a station of their products, you get to wander up learn about the gin, the brand and history then the samples, the glorious tastings of Gin.  Not only that but you can sign up for special masterclasses and tastings.

Event link:

https://www.facebook.com/JuniperEvents/

We only know of a handful of the Gins which are going to be there such as: Caroun, Minus 33 (Sam will be making cocktails no doubt), Strathearn, Daffys, Pickerings, Shetland Reel, Makar, Porters and Sipmsith to name a few.

Gin Club will be heading along on Saturday evening to wander chat and drink Gin.

Tickets available from:

http://www.solid-liquids.co.uk/juniper

 

Thanks

 

Gin Club

 

Pickerings

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So this one I have planned ahead.  Yes go me.

For our third Gin we have the amazing Pickerings back.

Pickerings was launch in 2013 and founded by Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell, at the Summerhall Distillery which was the former School of Veterinary Studies.

Pickering’s is based on an old Bombay recipe which was kept as a family secret for over 66 years,and resurfaced in 2013. The gin is a recreation of this original recipe where Pickerings have increased the amount of juniper compared to the original.

The Gin itself consists of nine botanicals – juniper, coriander, cardamom, angelica, fennel, anise, lemon, lime and cloves.

The process involves macerating the botanicals for 24 hours with neutral grain spirit in a copper still, nicknamed Gert. The still is heated in a unique way almost like a custom-built water bath allowing the heat to be altered and applied directly.

To me Pickerings is a smooth bu almost earthy Gin.  Its fresh with an initial hit of Juniper (it is a Gin) with a piney taste.  There is an after taste of fennel and cardamom, leaving you with the overall spice.

We have no idea how we are serving this yet.

I may have time to fix the blog before tomorrows pre alert.

We do love this Gin though.