Gin o'clock!

There is no denying that Gin has become a big deal here in the UK over that last decade and sometimes it can be hard to see the wood for the trees! Having a decent Gin selection is no longer a unique offering, and any bar worth their salt will have done their research into the best of the botanicals.

Were are pretty proud of our offering here at The Queen’s Head, and here are three that we would like to shout about.

Bathtub Gin - Ableforth’s - Kent

An old favourite and something of a cult offering is Bath Tub Gin from Ableforth’s. From the outset, the brown paper style packaging envokes a sense of nostalgia and a throwback to the prohibition days.

Infused with juniper, orange peel, coriander, cassia, cloves and cardamom, this Gin undergoes a slow and lengthy compounding period (soaking the botanicals in neutral spirit before filtering) with the lenght of time determined purely by tasting, to end up with the perfect blend.

Best served old-school, with a classic tonic (insert your favourite here - but make sure it’s Fever-Tree) and garnish with a slice or a twist of orange.

Mermaid Gin - Isle of White

10 botanicals make up this island offering, and according to the producers they include ‘peppery grains of paradise, with a hint of sea air from locally foraged, fragrant rock samphire.’ This is the ‘standard’ Mermaid Gin - there is also a navy strength edition, HMS Victory. At 57%!!

A slice of cucumber adds the perfect bridge between the slightly salty elements of the samphire and the citrus notes. Not a hugely well-known brand this one, but highly recommended.

Slingsby London Dry - Harrogate

Made using mineral waters from the Harrogate aquifer, a natural spring system filtered through sandstone and limestone, this minerally rich Gin has notes of citrus and grapefruit, with cicely ( a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the celery family) on the finish.

One for the Yorkshire folk out there (of which I am one…) :)

Serve with - whatever you like - after all, you don’t argue with Yorkshire folk!

See you with ice and a slice soon!