Some Gin-ius Ways To Celebrate World Gin Day This Weekend

5th June 2019

Gin, it’s mother’s ruin, it’s what kept the British Empire free of Malaria, it’s my granny’s favourite drink. And yet, somehow it’s not at all fusty. In fact, it’s doing incredibly well, genteel restaurants serve it with afternoon tea, hipsters down the stuff so fast they should call it Shoreditch Water, and everyone from mechanics to royalty is hooked on the stuff.

So when World Gin Day rolls around, this Saturday, you can only imagine that we’re inundated with upcoming events to celebrate. Drink first, ask questions later, who cares that it’s totally unclear who decides it’s World Gin Day, is it the UN? Or what that even means. Here’s some of the World Gin Day places we’ll be calling at over the weekend.

Lincoln Plaza, Canary Wharf

Why not head down to Hilton’s Lincoln Plaza at Canary Wharf to learn all about gin, what goes into gin, what tastes great in gin and, well, gin? Theodore is a new gin, fresh from the Scottish Highlands and ‘powered by the spirit of the Picts’. Created by leading perfume designer, Barnabé Fillion, Theodore includes 16 botanicals for a real aromatic hit, which they’ll be demonstrating in a masterclass of perfume and cocktail making this World Gin Day. Take a chance to sample the 16 botanicals in perfume form and find out more about the links between perfumery and spirits.

Where: 2 Lincoln Plaza Canary Wharf, Millwall, E14 9BD
Website: Buy tickets here...

Bluebird Chelsea

Head to Bluebird Chelsea’s terrace on World Gin Day and enjoy a drink courtesy of mixer-maker Fever-Tree (you’ll have to pay, obviously). As you sit on the (hopefully) sun-soaked terrace, sit back and sip a Perfectly Pink G&T, made with Pink Pepper Gin and Aromatic Tonic garnished with lemon and lavender. The gin menu has been devised by Fever-Tree and includes a whole array of G&Ts (or is it Gs&Ts?) including a Perfectly Pink G&T, a pink pepper gin and aromatic tonic garnished with lemon and lavender or the Chelsea Garden G&T, made with a Martin Millers gin with elderflower tonic and garnished with a strawberry and black pepper.

Where: 350 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UU, United Kingdom
Website: www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

Aster

Aster la vista, baby! And other corny catchphrases beside (‘kiss my Aster’) will be a-plenty once you’ve gotten a few of the Victoria restaurant’s gin cocktails down you. Served with an edible gin-filled cone and complete with with Champagne pearls. The creation, specially for World Gin Day, is pretty to look, at and even better to drink, made with Aster pink gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and topped with rose Champagne and complete with an edible treat (it’s the cone).

Where: 150 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5LB, United Kingdom
Website: www.aster-restaurant.com

Ask For Janice

Don’t ask for Janice, just ask for gin. Which you probably will be doing if you’ve gotten this far down the article. Ask For Janice, the somewhat self-consciously named East London bar with painted brick walls and a brown paper roller for inspirational or ironic notices, has of course got a G&Tor two ready for World Gin Day. Try the Ophir gin served with orange, chilli, and Fever-Tree Indian Tonic or the Bloom gin, served with lemon, mint, and Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic.

Where: 50-52 Long Lane, Farringdon, EC1A 9EJ
Website: www.askforjanice.co.uk

Bull In A China Shop

Bull in a China Shop will be putting on a bottomless gin brunch thanks to partners Gin Mare, Silent Pool, Colonel Fox and KI NO BI. The menu includes Waffles for Grown Ups (they come with bacon and alcoholic caramelised bananas), Bull Range eggs and a beef fillet club with caramelised onion. And, the kicker, there’ll be unlimited gin for two whole hours.

Where: 196 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6LG
Website: www.bullinachinashop.london

Celebrating At Home? Try These...

Mixers come in all shapes and sizes, from supermarket own brand tonic water to cement. Longbottom & Co make mixers, but mixers like you’ve never known, rather than another boring slimline they’ve brought out a range of virgin Mary mixers and hot sauce. Available next-day from Amazon, if you’re thinking about celebrating World Gin Day at home this is the perfect way to go about things.

Website: Buy tickets here...

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