The flagship Hidden Curiosities Gin is a combination of 20 botanicals, that result in a rounded but complex spirit. 5 types of peppercorns and green cardamom are used to provide a warming and aromatic profile, with yuzu, pink grapefruit, bergamot and lime providing a citrus balance against the sweetness of mulberries and the perfume of lavender. Gin isn't just from England and the U.S. Distilleries all over the world produce versions that try to capture the character of where they're made. There are three main categories. Distilled gin is produced from a mash of grains in the same way that whiskey might be. Redistilled gin is a neutral grain spirit that has been distilled a second time. And compound gin is a neutral grain spirit that’s been infused with flavors (this is the least common style). While you can use nearly any botanical you can think of to flavor gin, juniper is the key ingredient. There are two ways to infuse the botanical flavors into gin—either by macerating them in the spirit, or suspending them in what is essentially a large tea bag above the spirit and infusing the gin with vapors. Then there are a few different styles of gin to consider. London Dry Gin: The old guard brands mostly distill London Dry-style gin in the UK, although it does not actually have a geographical indicator. The main rules of this designation are that juniper must be the dominant flavor (as it is for all gin) and botanicals must flavor the gin during distillation, with no flavor or color added afterwards. Brands like Beefeater and Tanqueray are classics for a reason, but the world of gin has expanded enormously over the past 20 years as new distilleries tinker with the formula. The brand is named after George Chinnery, the English painter, who began his career in Dublin, before travelling to China. The bottle is inspired by these two parts of his career – Georgian Dublin and Imperial China. When it comes to food, I always used to raise an eyebrow when Stilton made it anywhere near our shopping list. Why would anyone eat mould?! These days, if panic buying were ever to reach a clear down of the middle class deli counter, I’d seriously consider leaving a Babybel to go out of date just to get a taste of the stuff!

New Western Gin: This is really a catch-all term for newer gins that don’t fit into the previous categories. But the through line is that these gins, while still using juniper as a key ingredient, are flavored with a wide range of botanicals, and often use ones that are grown locally to showcase the flavors of where they are made. There are some gins that I try and immediately declare as being a gin I never want to find myself without. There aren’t that many of them. Is this one of them? You bet your ass it’s one of them. I can not see myself ever wanting to be without this gin being within reaching distance. This really is a case of a triple threat on the tasting, where all of the sense are brought to life in a balanced and equally measured way. I spent the longest time cynically passing judgement on my wife’s choice of television programmes, whilst secretly always keeping one eye on ‘The Great British Bake Off’ to see who would be the ‘Star Baker’ & who would be leaving the tent. Now? I’m an avid fan, able to tell my dacquoise sponge from my victoria sponge, my Italian meringue from my French meringue and longing for a Hollywood handshake (from a social distance of course). Gin is now definitely a global spirit, with excellent examples being made everywhere from the U.S. to Mexico to Southeast Asia, and even the UK has seen an infusion of new gin distilleries. The best thing about this is that each spirit is an attempt to capture some essence of its geography, often using locally sourced botanicals to flavor what otherwise would essentially be, well, vodka. With so many bottles to choose from, we’ve broken down some of the best gins out there to try now by highlighting stellar examples of the new and old school. Here are some of the best gin brands available now, from traditional London dry to brand-new innovations.There are four different types of gin: London dry gin, old Tom, Plymouth and navy strength gin. Is gin gluten-free? Some people prefer the clean and minimalist look of open shelves where items are visible and easily accessible. These unit types can be a great option for displaying decorative items, such as plants, picture frames, or art pieces. Cube-shaped shelves are a popular open shelved option for those who wish to display their items or store them in decorative bins and baskets. Having spent 5 years in Japan, Jenny dedicated time to refining her palate, sampling over 100 craft gins along the way. The aim behind the graft? To create a gin recipe of her very own, but with a unique and distinctive character that would make it stand out from the crowd.

In 2017, Jenny decided to turn her entrepreneurial skill set to another of her passions. Though this time it was her taste in drinks, rather than men’s clothing, that would be brought in to the spotlight. Cue the beginnings of Hidden Curiosities Gin… Photo Credit: Hidden Curiosities They say that, in life, you should never stop being curious. And that the one thing that we should strive for is untameable curiosity. Because in the end, it’s the people who are curious who change the world. Aranami Strength; I’ll drink to that.Note: If you would like to read my fuller write up on Gin Festival at Manchester Baths, featuring Hidden Curiosities Gin, you can find it here: For a more organised and clutter-free look, closed shelves are the perfect solution to store items out of sight. Customisable cabinets and drawers are a great option to keep items hidden from view, while still allowing for easy access when needed.