It’s perhaps thanks to the wild gin craze of the 18th century and the ensuing suppression of the juniper-based spirit that we still brush gin under the carpet somewhat. Interestingly, some of the gin bars are now just as clandestine as the act of drinking and distilling gin used to be, but that doesn’t detract from their allure – it adds to them, in fact. The ability to toy with the botanicals used in Gin gives makers an impressive amount of artistic license, and this has seen some interesting concoctions being made. First, there was Kingsbarns Dream to Dram. Now, there’s Kingsbarns Doocot. The Lowland distillery’s first single malt was released in 2019 and set the tone with its light and floral style. This week, the next stage in that evolution launched: Doocot. It will eventually replace DtD (sob) and is named after a traditional nesting shelter for doves and pigeons. There’s a 200-year-old example at the distillery which now is home to the first cask of whisky ever filled at the Lowland distillery. Doocot very much embodies the signature Kingsbarns style, but with additional time in cask to develop those delicate tropical fruits and floral notes. Made from whisky matured in 90% bourbon barrel and 10% STR (shaved, toasted, and re-charred) casks, the addition of STR is very well done, a measured pinch of seasoning that lets the bourbon cask do its thing and showcases all that distillery character. Doocot has kept the Kingsbarns code, this is light, sweet, and creamy with heaps of tropical fruit, vanilla, and a lovely sour tang reminiscent of rhubarb or raspberries. Give it time and let it shine. Doocot arrives on our shelves on Monday, so keep your eyes peeled.

Then, even more curious about gin, further research led me to a distiller's handbook from the 1800s and within it a recipe for another lost style of gin – Old Tom. So we started producing this as well.

Jensens Old Tom Gin – oplagt gin til Tom Collins

The result is Jensen’s Gin. This gin’s success grew slowly by word of mouth (or by taste of mouth?) and in 2013 Jensen’s took the distilling in-house. They commissioned John Dore & Co to build their still (they made the Beefeater stills) and opened a small distillery under a railway arch in Bermondsey. Christian Jensen and his still Want to savour a gin and tonic done the right way?! After a lengthy tour around town, we’re bringing you the best gin bars in London that are great for a tipple or three. 1. East London Liquor Company Exception Details: System.Web.HttpException: Server cannot set status after HTTP headers have been sent. Old brands are reinventing themselves and new names in both the craft and commercial markets are popping up everywhere. They have created a wonderful London Dry that is infused with fruity flavours such as lemon, pink grapefruit and fresh orange. C.O.L.D offers you the chance to distil your own bottle of gin as well! 4. Merchant House

Exciting times at The Lakes Distillery as the penultimate sixth edition of its Whiskymaker’s Reserve dropped this week. Fans of the classic, sherry-forward signature of this English whisky will be very pleased, with this edition also bringing plenty of woody spices and subtle floral notes along. It comes at an interesting point in time too, with Sarah Burgess taking up the role of whisky maker and Dhavall Gandhi transitioning to consulting ventures. I think we’re all curious to see how the Lakes style develops with these two powerhouses behind it. The founder, Christian Jensen, stumbled across this gin during his time working in Japan. His favourite bar made him martinis with a gin the bartender said was a special London gin. Before he left Japan the bar-owner gifted him bottle explaining that it was a brand that wasn’t made anymore.This in turn has attracted the eye of new audience who are excited by the chance to explore niche flavours and combinations. Jensen’s gin epitomises the passion that goes into making gin and how it came to be is a fascinating story in itself! Jensen’s is one of the most acclaimed distilleries in London and it offers special behind the scenes tours, showcasing how Christian Jensen’s gin is created. Try the full range of the collection, including Bermondsey Dry Gin, the 1840’s inspired Old Tom Gin, and a range of other flavored experimental elixirs. I wanted the gin to be distilled by me under the Jensen's name, so I commissioned a still with John Dore & Co. It now sits under our archway in Bermondsey, where we've distilled ever since. I'm still involved in the banking sector but my real passion lies with producing and drinking the perfect martini.