Gin Tasting ExperiencesLondon Merchant House of Bow Lane – 13 Well Court, off Bow Lane, London EC4M 9DN For something a little different, consider venturing out of London to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery Guided Tour in Hampshire. It’s a great alternative to the London options. Sipsmith Sipper Club: Enjoy a welcome drink and learn the Sipsmith story before the host takes you through a tutored gin tasting session. You’ll then be treated to a three course Michelin starred meal La Trompette. The Library Bar at The Ned, 27 Poultry, EC2R 8AJ. East London Liquor Company The bar at East London Liquor Company Gin Tasting London: The 58 Gin expert host will guide you through their unique distillation process, you’ll build rapport with the botanicals and get a real feel for flavour and aroma. Your host will lead you through the nuances and complexities of gin in a formal tasting in a hands-on, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Includes tasting of three gins.

And while rum is often associated with sunnier climates (such as the Caribbean), and tequila coming strictly from Mexico, vodka is a much more global spirit. We tested bottles from here in the UK and across Europe, with our winning bottle surprisingly coming from South Africa. How we test vodka Beefeater Gin Distillery Tour: The tour starts with an interactive exhibition taking you through everything gin and Beefeater gin. Your host will then take you up to the tasting area where they explain the key components that make Beefeater gin the World’s most awarded. You will get a guided tasting of four London Dry Gins before being shown to the Still House where every single drop of Beefeater gin is distilled. All finished with a perfectly made Beefeater G&T. Kopytka dumplings stuffed with a creamy filling of chestnuts and forest mushrooms (think gnocchi) came sauteed and were a perfect warming winter dish. For those who prefer relaxing in traditional surroundings, the Dukes Hotel is a must visit. Its cosy elegance has appealed to generations of London drinkers. James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming was a regular and it is claimed that 007’s vodka martini may have its roots in the bar. Dukes’ martinis are justly famed and so potent that there is a two-drink maximum. After all, it’s better to leave feeling stirred, not shaken. Interestingly, a penchant for gin might reveal a little more about your personality than you may have initially thought. Various sources suggest that gin drinkers, especially those who enjoy a classic gin martini or a gin and tonic, tend to be seen as mysterious and intellectual individuals with a captivating presence.I’m not a stranger to the Polish restaurant Ognisko. I have spent many happy evenings there downing flavoured vodkas and eating their refined take on Polish cuisine. Our editor Fiona has been there as well but claims she doesn’t remember too much about it… An adjunct to the popular restaurant of the same name, this bar’s commitment to vodka extends to producing its own flavoured shots. Shots come in frozen glasses, while the more ambitious drinker is catered for with carafes of 4, 10 and 20 shots. With a vodka list of over 60 varieties including rye, grain, wheat and potato-based drinks, Baltic combines popular classics such as bison grass with more exotic flavourings such as sweet plum & chilli, and horseradish. Hayman’s Distillery Tours: Take this Distillery Tour for a behind the scenes look into how their award-winning family gin is made, distilled in the same way since 1863. The tour includes a welcome Hayman’s London Dry G&T and a fun and interactive talk through the gin botanicals with an opportunity to get a real feel for flavour and aromas. Plus a tutored tasting of three of award-winning gins with different mixers. Visit the Beefeater Distillery for an unforgettable 2 and a half hour experience. Start with the interactive exhibition, with a welcome drink in hand, that will provide an insight into the history of gin. You will then be taken into the very heart of the distillery, all the way up into the still house whilst providing you with an in depth description of the process of manufacturing gin.

Gin Blending Masterclass: In this masterclass, you will blend, bottle and name two of your own gins to take away, with the guidance of the Cattivo distiller, Todd. The class also includes five drinks as well as 400ml of your bespoke gin to take home.Weeknight Sipsmith Distillery Tour and Tutored Tasting: Learn about the history of gin and how Sipsmith came to be. Learn how the Sipsmith are handcrafted and enjoy a tutored tasting too.