MoM: Why did you decide to branch out and create different gin brands in Marylebone London Dry Gin and Berkshire Botanical gin? He says, “The pleasure gardens gave me the inspiration to explore botanicals that are a little more floral in their outlook – chamomile, lemon balm and lime flower, with a hint of grapefruit to deliver a lovely, fresh, citrus-y zing.” And then I’ve got a little limited edition I’m doing for the hotel as well. So 108 Bar and Brasserie is part of the Marylebone Hotel where the still is housed, and it’s part of an Irish hotel group called Doyle Collection. So we’ve got an extra Irish botanical going into a new recipe for them, and just 108 bottles will be created. The hotel has an off-licence and the bottles will be sold behind the bar. We hope it will be the first of many batches, but we shall see how we go. Johnny, you’re family is pretty much steeped in gin – so where does all this inspiration come from?

While Marylebone may fly under the radar for some, these are popular places so book ahead to avoid disappointment. Nose: Lots of pine, oily citrus and a herbal twinge of coriander root lead with help from deep, concentrated notes of juniper.As Johnny Neill, the man behind Marylebone Gin, explains: “What I love about the idea of these gardens is the thought of Georgian refinement, with the likes of Handel hosting concerts there, side-by-side with a bit of notoriety, gambling and card sharping.” JN: Right now there’s no ambition to create any new brands. If we did do a rum it would be under one of the existing brands. I’d love to do a spiced rum in the Berkshire range. We’ve got stills that are capable of distilling some quality rum so we’ll do some experiments and see what we get. I have stuff ageing on the estate down in Berkshire and in the Marylebone range I’ve got some rum casks from the Foursquare Distillery which are absolutely spectacular, so whether we play with rum casks or we develop a rum, we’ll have to see. For now, I need to focus and make sure that everything’s working smoothly in this difficult period. Entry fees may have kept out the real wrong’uns, but pleasure gardens remained one of the most accessible and exciting activities of the era. At just a shilling, entry to the Cremorne Pleasure Gardens in Chelsea was a steal, giving you access to elaborate fountains, a theatre where ballets and burlesques alike were performed, a fairy bower and a banqueting hall. But while his family’s long history of distilling and a swish central London location – not to mention a daily audience for his distilling efforts – would put an unbearable amount of pressure on some, Johnny Neill is more than ready for the challenge. In fact, he’s thrilled to be on this amazing adventure. As the founder of Whitley Neill Gin, Marylebone Gin, Berkshire Botanical Gin and Gelston Irish whiskey, it’s fair to say that Johnny Neill knows a thing or two about booze. We managed to grab five minutes with him and here’s what he said:

The Pleasure GardensDistillingCompany is situated less than a mile from the Mayfair-based RAF Club, a private charitable membersclubfor serving and former serving officers of theRAF and their families. The versatile establishment welcomes patrons with a relaxed atmosphere and stylish surroundings that lend themselves to after-work drinks and dinner dates. Master of Malt: It seems like you’ve got distilling in your blood. Were you always destined to enter the spirits industry? I was inspired by the diversity and uniqueness of Marylebone,” he says. “The area really does feel like a village. The people and business are proud of where they live, and there’s a strong culture of helping each other. We wanted to be a firm part of the local community.”This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users. We're delighted to announce that we have a brand new Club Gin, and what could be a better gift in time for Christmas?