1. Gin-making experience at the Spirit of Manchester Distillery
Manchester
Make your own gin - choosing from more than 60 botanicals - at the Spirit of Manchester Distillery, set in restored railway arches in the heart of the city.
The two-and-a-half-hour-long experience includes a guided tasting tour followed by a gin-making workshop. Guests each have a bottle of their own uniquely infused gin to take home at the end.
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2. Discover the history of gin at the City of London Distillery
London
Learn how gin has developed through the ages at the City of London Distillery, the only distillery in the capital’s historic square mile (and now the home of Whitley Neill Gin). The hour-long tour includes a Whitley Neill G&T on arrival and a four-gin tasting experience.
From 2 July, much-loved gin brand Masons of Yorkshire will be opening its doors to the public with its “Made the Masons Way” distillery experience. This guided gin tasting (which takes place in Masons’ so-called “gin laboratory”) teaches you the tips and techniques for detecting the aromas and subtleties of various gin flavours.
4. Gin tasting and story sharing at Dunnet Bay Distillers
Scottish Highlands
Fancy a gin tasting at the UK mainland’s most northerly distillery? The sustainable, family-run Dunnet Bay Distillers, on the glorious Caithness coast, is even further north (just) than John O’Groats - and they’re now reopening their Distillery Tasting Room for guests. Groups of up to ten people can taste a variety of spirits and hear stories of the coast and sea - all from the comfort of some charming - and socially distant - boat-shed booths.
Does a G&T with a slice of cake sound like heaven to you? Gillray’s Bar at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, overlooking the River Thames and Big Ben, offers a “Gin and Tonic Afternoon Tea” experience for two. The spread includes sandwiches, scones, homemade cakes, tea and (of course) free-flowing G&Ts. Afternoon tea slots last for an hour-and-a-half - more than enough time to get suitably tiddly.
The Oxford Artisan Distillery, one of the UK’s few “grain-to-glass” distilleries, is offering hour-long tours (which include a free drink). The distillery is the only one in England to use the ancient heritage grains that were used to make gin until the late 19th century. Guests will learn about the distillery’s history and the historical practices used to farm the grain - as well as have the opportunity to sample various spirits.
For a memorable at-home gin experience, you might want to sample Smith & Sinclair’s “Gin Obsessed” box. The box contains a variety of edibles which are mixed like a drink and best consumed in two bites. The gummies are a blend of fruit, herbs, premium spirits and syrups, with flavours including G&T with lemon sugar and elderflower and gin spritz with thyme sugar.
HelloSolo, the new dating platform which connects single people with events specifically for singles, is running a gin and tonic tour where couples are most definitely not welcome. Attendees will be greeted with a G&T on arrival before embarking on a tour of the City of London Distillery where experts will reveal the tips and tricks to making great gin. There’ll be an opportunity for guests to mingle afterwards - over a G&T, of course.
Get your girlfriends over for a virtual cocktail-making class where you’ll learn to make four delicious drinks from the comfort of your own home. These classes (which can be organised privately, making them perfect for hen parties) are run by The Little Surprises Company, who handpick and organise memorable at-home experiences. For an additional cost, you can receive a kit containing all the ingredients you’ll need, including a pair of glasses and a cocktail shaker.
Sabine Rooftop Bar, the “secret garden oasis" overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral, has launched a Botanist Gin pop-up just in time for World Gin Day (but running until September 2021). The bar will serve a variety of wild and foraged gin and tonics using Botanist Gin, which is distilled on the Hebridean island of Islay.
Newly launched to mark World Gin Day, this experience from the home of Bombay Sapphire and Casa Martini will show you how to make the perfect negroni. Brand ambassadors Sam Carter (Bombay) and Nicola Piazza (Martini) will provide tips and tricks via a one-hour video tutorial which is accessed via a QR code. The cocktail gift pack also includes: 1 x 700ml Bombay Sapphire Sunset, 1 x 750ml Martini Riserva Speciale Rubino, 1 x 750ml Martini Riserva Speciale Bitters, 1 x 500ml Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Ginger Ale, 1 x 500ml Fever-Tree Clementine Tonic Water, one twisted bar spoon and one jigger.
Kate Samuelson is The Week's former newsletter editor. She was also a regular guest on award-winning podcast The Week Unwrapped. Kate's career as a journalist began on the MailOnline graduate training scheme, which involved stints as a reporter at the South West News Service's office in Cambridge and the Liverpool Echo. She moved from MailOnline to Time magazine's satellite office in London, where she covered current affairs and culture for both the print mag and website. Before joining The Week, Kate worked at ActionAid UK, where she led the planning and delivery of all content gathering trips, from Bangladesh to Brazil. She is passionate about women's rights and using her skills as a journalist to highlight underrepresented communities. Alongside her staff roles, Kate has written for various magazines and newspapers including Stylist, Metro.co.uk, The Guardian and the i news site. She is also the founder and editor of Cheapskate London, an award-winning weekly newsletter that curates the best free events with the aim of making the capital more accessible.
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