We have features on just about every aspect of gin, from cocktails and recipes to interviews with key industry figures. We hope you enjoy browsing the archive.
Musing on the Quest for Gin Authenticity May 2012
Geraldine Coates looks at the other side of the fashion for a return to the past in gin and classic cocktails. It seems that currently one can’t get through a day without a missive popping into one’s inbox bearing news … Continue reading
What Makes a Gin look like a Gin? Feb 2012
The recent launch of Plymouth Gin’s new packaging has inspired Patience Gould to have a look at the design and packaging trends that prevail in the growing gin firmament. We all know the important role that design and packaging plays … Continue reading
Barkeep Under the Spotlight
We’re currently LOVING Manchester so Gintime caught up with Jody Monteith of renowned Manchester bar consultancy, The Liquorists. Tell us a bit about you and what you do? My name is Jody Monteith. I’m 28 years old, living in Manchester … Continue reading
Five Great Things About Manchester
So The Hacienda is long gone and Madchester has been over for aeons but Manchester has still got it and is an amazing place to live and visit. Here are a few of our fave things about the city: 1. … Continue reading
Harvesting Juniper and Orris in Tuscany Feb 2012
Weird but true that in all the years I’ve been writing about gin botanicals I’ve never actually seen the harvesting process for myself. Imagine my delight then when I was invited by Bombay Sapphire Gin to join a crew of … Continue reading
Gintime Gin Preserves Oct 2011
Autumn is all about stocking the larder for the colder months and gin makes a great ingredient in seasonal preserves. Juliet Lawrence Wilson’s Sloe Gin Mincemeat is a quick and easy preserve to make now and will mature beautifully in … Continue reading
Know your gins Oct 2011
Our guest writer Patience Gould shares her experience of attending the launch of Bombay’s Gin Aroma Kit, a fantastic nosing experience that is a total first for the gin industry. And the cocktails.. Gin’s renaissance continues apace and it’s the … Continue reading
Greengage Gin an Autumn Treat Oct 2011
At one time all the major London distillers made a great variety of fruit gins. Apart from sloe gin, which is still made commercially by Plymouth and Hawkers, and damson gin made by small craft distillers, production of most fruit … Continue reading
Gintime Summer BBQ Jun 2011
It’s time to prepare for the two days of British summer we enjoy so much! Juliet’s top tips and recipes will set your BBQ apart from the rest. Tips: Start with a clean grill. Although the food debris from last … Continue reading
An audience with Gin Monkey Jun 2011
Science policy lobbyist by day, intrepid cocktail quencher by night! Emma, the brains and palette behind one of the UK’s most trustworthy bar review sites tells us what makes Gin Monkey swing. What made you decide to start Gin Monkey? … Continue reading
The Brand Ambassador’s Life Apr 2011
Currently the drinks blogosphere and other channels are abuzz with complaints about Brand Ambassadors, those jammy buggers who get to not just drink for a living but travel the world enjoying a rock star life as they promote the USPs … Continue reading
Gintime Afternoon Tea Apr 2011
At Gintime towers we’re utterly devastated our invitation to the Royal nuptials has clearly been mislaid by Her Majesty’s own postal service. Never mind, we will have to toast Prince William and Princess Catherine’s health with afternoon tea and a … Continue reading
Gintime Lollies Apr 2011
We’ve already had two days of summer in the UK and apparently there’s more to come! Easter weekend is set to be a time of sunshine, frolics and fun. Juliet Lawrence Wilson has been busy in the kitchen so have … Continue reading
Bombay Sapphire – It’s All About the Botanicals Feb 2011
Geraldine Coates gets the lowdown on Bombay Sapphire’s botanicals from Ivano Tonutti, Master of Botanicals at Bacardi Limited. The botanicals, that wonderful array of berries, barks, seeds, peels, roots and flowers, are what make gin gin. During distillation with neutral … Continue reading
Gintime’s Xmas Gift Guide Dec 2010
Stuck for Christmas present ideas? We’ve put together some glamorous gifts for the cocktail lover. William and Son Sip of Gold Cup Plated with 24 carat gold and cushion finished, we want to be sipping Negronis from this on Christmas … Continue reading
Hogmanay the Lowdown Dec 2010
You count down the bells, sip the cocktails and welcome in the New Year with a smooch, but do you know the history behind Hogmanay? We do! Here’s the lowdown on the celebration of the year. New Year occurs on … Continue reading
Halloween Party Guide Nov 2010
At Gintime Towers we love any excuse for a party. Here’s our guide to the spookiest celebrations of the year! Drinks Spooky Spiced Gin Punch What better than a cauldron full of spiked punch to get your guests warmed up? … Continue reading
Gintime meets Santa
Santa Claus takes some time out of his hectic schedule to tell Gintime about his favourite cocktails and bars! Rudolph comes along for the ride… Gintime: Santa! What can I say? It’s such an honour to finally meet you! Santa: … Continue reading
Beefeater Winter Edition Cocktails Nov 2010
We’d love to have been along for the ride when the Beefeater team met with cocktail maestro Dre Masso to devise new cocktails to highlight the warm flavours of the new Beefeater Winter Gin edition. And here are the results … Continue reading
Autumn Fruit and Gin Recipes Oct 2010
Whilst gin is possibly the best spirit for cocktails (not that we’re biased, or anything!) it tends to be overlooked in the kitchen because there aren’t many ingredients it goes with. Now the nights are closing in and comfort food … Continue reading
Ago Perrone Oct 2010
Gintime talks to one of our favourite people, Ago Perrone, winner of the International Bartender of the Year at July’s Tales in New Orleans. So, how does it feel to have won a very important award recently? When they call … Continue reading
Edinburgh Festival – Budget or Blowout Aug 2010
August and Edinburgh go together like gin and tonic and experiencing Old Reekie during Festival and Fringe time should be on everybody’s ‘to do before they die’ list. Whether your skint or flush, we have the top tips you need… … Continue reading
Raise a Glass to the Movies! Jun 2010
Summer 2010 sees a massive programme of Film Festivals all over the world from Aruba in the Caribbean to Shanghai, from Edinburgh to Venice. You know how in the old days you had to have a beer and a football … Continue reading
Move over Molecular Mixology
Heston Blumenthal fans may have noticed he made some rather dinky little cocktail balls in a recent episode of Heston’s Feasts. Juliet Lawrence Wilson has been hard at work in the Gintime Laboratory and worked out some step-by-step instructions for … Continue reading
Jamie Mac of the Raconteur May 2010
The Raconteur is one of Gintime’s fave bars. Here, Juliet Lawrence Wilson puts Jamie Mac on the spot about life, love, drinks and running his own bar. JLW: So Jamie, What’s it like being the pub landlord then? JM: Hectic, … Continue reading
If Gordy, Dave and Nick were cocktails…
You’ve watched the Leaders’ Debates, discarded the plethora of unread leaflets and you’ll certainly be trotting down to your local primary school to cast your vote. Well done responsible citizen! Thursday night’s the time to kick back and watch the … Continue reading
In the mix – a fresh look at liqueurs Mar 2010
Geraldine Coates takes a fresh look at liqueurs – that vast array of flavoured spirits and cordials that have always played an important role in making delicious cocktails. Mention the word liqueur and most of us it instantly recall images … Continue reading
Valentine’s Day for beginners Feb 2010
Juliet Lawrence Wilson, no slouch on the lurve front herself, gets in depth with Valentine’s Day for the stay at homes. Valentine’s Day is the Marmite of Hallmark’s shelves: you either love it or hate it. Sure, many feel the … Continue reading
Gintime City Guide to Paris Jan 2010
We begin our occasional Gintime city guides appropriately for the time of the year with the most romantic of the lot: gay Paris! Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the best part of your life, you can’t help … Continue reading
Caorunn Gin Jan 2010
Master Distiller, Simon Buley, the creator of Caorunn Gin, goes under the Gintime spotlight. Simon Buley is happy: “The best thing about Caorunn is I can make it today and you can enjoy it tomorrow!” This may not come as … Continue reading
Christmas Cocktails Nov 2009
Christmas Cocktails – 2009 It’s never too early to plan your Christmas cocktail party. Well okay maybe we are being a bit premature but as the department stores have their decorations up, the gloves are off! So we’ve got a … Continue reading
Gintime Christmas Party Guide Nov 2009
Party Girl Juliet Lawrence Wilson shares her tips on throwing a fun bash and being the host with the most. Simplicity is the key. Guest List The most important thing is to invite people you really like and you might … Continue reading
Christmas Canapes Nov 2009
Christmas is a great time to try something new and Juliet Lawrence Wilson has come up with a delicious, seasonal menu of delights guaranteed to put your guests in a festive mood. All recipes make 20 canapés. Mini Turkey Burgers … Continue reading
Autumn Gin Cocktails Oct 2009
Sorry to break the news but summer is so last season! At Gintime we’re embracing the chilly weather with some delicious autumnal cocktails. Adding bitters, spices, and autumn flavours such as pear, apple and plum to your cocktails is a … Continue reading
Up close and personal with Gintime’s Editor
Geraldine Coates is the sort of person who makes new chums wherever she goes. This author and gin expert’s enthusiasm for all things gin knows no bounds and I can’t imagine a better sipping companion. The main reason for the … Continue reading
Gintime’s Pick of Food and Cocktail Blogs Oct 2009
At Gintime Towers we love nothing more than to kick back with a G&T whilst perusing our favourite culinary and cocktail blogs. Juliet Lawrence Wilson picks out our favourites! Smitten Kitchen NYC based Deb Perelman creates stunning dishes in her … Continue reading
Miss Martini’s Top Ten Things to do in Edinburgh! Jun 2009
1. Discover Scots aren’t so thrifty The Scottish Parliament building is the pride and joy of Edinburgh’s architecture: we all adore it and you should endear yourself to Edinburgh residents by remarking on its beauty at every opportunity. Initially budgeted … Continue reading
Meet Elvis McGonagall Jun 2009
Juliet Lawrence Wilson gets up close and personal with the fabulous Elvis McGonagall, Scottish stand up poet and armchair revolutionary, who makes his long awaited Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut this year at the GILDED BALLOON, 5th – 30th AUGUST 2009 … Continue reading
Summer Gin Punch Recipes Jun 2009
Punch, for many of us, brings back memories of watery fruit juice served up at school discos. But Gintime’s very grown up versions are perfect for adding a bit of oomph to a lazy, sunny, summer afternoons. Don’t forget the … Continue reading
Mr Bang Bang shares his Top Ten Playlist Jun 2009
The Bang Bang Club is gearing up for their Edinburgh Festival Revelries. DJ Cornelius Pierce, Mr. Bang Bang himself, has composed a list of his favourite summer chill out tunes. Lay back and enjoy. Jackie Trent – Where are you … Continue reading
A Very Unusual Mixologist! May 2009
Could there be a gin brand that’s captured the imagination quite as much as Hendricks? From its brown hued apothecary bottle to its quirky marketing campaigns the ‘Most Unusual’ Gin certainly deserves its place in the most interesting drinks cabinets … Continue reading
The Cocktail Man of Cyberspace May 2009
In the daylight hours he works in the world of IT but as night falls Jay Hepburn becomes Cocktail Man! The founder of Oh Gosh, a website dedicated to all things drinkable, dons his cape and catches up with Gintime. … Continue reading
Whoopee! It’s Elderflower Time May 2009
The weather may still be lousy but there’s one sure sign that summer is on the way! The Elder trees have just come into blossom and the race is on to make the most of their tantalisingly scented delicate flowers. … Continue reading
Interview with Gary Regan Apr 2009
Juliet Lawrence Wilson gets up close and personal with Mr. Mixology himself, Gary Regan, aka the god of cocktails. So first question, was all this ‘meant to be’, what with you being born ‘over a pub’? GR: It’s worse than … Continue reading
Interview with Jake Burger Apr 2009
Jake Burger tells Gintime all about his new baby – the Portobello Star (Gintime’s current Bar of the Month) and his life in the biz. I’m really happy with the cocktail list at the Star and think it’s the best … Continue reading
The Cocktail Garden Apr 2009
Juliet Lawrence Wilson gets her hands dirty planning a host of seasonal ingredients to perk up your cocktails! At Gintime HQ, spring is in the air! We’re feeling green fingered and want to share our cocktail garden tips with you. … Continue reading
Spotlight on The London No.1 Feb 2009
“The key thing is the recipe. The reason gin is back on the agenda is that there’s a range of really good products out there. You could pick them all out in a blind tasting.” Andrew Sinclair of The London … Continue reading
Gintime goes all flirty Feb 2009
Forget the champagne and the chocolates; Juliet Lawrence Wilson gets the low down on the important Valentine stuff – how to improve our flirting techniques… Given that Valentine’s Day was dreamed up by Hallmark in the 1920’s to sell more … Continue reading
Gintime Interview – Martin Miller Nov 2008
Juliet Lawrence Wilson catches up with bon viveur and compulsive entrepreneur Martin Miller to talk about gin, antiques, hotels, pizza and Leonard Cohen. When he takes my call Martin Miller is relaxing at an outdoor table in a café near … Continue reading
Spicy food and G&T – a marriage made in heaven Nov 2008
Siew Yen Chong shares her recipes for easy to make spicy Asian snacks that conjure up memories of lazy days in the tropical sun. Wait for sundown. Put your feet up, G&T in hand and reach for that crispy anchovy … Continue reading
Camper’s Rock Star Life Nov 2008
Camper English is the author of ‘How to Party Like a Rock Star – Even when You’re Poor as Dirt’ so who better to consult on money saving secrets and top mixology tips. There’s this thing called a credit crunch … Continue reading
Fentimans Tonic Oct 2008
Geraldine Coates takes a look at the boutique tonic water that is stirring up G and Ts. Gin and Tonic is as quintessentially English as bacon and eggs or tea and cucumber sandwiches. With the sharp piney flavour of juniper … Continue reading
Gin – good for cooking too! Sep 2008
With the Autumn nights drawing in there’s no better way to liven up your evenings than with a dash of gin in your cooking. Juliet Lawrence Wilson shows how versatile an ingredient your favourite tipple can be. Juniper and Orange … Continue reading
Where great thinkers drink… Sep 2008
In the first of an occasional series, Juliet Lawrence Wilson looks at the heyday of one of the world’s most famous watering holes… The Algonquin Hotel, New York City The Algonquin Hotel or “The Gonk”, to the locals … Continue reading
Charlotte Voisey – the best is yet to come Aug 2008
UK mixologist Charlotte Voisey is taking the USA by storm and she tells Gintime about her Stateside adventures. My favourite time behind the bar is when it is really busy and I am in the zone, where everything is moving … Continue reading
Audrey Saunders – the First Lady of Mixology Aug 2008
Audrey Saunders’s energy is as invigorating as her cocktails. Juliet Lawrence Wilson meets a woman of integrity and passion. “I feel so ashamed just looking at it!” Audrey Saunders is not happy: “My ice machine needs fixing. We had to … Continue reading
Dancin’ and Drinkin’ with Lenny Love Aug 2008
Miss Martini catches up with cocktail loving, husky voiced, legend, Lenny Love as he prepares for the month long marathon that is the Edinburgh Festival. With his swinging tunes and eclectic style, Lenny Love never fails to get hipsters on … Continue reading
Lipstick, Cocktails and Burlescapes Jun 2008
Miss Lilly White shares her secrets with Miss Martini Describe the atmosphere of one of your Burlescapades evenings. I started Burlescapades because there was nowhere in Edinburgh where grown-ups could get really dressed up, enjoy champagne and cocktails, and see … Continue reading
Peculiarly Potent Cocktails at Tempus Jun 2008
Chris Deacon from Tempus in Edinburgh tells Gintime about his explosive new cocktail list. Edinburgh’s a great place for a mixologist to be at the moment. There are loads of great bartenders doing exciting things. When I started out I … Continue reading
Sean Harrison Jun 2008
Sean Harrison is in charge at the UK’s oldest Gin Distillery and is savouring every moment. Juliet Lawrence Wilson meets him. Imagine being given a secret – a big one! Since 1793 only a handful of people have known the … Continue reading
Nick Blacknell- It doesn’t get better! May 2008
Nick Blacknell, Beefeater Brand Director, gives Juliet Lawrence Wilson the low down on Cowboys, Marilyn and his iconic brand. “It’s not a question of there being too many, more like there still aren’t enough!” Some would be tempted to cast … Continue reading
Desmond Payne, Master Distiller for Beefeater May 2008
Desmond Payne, Master Distiller for Beefeater, celebrated 40 years in the industry on 11 September 2007. Gintime got the lowdown from the world’s most experienced gin Master Distiller. So Desmond how did it all begin? DP: I fell into distilling … Continue reading
It’s always time for tea at The Hoxton Pony May 2008
Gerry Calabrese takes time out from opening Shoreditch’s latest bar to talk to Gintime about, tea parties, pie and mash and rock n’ roll. I’m really hoping Gordon Brown will pop into The Hoxton Pony someday soon. I’d make him … Continue reading
The Great Edinburgh Cocktail Trail May 2008
Edinburgh is now recognised as having the best bars in the UK outside London. George Street and its environs is the epicentre of the cocktail scene and the best place to start your Gintime cocktail odyssey is at the Forth … Continue reading
What’s in a name – London Dry Gin Apr 2008
Nowadays most bottles of high quality gin, the kind Gintime is interested in, will carry the wording ‘London Dry Gin’ on the label. There are some exceptions, of which more later. Why London and why Dry? For the answers to … Continue reading
Forza Italia! Mar 2008
The Negroni is la dolce vita in a glass summoning up images of all that is best about Italy and the Italian way of life. It’s an exquisitely simple drink made from gin, Campari and sweet vermouth either in equal … Continue reading
Seasonal Drinking Feb 2008
Drinking seasonally is fast becoming as commonplace as eating seasonally making full use of ingredients that are available locally in abundance. Now, just as restaurants change their menus to reflect the different seasons, so too do the best bars who … Continue reading
Gintime’s Top Party Tips Dec 2007
We love the reindeers and the robins, the snow and the sparkle and we particularly love the presents and treats. But let’s be honest the best thing about Christmas is that it’s Party Time. Whether you’re having a few friends … Continue reading
Sloe down for winter Nov 2007
Sloe Gin is a British liqueur, which is traditionally drunk neat as a warming drink in winter. It’s a combination of gin and sloe berries, the fruit of prunus spinosa, the blackthorn tree that grows wild throughout the UK. The … Continue reading
Matching food with Plymouth Gin Oct 2007
Gin drinks are generally seen as a prelude to food because they do what an aperitif or sundowner does best which is to sharpen and refresh the palate. Since Asian and Pacific Rim styles of cuisine have become popular gin … Continue reading
Blackwood’s Vintage 60 Aug 2007
With gin currently on a roll and lots of brands experimenting with their botanicals recipes to create new and unusual gins, it’s good news to hear that Gintime Gin Brand Blackwood’s has come up with something completely different. In fact … Continue reading
The Iconic Martini Jul 2007
It’s a brave act to add a single word to all the many thousands that have been written about the Martini. Whole books have been written about it: cultural theories have been dedicated to it: people have come to blows … Continue reading
Dutch Courage – a short history of Dutch Jenever Jun 2007
Dutch Jenever is the first cousin of English gin. Both are juniper flavoured distillates of alcohol and they share a common ancestry and a common birthplace – the Low Countries – Holland and Belgium on today’s maps but one country until the … Continue reading
Gin Palaces May 2007
In the 19th Century the consumption of beer was actively encouraged as a counterpart to the gin mania of the previous century. By 1836 there were 56,000 licensed beer shops in England and Wales. Many of these were ramshackle dives … Continue reading
London Dry? … Not Always Apr 2007
Almost every bottle of gin carries the description ‘London Dry’ and an astonishing fact in the history of the relationship between London and gin is that by 1790 London was producing 90% of English gin. A trade directory of 1794 … Continue reading
Gintime visits the Hendrick’s Gin Distillery Feb 2007
As all true gin lovers know, every brand of premium gin has its own complex and sophisticated range of aromas and tastes. Partly that is to do with the different botanicals used in the recipe. Juniper is always present (the … Continue reading
Plymouth Gin – The Adventurer Jan 2007
Plymouth Gin is one of the oldest and most revered gin brands in the world. Indeed it is the only one still made at its original distillery at Black Friars in the medieval heart of Plymouth. By law, Plymouth Gin … Continue reading
Gin Madness – We’ve Been Here Before Jan 2007
By the beginning of the eighteenth century deregulation of the English distilling industry meant that vast quantities of cheap gin were readily available and, for the first time, the English became a nation where spirits were widely drunk. The urban … Continue reading
