Every day it seems it gets easier to buy a bottle of the gorgeous London Gin. It’s now available at Selfridges Food Hall in London and at Glasgow and Edinburgh Peckham stores. What are you waiting for?

Calling all bartenders! Don’t forget Sunday 15th June is the date of the Hendrick’s Bartenders’ Croquet Championships 2008 in Bedford Square Gardens. Contact Louis Xavier Lewis-Smith, esteemed Hendrick’s UK Brand Ambassador, at louis@first-drinks-brands.co.uk for more information on teams, running order etc.

• For more info see: www.hendricksgin.co.uk

‘Beefeater – The Story of London’s Gin’ was selected as the best piece of creative work produced by a Scottish Agency at the Scottish Design Consultancy of the Year Awards It was designed and published by Contagious and written by renowned spirits writer Geraldine Coates. It illustrates beautifully the journey of gin from Salerno in Italy to London, the city considered to be home of gin, telling the story of the growth of London Dry Gin, and Beefeater’s role as an iconic brand in London since the 1860s. It also includes information on production, cocktails old and new and a guide to the best gin bars in London. Elegantly designed and produced with stunning imagery, some of which was sourced at the Distillery’s extensive archive, the book will be used to educate and influence bartenders and distributors from Spain to the West Coast of America, two key markets for Beefeater Gin.

Matt Chapman, design director at Contagious, said, “this was a fantastic project to work on and we had a great team who were totally committed to achieving an outstanding piece of work. Given the talent throughout the Scottish Design Industry at present, we are delighted to pick up this award.” Scotland’s top 25 agencies submitted 6 of their best pieces of work from 2007, and the judging panel, consisting of clients from the public and private sector, selected the Beefeater Book from the 150 designs on offer.

Here’s something for all Scottish Gintimers. We’re running a series of Tutored Tastings at this year’s Channel 4 sponsored Taste of Edinburgh from Thursday 29th May to Sunday 1st June. The Tutored Tastings will focus on Hendrick’s, Martin Miller’s, Seagrams, Tanqueray, The London Gin and Whitley Neill. Goodie bags containing minis of the gins tasted will be available to take away. Come and find us at the delicious tent on the following dates:

• Thursday 29th May - 7.00 pm
• Friday 28th May - 2.30 and 6.00 pm
• Saturday 30th May - 2.30 and 6.00 pm
• Sunday 1st June - 3.00 pm

See the Taste of Edinburgh website

Gintime in association with The Drinks Business, is hosting Gintime Tutored Tastings at this year’s Distil, a new spirits focused addition to the London International Wine Fair 2008. The Tutored Tastings are designed to demonstrate the range and diversity within premium gin and explore brands’ individual personalities. They will be led by Geraldine Coates and will focus on leading gin brands Beefeater, Hendrick’s, Martin Miller’s, Plymouth, Tanqueray, The London Gin and Whitley Neill. Goodie bags containing minis of all the gin tasted will be available to take away. Entry is free but limited. To be sure of a place, send us an email at info@gintime.com .

• Tues 20th May 16.45 – 17.15 in the Ambassador’s Suite
• Wed 21st May 11.30 – 12.15 in the Distil Tasting Theatre

Venue: Distil,
London International Wine and Spirit Fair,
ExCeL London, Victoria Docks,
London E16 1XL (View Map )

Gin connoisseurs across the US are in for a treat as the award winning Plymouth Sloe Gin has just become available in thirteen markets across the country. Previously only available in Australia and the UK, Plymouth Sloe Gin is a welcome addition to the resurgence of classic cocktails at the most prestigious bars and lounges from New York to Los Angeles.

“We are thrilled to bring the distinctive taste of Plymouth Sloe Gin to the United States for the first time since it was introduced in 1883,” says Sean Harrison, Plymouth’s master distiller. “It is very exclusive and in high demand because it is made in limited batches to ensure superb quality”

Sunday 15th June, Bedford Square, London
Tweed trousers, Panama hat and polished monocle at the ready, Britain’s best bartenders will once again meet at Hendrick’s Bartender’s Croquet Championships 2008 – the fifth annual event – as it returns to Bedford Square Gardens in London on Sunday 15th June 2008. Last year saw 80 of the world’s best bartenders enjoy what has become an unmissable day out in the international bartendering calendar. Bar managers, owners and spirits evangelists are invited to cheer on their favourite sportsmen as they step forward and challenge the skills of our defending champion, Britain’s own David Piper.

Martin Miller’s Gin is co sponsor of Kew Gardens’ annual “Party for the Planet” Summer Swing and will have a fantastic stand serving Gin and Tonics with a twist such as the "The Percy Thrower" G&T a fab combination of Martin Miller’s Gin, Fevertree Tonic and a large sprig of lemon thyme, a common herb found in the Gardens. With an all-star bill of music legends, there’ll be non-stop dancing at Kew Garden’s hugely popular series of open air picnic and fireworks concerts. The line up reads:

Celebrating cocktails from the 1900s to the1950s Hendrick’s Gin in association with the Paris Experimental Cocktail Club regularly host ‘The Fantastic & Ridiculous Monday of The Unusual Rose and Cucumber Society’ - a series of flamboyant and exquisitely decadent Victorian events - in cities across the world. Expect the unexpected, and more, at these ‘most unusual soirees’; tales of extravagant costumes, a private bar in a horse drawn carriage and drinking gin in teacups! The next evening of nostalgic excess salutes the work of one of Britain’s greatest wits and most revered literary writers; Oscar Wilde. Held at a secret location in Cannes on May 20, this is sure to be the ‘hottest’ ticket in town.

In May 2008, Beefeater will launch its first major consumer promotion since the brand re-launched in January 2007. For a limited period the distinctive, recently redesigned Beefeater bottle will be showcased in a limited edition gift pack, featuring the ‘Forever London’ creative imagery used in Beefeater’s current advertising campaign. The promotion has been created to sustain the momentum behind Beefeater by driving sales in key off-trade accounts. Consumers will receive a Beefeater postcard with a unique entry code that can be entered on a promotional website.