Gin and London nightlife

the perfect cocktail

London’s love affair with gin began, approximately, in 1720 but it had been readily available since the time of the Glorious Revolution in 1688 when the English monarch James 11 was deposed. His successor William III brought the drink with him from Rotterdam, and soon enough the Dutch spirit had supplanted the taste for ‘suspect’ French brandies. A new term was invented, as the soldiers of William's army were encouraged to imbibe 'Dutch courage' before going into action. At the time you could buy gin literally anywhere.

London’s predilection with this particular form of strong liquor ebbed and flowed over the subsequent decades and centuries where today it is experiencing something of a renaissance and it doesn’t seem to be waning. There’s barely a bar in town that’s yet to embrace the craze for the juniipered beverage.

I was lucky enough to receive the give the gift of a ‘gin tasting’ at the London Gin Club just off Tottenham Court Road. It is clearly a very popular place judging by the amount of people they turned away but at £30 for an hour’s session it’s a luxurious way to kick off the evenings entertainment. We were each given our chosen four small sample bottles of gin replete with drinking instructions and condiments (a slice of grapefruit, sprig of thyme etc.). Together with not too much tonic we mixed and imbibed using a voluminous glass bowl with plenty of ice. The gins all came with their unique stories, bibliographies and drinking instructions and we both tasted and quaffed in equal measure. In conclusion it was all very pleasant and not being a gin aficionado I soon succumbed to a unique mellowing/tongue loosening experience. Not that I was on a romantic assignation at the time but if you wanted to kick off a first date and test your compatibility this would be a sure way to do it.

After an hour or so we both departed this great little gin shop in London’s throbbing west end to discuss our findings. I can heartily recommend the venue to kick off your evening but remember don’t be too stingy with the tonic if you are not one for hard liquor.

Chris Marlowe

TripTide User