Above: Gintastic fun at Junipalooza
Cancel anything non-juniper related, this weekend is all about gin. And that’s official. Ever since Neil Houston had the genius idea to dedicate a day to his favourite spirit seven years ago and fellow gin lover Emma Stokes took over the reins in 2013, World Gin Day has become a mega event on the drinks calendar.
Today there are celebrations taking place all over the place including a Great Gin Challenge at Bass & Flinders Distillery in Melbourne, World Gin Day Festival in Antwerp, gin party at Ham & Sherry in Hong Kong and for anyone in Chicago, there’s a World Gin Day party taking place there as well.
Around the UK you can join in the fun at Gin Festival in Newcastle where you’ll find gins from 80 makers, plus an packed programme of events. In Leeds there’s Gintura in Pintura, Scottish Juniper Festival in Edinburgh, A Very British Afternoon Tea Party in Reading and Gin in June in Birmingham
In London there’s Junipalooza, a two-day gin-tastic affair featuring 24 gin makers from around the world showing off their wares. Expect tastings, masterclasses and lip smackingly good gin cocktails. There’s a World Gin Day Voyage with Shake, Rattle & Stir, gin and dating with Speeddater, gin prescriptions and travelling the world at Opium Chinatown, home made gin infusions at the Four Thieves, masterclasses at Merchant House and Portobello Star will be hosting a pop-up gin stall.
For all details see the World Gin Day website.
Can’t make it out? No worries, join in the party at home with a simply stylish Whitley Cape 75.
50ml Whitley Neill Gin
25ml sugar syrup
6 crushed cape gooseberries
25ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
Champagne
Method:
Shake all the ingredients, apart from the champagne, with ice and fine strain into a chilled coupette glass. Top with the champagne.
