Earlsfield in South West London, tucked between the much better known Clapham and Wimbledon, is my home. It has also been home to Ben’s Canteen since 2014, which has for the past years been our go-to for brunch, countless dinners with friends and hosting big birthday parties. Now it’s entering a new chapter and has evolved into Bloody Bens bar, distillery and kitchen. I caught up with founder Ben Walton to talk about his latest venture.
Each year, coinciding with World Gin Day, more than 70 distilleries from all around the world descend on London for the Junipalooza gin festival. It’s Christmas day for gin fans across the country.
Having experienced New Zealand‘s breathtaking beauty at the end of 2018 we wanted to travel somewhere a little closer to home that might offer some similarities. As neither Kirstin or I had been to the Highlands before we decided on flying to Inverness in Scotland to stay in the beautiful Muckrach Country House Hotel in Speyside, at the north west of the Cairngorms (the largest national park in the UK).
Beefeater is one of the most iconic drinks brands in the world. You see it behind almost every bar, no matter where you are.
New Zealand may be a small country, but its gins are slowly but surely making their mark on a global scale.
While my wife and I were travelling around New Zealand, we were fortunate to meet Joerg Henkenhaf, distiller and founder of Broken Heart gin, at his home near Queenstown. Broken Heart’s story has been told many times, so it was great to chat to Joerg more about his gins and how he created them.
Much has been said about Tanqueray’s Flor De Sevilla gin. The 180-year old brand released its latest gin earlier this year, and it’s been flying off the shelves and filling up my Instagram feed ever since.
Inspired by the beautiful Gower Peninsular in South Wales, the first area in the UK to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Gŵyr is a bold new gin that you won’t forget.
One of my local gins also happens to be one of my favourites. South West London’s Graveney Gin has its home in Tooting Market, and it’s there where you’ll find their small but perfectly formed gin bar.
Deep in the heart of Western Australia’s wine country you’ll find Margaret River Distilling Co, one of the distilleries I profiled in my previous blog. It’s not the sort of place you expect to find a distillery, nestled between vineyards and surrounded by karri trees, but we made sure to stop by on our way through the town.
Advent calendars are one of the best things about Christmas. That build up of excitement each day that gets you out of bed when it’s dark and rainy outside. There’s not much that can beat chocolate at doing that, but gin just might…
