Gin

[Zosherooney]

Earth, thank you for this link. Laverstoke Mill used to be a place where they printed bank notes back in the past. I used to travel that road every day for a year when I was at Basingstoke tech. I am currently suggesting to our community bus peeps a possible trip over for all the gin lovers !!!!

[Zosherooney]

This is where you can see some of the herbs and spices growing, it's very warm in here, would not mind this as my new greenhouse !

There are various Bombay Sapphire experiences available, I chose the least expensive, £15 for me and £13.50 for the old geezer ! I initially sucked in air sharply but now am happy to wax lyrical about our experience - good value. It is still a work in progress but very discreet, and some of the buildings tell a historic tale. Its location is beautiful, set on a chalk river in Test Valley. You do need to book ahead, no good just turning up. Without going into huge detail, JUST GO! We were highly impressed with the 2 hour tour, the information was in-depth and very interesting. I knew some but there is a lot more. There is a BS drink in with the price of your ticket, and a non alcho. one for the driver (me) but I got a take away (Gin and Fevertree) to bring home. Got a bit carried away in the shop !!! Bought Star of Bombay - Scrum-Delish A Collins glass (it's blue at the bottom) !

The staff are very well versed in their subject and are genuinely enthusiastic about the product. I do believe the owner of BS who are Bacardi have spent a HUGE amount of dosh on making this a really good hands on experience. If you know you are going to be in the area, try and book, you are in for a treat.

I organised a coolbox picnic and we managed to find a nice spot to sit overlooking a trout lake in Longparish... A thoroughly wonderful day.

[Zosherooney]

I'm still practising my latest sizing skill in the photo dept. This one is of the designer (think, Channel) examples of gin drinking vessels at Bombay Sapphire distillery. The pared glass lemon rind forms the stem of the glass, staggering beautiful !

[hickybank]

That sounds a great place to visit Zosh & that glass is simply stunning, at £15 that is great value for money to.

[earthmaiden]

Can't wait to go there!!

[Zosherooney]

A fab experience. I am glad we went in July, although it was cloudy we were able to sit next to the river and drink our cocktails outside.

[Zosherooney]

I went to a large S'bugs yesterday and they had Ophir on offer they also had Fever tree at a reasonable price, I do enjoy a 'special' G&T at this festive time of year.

[Zosherooney]

I bought a bottle of Portabello gin and that is very nice. The local one is Ramsbury and that is very savoury, a slice of apple compliments it well.

[StokeySue]

[scullion]

re-distill - i suppose the word 'rectify' doesn't sound so good, does it‽

[StokeySue]

I don't think it counts as rectification if you deliberately add impurities (aromatics)?

[scullion]

i was under the impression that it was.

[Zosherooney]

Bought a bottle of Bloom gin the other day and also ASDA had an offer on Fevertree tonics - nice treat ! Chin Chin !!!

[smitch]

Bloom gin is nice with sliced strawberries added to the glass.

[Zosherooney]

Hmm, not sure my bottle will last that long, till my strawberries fruit.....

[StokeySue]

Bloom, unsurprisingly given the name, is too floral for my taste

I started my Rhubarb Gin yesterday, using Aldi's Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin. I have a reminder in my calendar to strain it in two weeks!

[cyprusmoira]

[Zosherooney]

Today I discovered Tanqueray have brought out a Seville orange gin..........Mmmmmm! Thank you Bank of Dad.....not cheap but it is a festive time now. The back label gave no indication of how to serve it and the manager says it is good with ginger ale and golly she is right !!!! Enjoy my fiends

[WWordsworth]

I will be enjoying a G & T this evening.
Late MIL would have been 92 today and it was her tipple.

[Seatallan]

Cheers WW- you deserve it

[Zosherooney]

Yesterdays (blue) gin that fell into my shopping basket was from Lidls and was the last bottle on the shelf. Wild Burrow Irish gin - enhances with botanicals from Rabbit Island, West Cork. Scrum-delish

[WWordsworth]

Currently enjoying a gin with Fever Tree cucumber tonic.
Delicious.
The tonic will be a lovely unsweet soft drink in the summer.

[earthmaiden]

I've got 6 bottles of beer - real ale from another part of the country. It's best before date is Aug 2018.

What will happen to it after this date? Is it drinkable? I'm assuming so.

[StokeySue]

The beer will almost certainly be ok, as in safe

However all fizzy drinks tend to lose their oomph past the BBD and disappointingly you pour one out, it froths up and you think it’s fine, them 2 minutes later the foam dies away and you are left with completely flat beer or pop

So the answer is actually suck it and see

[earthmaiden]

That's along the lines of what I thought - thank you! Not sure how this ended up on a gin thread but never mind!

[Bubbles]

Have just bought my first bottle of flavoured gin - Aldi's Seville Orange and Persian Lime. Will report back when I have tried it.

[Bubbles]

Lovely! Very refreshing, had it with a slice of lime, lots of ice, and Fentimans Valencian Tonic. Will be a great simmer drink!