Attention gin fanatics! This summer, Nicholson’s 78 pubs across the UK – including the Bacchus Bar, The Old Comtemptibles, The Shakespeare Inn and The Shakespeare in Birmingham – celebrate all things gin with their largest annual GinFest to date, launching on Monday 24th July and running until the end of August. The summer-long festivities will showcase 38 premium gin brands along with a bespoke Barrel-Aged Tanqueray Festival Gin, created exclusively for the festival. An action-packed programme of masterclasses, gin gigs, gin tours, secret gin parties and a raft of social media giveaways promises to get festival-goers into the gin-swing of things.
The secret is out (one of them!) Nicholson’s love of gin goes way back – founder William Nicholson started his career by running the family gin distillery in London and Nicholson’s are still serving the best gins in many of its original gin palaces today. Nicholson’s have teamed up with iconic brand Tanqueray, adding its highly-awarded spirit to re-purposed whisky barrels for an aged gin with sweet, caramel and vanilla notes. Just 400 litres are available and once it’s gone, it’s gone – so be sure to catch it while you can!
Gin-galore! Gin aficionados will have an excuse to visit their local time and time again as more gin brands than ever participate with the festival. In addition to Barrel-Aged Tanqueray Festival Gin, 38 high-end gins will be on offer including 14 new entries. There’s a range of Navy-Strength (over-proof style gins historically linked to the navy); and Old Toms that herald from the 1700s when gin laws were passed to curb the gin drinking habits on London’s streets. At this time, gin consumption was forced underground – becoming available in secret ‘Puss and Mew’ shops identified by an iconic cat on the door known as ‘Old Tom’.
Watch out for the ‘black cat’ in your local Nicholson’s pub for clues revealing the location of your very own Secret Gin Party. Keep your cat’s eyes peeled…
Also making an appearance is Nicholson Gin* relaunching this summer and a variety of flavour-led gins including Tarquin’s Cornish Blackberry; Williams Sloe & Mulberry and Warner Edwards Victoria’s Rhubarb. British boutique brands on show include Cotswolds Distillery, Silent Pool, City of London Distillery and Peckham’s very own Little Bird.
Teetotallers won’t be excluded from the party as Seedlip, the world’s first premium non-alcoholic spirit, solving the dilemma of ‘what to drink, when you’re not drinking’ will be a prominent feature throughout #GinFest2017.
What’s Going On? The brands involved in #GinFest2017 really are taking this festival business to the next level. Watch out for exclusive events such as ‘Little Bird Fly By’ 1940’s party and the Sipsmith’s Gin Cab, out in full force in Nicholson’s pubs with outdoor spaces. Fever Tree will also be ‘popping up’ in pubs and watch out for a visit from Hendrick’s Cucumber Couriers. For a truly immersive experience, the likes of Cotswolds
Distillery, Tarquins, Bathtub Old Tom and Chase will be doing full pub take-overs with masterclasses, sampling and secret gin parties.
#InItToGinIt Don’t forget to download the Nicholson’s app for your ultimate guide to gin this summer, brimming with festival info and prizes including a ‘Spin to Win Gin’ game. Fancy a whole bottle at your local or a twonight break for two (worth more than £1,500) to the City of London Distillery? Sure you do! Follow @Nicholsonspubs on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and watch out for the #InItToGinIt and #GinOclock posts for your chance to win fabulous gin-worthy gifts.
For a gin-sational roster of events, parties and giveaways, head to your local Nicholson’s this summer. Visit www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/ginfestival for further details.
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