It’s World Gin Day on Saturday 8th June, and we’re all very excited about it.
Here at Virgin Wines HQ, we’re lucky enough to be able to get our hands on all sorts of fabulous gins inspired by different parts of the world. And with World Gin Day on the horizon, what a great excuse to crack open some bottles and sample a few of these beauties (as if we need an excuse). We’ve put together a little guide on the best garnishes to pair with these gins, which will take you on a mini taste tour of the globe. Enjoy!
Swedish inspired – Herno Old Tom Gin
First up is the Herno Old Tom Gin. It’s a sweet and floral Swedish gin, with touches of honey, sugar and extra meadowsweet. Keep this gin classic and refreshing by topping with tonic and garnishing with a little lemon zest and juniper berries. And if you want to make it extra special, chuck on some dried rose petals for good measure. Not only will this compliment the floral notes of the gin wonderfully, it looks great in photos too!
South African inspired – Whitley Neill Gin
Next we’ve got the Whitley Neill Gin. This dry gin contains two African botanicals, Cape Gooseberries and Baobab fruit, and has a finish of candied lemon, herbs and cocoa. This scrumptious blend works perfectly with a generous wedge of grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary in your G&T. The subtle yet exotic flavours that come through are a real treat for the taste buds.
Tuscan inspired – Uncle Val’s Botanicals Gin
Immerse yourself in the flavours of Italy with Uncle Val’s Botanicals Gin. Taking inspiration from Tuscan gardens and cuisine, this flavoursome American gin can be paired with a number of garnishes, but for something a little different we recommend cucumber and lavender to give it a refreshing and floral edge.
Asian inspired – Distil 31 Goose Neck London Dry Gin
Add tonic, lemongrass and chilli garnish to Distil 31 Goose Neck London Dry to create an Asian inspired tipple. This classic London Dry gin is a delicious base for any G&T, and we should know, as it’s a craft gin we actually created ourselves (with a little help from expert distiller Richard Marsden). Our team have produced a beautiful juniper heavy gin with notes of star anise, orris root, citrus, celery and Chinese cinnamon. It’s a great base for experimenting with more adventurous botanicals, which is why we love pairing it with spicy garnishes. The lemongrass and chilli blend is also great if you’re a fan of Vietnamese flavours.
See more details of our Distil 31 Goose Neck London Dry Gin
English – Sipsmith Orange and Cacao Gin
The zesty and chocolatey Sipsmith Orange and Cacao Gin is delicious all on its own, with notes of rich dark chocolate, vanilla and marmalade. We’ve decided to keep this English gin simple with a little orange peel to really bring out that citrus kick. Being such a flavoursome gin, it really doesn’t need much else! And for all the chocolate lovers out there, you can of course enjoy some chocolate with this G&T, which will work just as well with those mouth-watering flavours.
See more details of our Sipsmith Orange and Cacao Gin.
Have a little browse of our full gin range here
