Just the tonic: discover local gin distilleries

Where it all started

Who do we need to thank for bringing gin to our shores? It’s the Dutch. Dr Sylvius de la Boea created the tipple in the late 1500s – ‘gin’ derives from jeneverbes, the Dutch for its key ingredient, juniper.  English soldiers developed a taste for gin while fighting in the Netherlands (hence the phrase Dutch courage), and brought it home on their return. By the mid-1700s, the drink was so popular in Britain that it led to a public disorder crisis, resulting in regulation, improved quality and the popularity of ‘gin palace’ bars.

Ones to watch

Innovation is the name of the game in today’s gin world. Take Berkshire Botanical, for example. This artisan distiller crafts its wares with handpicked juniper berries, then infuses them with flavour combinations like rhubarb and raspberry, honey and orange blossom, or dandelion and burdock. They’re available at Yattendon Village Stores, and you’ll recognise them thanks to beautifully-illustrated bottles which depict badgers and owls dressed in tweed – founder Pete Lumber commissioned a Bristol graffiti artist to design the label motifs. 

Yattendon Village Stores, 1 The Square, Yattendon, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 0UF

Mix like a pro

It’s never too late to go back to school – gin school, that is. Discover how gin is made in 137 Distillery’s new tasting room, designed for events for up to 16 guests or for private hire. You can also sip a G&T during a masterclass hosted by Gorilla Spirits Co., during which you’ll mix two cocktails in the venue’s hidden speakeasy bar. Or you could design your own flavour, bottle and label to take home with you.