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October 19, 2017
International Gin and Tonic Day: the Printing Press has chosen today to unveil its own small batch, Scottish gin, The Principal.
International Gin and Tonic Day: the Printing Press has chosen today to unveil its own small batch, Scottish gin, The Principal.

Apparently, today is International Gin and Tonic Day.

Who knew?

Not that we are knocking it. It is always good to have another reason to mix a G ‘n’ T.

If you could use a good gin and tonic at the end of your working day, here are some places you might like to try this International Gin and Tonic Day.

This evening, The Editor’s Bar at The Printing Press in Edinburgh is launching its own gin.

A Scottish, small batch gin, The Principal Gin has ‘the initial flavours of a traditional London Dry Gin’ and also shows ‘fresh crisp juniper combined with zingy Spanish citrus notes’.

There is a free tasting in the bar from 6pm to 9pm. The bar tenders will also be selling Principal Gin and Tonics for a fiver plus Negronis, Aviations, Brambles and Martinis for £7.95.

Twist it for International Gin and Tonic Day

International Gin and Tonic Day
Fancy a Green Goblin? Hit The Finnieston.

If you are on the other side of the M8, you could drop in at The Finnieston and try their Green Goblin, a twist on the trad G ‘n’ T.

Kained, the owners of The Finnieston, worked with Bombay Sapphire and Gregor Leckie, founder of Rapscallion and Raw Soda, to create a soda that would pair perfectly with the gin.

The resulting soda features ingredients wood avens root, sweet cicely seed, sorrel leaf, granny smith apple and lime zest.

The aim was to produce a balance of sweet, sour, spice and bitter that perfectly complements the botanicals in the gin.

We are told that the soda, is bright and zesty on the nose but spicy and dry on the finish.

We’re sold.

Specialist gin bars

Of course, there are lots of 5pm Dining bars and restaurants that specialise in gin.

Honourable mentions go to 56 North and One Square in Edinburgh. Both of them have extensive gin collections and take great care to serve them with the best mixers and garnishes.

We should also point towards Gin71 in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Not only are they gin experts, they also offer food menus which use the spirit and the botanicals which flavour it.

In Glasgow’s Princess Square, you might want to seek out The Juniper which takes over the Cranachan premises in the evening.

They specialise in Scottish gins, especially those from Eden Mill and Edinburgh Gin.

Gin Big Deals

Another option is the beGIN bar on Byres Road. We currently have a Big Deal with them.

The offer is for two people to each have a flight of three Scottish gins along with nut and olive nibbles.

Using a selection of three Scottish gins paired perfectly with mixers and garnishes, the flight is designed to let you compare and contrast the gins’ different flavours and tastes. It costs £28.

Gin enthusiasts may also want to investigate this Big Deal on entry to the Scottish Gantry Gin Festival in Edinburgh. It takes place in Akva on Saturday 25th November 2017.

Last but not least, you could have your very own private gin tasting with this Big Deal from Stirling Gin.

This Handpicked Deal is for up to ten people to have a 90 minute, private Stirling Gin experience.

Available within a 40-mile radius of Stirling (Edinburgh and Glasgow are included), the drinks company will come to your home, work or venue and set up their masterclass.

Chin chin! Here’s to your good health and International Gin and Tonic Day.