The Gin Society sounds like
a very niche club and housing its festival in the opulence of Manchester
Cathedral, conjures images of sophistication which might be above that of most
people’s aspirations. However, what you
get is a very warm welcome to an event for anyone over the age of 18. The backdrop of the Cathedral is stunning;
from the glistening organ pipes over the central bar area to the middle class
ladies sipping gin in one of the side altars, set up as a quiet zone with comfy
chairs and chilled out ambience.
The service staff of the
event are a team brought in from an agency, who provide bar service to these events
nationally and they really know how to serve the most uninformed gin
drinkers, by explaining which gin is which and how they are best served. I chatted to one of them called Paddy, on the
world gin bar and he was very humble in his admittance of ‘having done his
homework’. The staff all knew what they
are talking about because they’ve studied the programme, read the gin briefs
and learnt what the best accompaniments are. It really helped that they had the class to make you feel at ease in your
own ignorance!
This sense of hospitality
was apparent from the minute you walked through the doors until you left. Everyone I spoke to was so willing to impart
their knowledge about the gins, the distilling process and any question you
asked, they had the answers and were happy to share their knowledge with you.
So who goes to a gin festival? This was such an eclectic bunch, from the
thirty-something girls’ night out propping up the gin cocktail bar, to the
connoisseurs in the gin masterclasses, held every half hour. We were complete novices to this type of
event, despite having partaken in one or two G&Ts over the years, we
certainly didn’t feel we were experts!
But one thing was for certain, it’s a great night out and you really do
come away from the event feeling that you’ve enjoyed yourself, learnt so much,
acquired a new taste and respect for gin as well as supported some fantastic
new local businesses!
One such business was the
Brindley Distillery in Chorley, producers of the brand ‘Cuckoo Gin’. Gin maker Tom gave a masterclass on their
three best gins, whilst regaling us with the company’s background; how a
family of farmers hit hard times in the 1980s recession and turned to
gin as a source of income because they already produced the ingredients. As
part of the masterclass, we sampled all three gins neat - something I never
thought I’d do! It soon became apparent
that I too was capable of deciphering between different gins; .in fact by that
point of the evening, I had become quite the expert on most things!
One of the great things
about an event like this is the opportunity for small businesses to advertise
their wares and for us all to appreciate how hard they work to make their
produce. Local distillers ‘Four Sisters’
are based in Salford Quays and are run by, as the brand would suggest, four
sisters. Their strawberry gin was to die
for, but they were also the only company using paper instead of small plastic
taster cups, a nod and a wink to another stall selling their reusable
non-plastic straws. This environmentally
friendly approach was yet another sign of how the gin industry is embracing the
21st century.
Of all the producers, I
think the most inspiring story of the evening was from gin makers ‘Whitby’ from
(you guessed it) Whitby. Partners, in
life and business, Jessica and Luke came to an event last year and attended a
masterclass on gin making. They had an
appreciation for gin but Jess, working for the British Medical Council and
Luke, working for Heinz, gave it all up to start their business. I asked Luke,
if you can make a living from producing gin and he told me that he had asked
the same question last year and was given the answer, ‘You may never drive a
Lamborghini’ by a man he watched drive away in an Audi. So who knows which side of the table I’ll be
on next year? Most likely under it, with
my new found love of gin!
The event happens twice
yearly and runs on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and night (but you have
to buy separate tickets if you want to go to all of the sessions). For the cost of a ticket, you get a decent
gin glass to use throughout the evening and take home at the end, numerous gin
tasters from around the world, the opportunity of 5 gin masterclasses and
entertainment from a live cabaret act. It’s a great event and one which I’d happily
go back to with friends again and again.
Reportage - Johanna Hassouna-Smith
on - 14/9/18
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