So let’s talk gin – the new Gin Masterclass at the G & Tea lounge is a must do on the bucket list for any gin lover…
Gin, the drink of choice for so many has in recent years been transformed; the Gin scene has taken off in London in a big way, engendering many speciality gin bars. Gin hasn’t always been the star of the party and has had somewhat of a murky past, after almost a 200 year hiatus gin is making a comeback; So why do we love Gin so much? We think being able to customise the classic G&T is the answer. In recent years the flavour infusion into Gin is phenomenal whether it’s a sweet, earthy, fresh or zingy flavour that gets your taste buds tingling there’s a G&T for you. To experiment with this, head to the Marriott Gin Masterclass at the G & Tea Lounge where you will get the chance to learn about and try three different gins, infused with your choice of ingredients.
Gin, for those who don’t know is a clear spirit which derives its distinct and refreshing flavour predominantly from Juniper berries, however what makes each gin so distinctive is the unique combination of other botanicals added either prior or after distillation.
Where is the gin masterclass?
The Marriott Gin Masterclass takes place in the G & Tea Lounge in the Marriott Canary Wharf. It is set in the hub that is canary wharf quayside, only a couple of minutes walk along the river from the nearest tube. The G & Tea Lounge has stunning views of the river where you can watch the world go by in a cosy yet vibrant atmosphere, perfect for a night of gin drinking in store.
THe Ginspiration experience
The G and Tea Lounge is the ideal setting for the Marriott Gin Masterclass, setup in a private area but still amidst the busy hubbub of the bar behind. We arrived to find a neat table setup with a colourful array of fruits, herbs and citrus all ready to infuse into our gin tasters. Our gin expert Pasquale was ready and waiting and clearly a gin fanatic, he gave us the unruly history of how the classic G&T was born and the how it’s evolved to be the refined drink of today.
The bar boasts over 180 gins from local microbreweries to the standard brands alike so you’ll never be short on choice! The three we had the pleasure to sample were from Haymans of London, VII Hills and The Cambridge Distillery, firstly we smelt the aromas and then tasted each individually to try to detect the underlying flavours behind each gin. I personally found that I enjoyed the first of the three the most with the undeniable floral scent and bittersweet undertones , closely followed by the citrus notes of the VII Hills and thirdly the slightly woody characteristics of The Cambridge Distillery. This was a very tough call however as they were all delicious.
It was a great deal of fun choosing what flavours to mix into the G&T, I tried a variety of combinations including a sweet berry mix of strawberry and blueberries, a citrus sensation of orange and lime and what turned out to be my all time favourite a refreshing, crisp combination of cucumber, juniper berries, basil and a sprig of fresh rosemary. The evening was rounded off with a final G&T of our favourite choice of Gin which we again added our favourite ingredients. The whole evening was smooth, sophisticated and highly informative and at £20 per person it’s an absolute steal.
If You wish to carry on the evening after the masterclass the bar offers, of course a superb range of Gins but also Whiskey, Wine and expertly made cocktails. If the nibbles provided during the class haven’t quite sated your hunger, we can also highly recommend the in house restaurant, Manhattan Grill. The entire menu sounds dreamy but their latest sharing platters offers a truly sublime dining experience whereby you can treat your taste buds to a seafood platter followed by three beautifully cooked steak cuts and then a quartet of desserts all exquisite and expertly paired with a wine with each course. So what are you waiting for, book the Marriott gin masterclass today (you won’t regret it…
The hour long Marriott Gin Masterclass costs £20 and is held on the last Thursday of every month between 6-7pm in the G&T lounge of the London Marriott hotel: West India Quay, 22 Hertsmere Rd, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4ED
