Welcome To The Gin Ignite Podcast

Whether you want to party or have a quiet night in gin will ignite

News

• Hello and Welcome to Episode 16
• Small Gin September - second week.
• Please support this event. Last week it was the fabulous Anfield Gin and this week it is Mark from the wandering bartender.
• We still have two more to go
• The Wandering Bartender - Please support the competition. Only two more rounds to go. Very close at the top.
• My clothing sample came today and I am wearing it on the video and really well packaged in a paper, recyclable packaging.
• Really enjoyed myself with Merlin over the weekend at The Edge Gin distillery and we have been creating cocktails all week. Thank you to Mike and Clare for their support.
• I am a Craft Gin Club virgin. Not sure why I did not join sooner. Love the magazine, the gin you get, the serving suggestions, the garnishes. Amazing value. If you have not already joined you should definitely consider it. Would love to have you on the podcast !!

Weekly Gin Recommendation

• This weeks gin recommendation is Pitwheel Distillery Raspberry and Vanilla Gin
• The Pitwheel Distillery were the first craft gins that I discovered purely by accident and because of a hilarious post they put out.
• As I wanted to try all of their gins I was really pleased that they did a miniatures pack. I really did not know what to expect but all I can say is wow and thank you.
• Their gins are superb and whilst I have bought the Original spiced the Raspberry and Vanilla is definitely on my gin budget in the future.
• The nose of this gin is alcoholic raspberry and is really strong.
• I have to say that whilst I find it hard to pick out the vanilla the depth of the raspberry is phenomenal.
• So much so that my go to Whitley Neill Raspberry gin has lost is badge and spurs !! and there is a new sheriff in town and it's name is Pitwheel Raspberry and Vanilla gin.
• I tested with my normal Fever Tree Mediterranean gin but I think this would also pair well with a standard or Elderflower gin.
• I think it would make a very interesting dry martini and would be great in cocktails especially with some fresh raspberries as a garnish.
• Well done Pitwheel for turning out another amazing gin.

Mark Herbert from the Wandering Bartender

Early Career Navy

• Mark joined the Royal Navy because it was raining and the nearest shelter was the forces recruitment centre !
• He joined his ship in the Falklands primarily for drug patrol.
• Part of crew who apprehended a boat in 2006 with 250 million pound of cocaine.
• Biggest in naval history until 2 years ago
• Based at one island in the Caribbean which had only one bar
• Started to drink cocktails

Aberdeen, Southampton, Australia and New Zealand

• After three year in the navy came back to Aberdeen
• Started work at a desk but decided not for him.
• Worked in couple cocktail bars and realised had a flair for it.
• He was good with flavours and people
• Got bored and through a dart into map of Britain.
• Landed in Southampton and after a nineteen hour bus ride he had applied for a job, got and interview and then started a job and made friends
• Eventually opened up a cocktail business with a friend called Mix It.
• After passing of his grandfather went back up to Aberdeen to be with his Mum
• Got the wandering bug again and this time a bit large and moved to Australia
• His boss did not pay his taxes and so he had one day to back up and leave for New Zealand
• Lucky he went there because that is where he met his wife.

Aberdeen, Cumbria and Commercial Lubricants

• Came back after six month on a holiday to Spain and then Aberdeen.
• His wife loved it so much that they cancelled the return flights and stayed.
• Although his wife did get in trouble with her parents because they did not say goodbye
• Mark worked as assistant bar manager in most prestigious hotel in Aberdeen
• Then his wife got wedding business opportunity in Cumbria but said would only move if Mark made bar manager. This is the number one wedding venue in the north.
• Mark was asked to do a job selling commercial lubricants in Norfolk because he was good with people
• Then they were pregnant and no family network so decided to move back to Aberdeen to get support

The Wandering Bartender

• His wife is an elopement planner.
• She saw a gap in the market where people would get married beside a Loch or on a hillside say their ‘I do’s' and then would have nothing else to do.
• Her idea was to send Mark up with a rucksack and cocktail making equipment and he would make them a bespoke cocktail.
• They get to keep recipe for the rest of their lives

The Wandering Bartender Bar and Services

• Mark has constructed his own home made bar in lockdown which he showed on a live.
• He got someone local to him to make a sign which looks fabulous
• Mark has a professional collapsible bar which takes 10 mins to put up
• For covid it now has a perspex sheet in front of it
• He goes out to houses or events.
• Either choose cocktails from an agreed list and Mark will make them
• Or do master class where have 3 cocktails. 1st cocktail and 2nd cocktail shown and get to make and 3rd cocktail made themselves from whatever is in the bar
• Training as well all over Scotland. Create menus for hotels and bars but mainly bars.
• Most hotel bars get it wrong. Need to make sure simplify
• If constructing menu would split down the middle.
• 20 cocktails on menu. 10 standard. 10 new age cocktails. Bar tender creations. Take input from staff and Mark’s twist
• If were to do the Ritz in London. More in depth. Stick to about 20 cocktails. Every single one a bespoke cocktail.
• Always encourages staff to talk to customer.
• Make the cocktails all about the person

How would get started with cocktails ?

• Remember two, one and half
• Two shots of alcohol
• One shot citrus
• Half shot of sugar

Basic Equipment

• Boston shaker e.g. two shakers or one glass and shaker
• Hawthorn Strainer
• Fine Strainer
• Measure
• Normal ice is fine don’t need to have crushed ice

Creating a bespoke cocktail for couple for wedding

• How they met ?
• What did you drink ?
• Where they are from individually ?
• Specific drink on a date
• Favourite holiday destination ?
• How drink Milk and no sugar - citrus cocktail dacquiri etc
• Tea with no link - Manhattan, Martini, old fashioned
• Sugar - fruitier sized cocktail
• If from Sweden for example what drinks, what botanical.

Creative Process

• Use nose a lot
• Sniff alcohol first and then mixer and then both together
• About personal taste
• Taste individual components
• Try not to drink too much. Save taste buds for other people.
• Always taste cocktail before giving out.

The Wandering Gin

• Most cocktails are gin based and could not find gin for cocktails. Was not perfection looking for
• City of Aberdeen distillery. Go in and taste gins. Describe them and then 106 botanicals to choose from
• Went in with what wanted. Citrus sweet led. Wanted Dacquiri based gin
• Contain orange peel, lemon peel, kaffir lime, moroccan coriander and elderflower
• Alan head distiller at City of Aberdeen distillery. Had to wait 2 weeks before could taste. Took 3 attempts.
• Also uses organic neutral spirit. Twice as expensive but twice as good. No burning sensation

The Wandering Gin Flavour profile

• Elderflower comes through when neat and soon as add tonic citrus is there. Every gin should work with lime and tonic.

Cocktails

• Some bar people are very pretentious and will not serve cocktails because beneath them
• All about serving something someone wants and then educating them to give them what they actually want
• Mark shared an interesting story about an old bar manager.
• If someone is drinking rum and coke all night. First serve this to them and if it is quiet enough ask why likes rum.
• Then pour rum in a glass and ask to taste. Normally would say that is strong. Then add ice. Then add lime. Then apple juice. Then Dandelion and Burdock bitters.
• Then go with that drink all night.
• Taste something and trust.
• Encourage that side of things
• Give wider variety

Why did you start to sell The Wandering Gin ?

• Was not intending to sell gin
• Would always take with him and was very proud to talk about it and serve with Walter Gregors tonic.
• Everyone wanted to buy.
• Went to City of Aberdeen distillery and asked if could sell.
• Now sell on their website.
• First time this was done
• Hoping to be in some local small stores soon

The Wandering Bartender Cocktail Competition

• Competition still running at the moment.
• 2 more rounds.
• Ran competition anonymously.
• Non-cocktail making accounts.
• Theme a week for 6 weeks.
• This week outdoors.
• Take a cocktail and take a photo
• Cocktails produced are fabulous.
• All participants have helped out and promoted it.

Small Gin September

• Vanessa messaged him and asked if this would work. First to agree to be involved
• Vanessa sent list of timing and when to post.
• How to build up tension.
• Just posted 1st day trivia.

The Wandering Bartender brand

• Started with his wife’s elopement business and wandering up mountain sides to serve bespoke cocktails
• Decided a bit too niche.
• Also do master classes, parties and training and bring all under one umbrella

What does the Wandering Bartender brand mean for you ?

• Everything to me.
• Do for Family.
• Meant to be fun.
• Not meant to be serious because drinking is meant to be fun.
• Show people right content and drink sensible.
• High standards.
• Marks personality.
• Mark describes it best as “Me on a label.”

What is next for the brand ?

• Contemplating franchise in England.
• Use brand to help out. Kit out with brand and gin.
• Do what he does in England.
• Different Wandering bars in UK. Split England into 6. Always want cocktail and tapas bar.
• Worked out how to ship gin round EU.
• Too difficult to ship to Austrailia. The Wandering Tavern, in Wandering where his sister lives wanted some Wandering Gin but would cost £85 per bottle !!!

New Flavour

• One last question.
• Potential new flavour.
• Currently talking with the City of Aberdeen distillery for Sloe gin.
• Waiting for Sloe berries to appear.
• Need 10kg of Sloe berries.

Get in touch

• Website: https://www.thewanderingbartender.co.uk
• Instagram: @the_wanderingbartender
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderingbartender1

What is your favourite gin other than your own and how would you serve it ?

• Macintosh Gin Old Tom - great family business
• Jim and Deborah got married recently.
• Congratulations to them.
• Best with Lemonade and pineapple.
• 3 products at the moment. London Dry, Old Tom, and Navy Strength

What does gin mean to you ?

• Changed perception.
• Nice for cocktail.
• Wide variety of flavours and profiles.
• 50 in your bar no one the same.
• Great gin community online apart from a few fractures.
• Variety and community

Gin Community Shout Out

• A lot has been happening this week.
• Gin_Meets_Girl - Sorry about car accident but I loved your post about a go to gin. I have seen a live with
• glassofgin_packetofseeds with the Otterbeck distillery Cotton gin. I am not surprised either that it is all over Instagram at the moment. Otterbeck distillery if you want to come on the podcast just say !!
• Craft Gin Club - I have been paying more attention to their posts given that I have just joined and I really want to thank those people who welcomed me on my first post on Facebook.
• I also wanted to talk about one of the post they put out until I am unable to download gin I will remain unimpressed with technology
• Four Pillars also grabbed my attention again with another new product Rare dry Gin Organic Dark Chocolate
• Stockport gin - staying in is the new going out trying to encourage you to a virtual tasting. What is your view on virtual tastings. Some people love them and others want to go to the distillery direct

Instagram Community Shout Out

• Instagram shoutout this week is Bev from @gin_meets_girl.
• She is a recent discovery for me but I love the fact first of all she works for are amazing NHS. I would like to thank you and your colleagues for keeping us safe. We really do appreciate it.
• I really love her posts. They are really down to earth and tell a great story and always ask for engagement.
• I have not really engaged. Will do in the future
• Loved your last post about Stranger and Sons, from this months Craft Gin Club, and the fact it got you to order curry because it is an Indian gin
• Your posts are always so vibrant and so well presented.
• I think they must take you ages. All I can say is that it is all worth it.
• Please continue to post your fantastic content and I will be a lot more engaging in your posts in the future.

Get In Contact

• IM me at @ginignite Instagram or @ginignite on Twitter
• E-Mail me at [email protected]
• If you have ideas IM me or e-mail at [email protected]
• If you want to be on the show then IM me or e-mail me at [email protected]

Final Thought

• The thing that I like about the gin community that I have met so far is that no one judges anyone for what they believe, what they look like or who they choose to be.
• The world would be a better place if everyone took that view.
• Grab your drink, toast those you love, enjoy your weekend and whether your decide to party or stay in I will be with you in spirit !!!
• Seriously though enjoy your weekend and I look forward to joining you for another episode next Friday.
• Cheers