Welcome To The Gin Ignite Podcast
Whether you want to party or have a quiet night in gin will ignite
NewsWelcome
- Hello and Welcome to Episode 30
What is your Christmas cocktail going to be ?
- So this is released on Friday so we have exactly one week to get into the Christmas spirit
Review
- Reviews really help the podcast in a given podcast directory. So if you did have a chance to review the podcast I would be most grateful
Weekly Gin Recommendation
Weekly Gin Recommendation - Pitwheel Distillery Classic Dry
- I have always been a real fan of Pitwheel distillery and it seems only fitting when reviewing 2020 to highlight this wonderful gin brand.
- Even though I had small batch gins it was not until I started tasting this gin that I realised how different craft gins are.
- This was also the first gin that I tasted neat.
- The nose of the gin has that familiar London Dry aroma and does not give any indication how special this gin actually is.
- On tasting it neat you get a dryness followed by a very, very subtle citrus flavour which reminds me of a very subtle parma violet taste on your palette.
- The taste is so smooth I would be quite happy to have this as a sipping gin.
- I tested this with Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic as usual and it created a very pleasant G&T. It would work well with a standard light tonic or Elderflower. It may even work with a hibiscus based tonic given that this is one of the key botanicals.
- This definitely has the smoothness for a dry martini but would not work for me personally.
- The palette is quite delicate so I would be careful what I paired it with cocktail wise. Maybe a lime based Tom Collins would be a good call.
- This is a gin which will be added to my long list of gin wants and is not on my gin shelf yet but I anticipate it will be in the future finances permitting
2020 Review
Merry Christmas
- So I thought I would review the year and wish you a very Merry Christmas all at the same time.
- So before I review the year I would like to thank all of you for taking your valuable time to listen in to me and my guests.
- I have managed to connect quite a few people together this year and I am really pleased about that.
Negativity
- There has been some negativity, especially related to Vanessa @nessejay91 who got here account shutdown for a while due to an unnecessary investigation because she was reported for impersonating somebody.
- Also Kate from @sipandshareuk had a troll which caused her no end of issues on some of her lives.
- I am glad to say that both of them talked about this and showed such strength through all of this and I am so proud of both of them.
- I am also so pleased that they hooked up and are doing a live with Charles and Mike on Monday 21st December 2020 at 20:00 which is really exciting.
2020 Review
- So now I wanted to look back at the guests that I have had on the show.
Nikki Mendes @theonlywayisgin
- Nikki Mendes was my first guest and she was planning to get her gin school, signature gin and distillery setup.
- Sadly due to Covid she did manage to release her gin on 16th November but the other two will have to wait until next year.
- I have got so much time for Nikki and I am looking forward to talking to here in 2021 when everything is up and running.
Vanessa @nessejay91
- Vanessa @nessejay91 came on the show.
- We had so much fun on the show and have had so much fun ever since.
- She really inspires me with her posts about everything be it LGBTQ+, her life in general or cocktails.
- I love how brutally frank and honest she is, her attitude to life and some of the inspiring things she has done this year like #smallginseptember.
- She is also my mixology master.
Laura Bridge from @lavaspirits
- Then the lovely Laura Bridge from Lava Spirits joined me.
- I remember speaking to her for the first time and was so excited she decided to include the podcast in her launch week.
- I am still in awe of her flavours in her gin.
- I still don’t understand how she tamed coffee and juniper let alone how she surpassed herself and tamed coffee, orange and juniper.
- Her brand is going from strength to strength and mixologist everywhere are enjoying the unique taste of her gin.
Tristan Jorgensen from Massingberd-Mundy on the South Ormsby Estate
- A true master distiller, of TV fame joined me in Episode 12.
- You can’t help but be wowed by Tristan’s exceptional botanical skills.
- His two gins Burrell’s and Marie Jeanne are just triumphant gins.
- I am honoured to have been gifted them by Massingberd Mundy.
- Since his appearance on Countryfile order have been flying out the door and I could not wish this more for anyone.
- I was absolutely honoured to have you on the show.
Ian Paget from @logogeek
- Then Ian Paget from Logo Geek joined me to go through how to think about your brand, whether you are an regular instagrammer, a distiller or a bar.
- This was so informative and it was an absolute honour to have him on the show as well.
Andie Riches @geordieslovegin
- The lovely Andy Riches came on the show to give us an insight as to why she started posting about gin and to talk about Mermaids and rowing.
- We also talked about what we looked for in brands and she interested me to the lovely LAW gin.
- One day I am definitely going to have to learn how to be a Mermaid with a pink tail to match my brand obviously !!
Mark Herbert @the_wanderingbartender
- Then I was graced with Mark from @the_wanderingbartender who explained how he had joined the navy to escape from the rain and what led to him meeting his wife and then getting into bar tending, managing and mixology.
- He was so fascinating also about his support of his wife’s business where he made a bespoke cocktail for the happy couple and delivered it to them wherever they were up a mountainside !!
- Mark was so kind with the knowledge he shared.
Clare Ryan @theedgegin
- After Mark came Clare from The Edge Gin.
- I have a particular love for The Edge Gin brand because of it’s story and also because Clare is so lovely and so easy to talk to.
- We talked all about this magical brand and their gins London Dry, L’Orange and Pear. It was absolutely amazing and to date she is the only one to ask for a side order of Alioli with her gin.
- I also got to make cocktails with Merlin, The Wizard of Alderley Edge.
- I am hoping to reprise this partnership with Merlin in the new year.
Paul Jackson @theginguide
- Then I was joined by Paul Jackson, who I can only describe as an absolute legend.
- I was so humbled that he joined me on the show and was so inspired by his knowledge.
- The thing I particularly liked was his explanation of The Gin Guide Awards which I will be watching closely starting in January.
- I love reading the writes up he does for the many gin brands and look forward to reading lots more in 2021.
Kate Carney from @sipandshareuk
- I then had my collab with Kate from Sip and Share.
- I have to say this is probably one of my best episodes because Kate is so bubbly and we had such a lovely conversation.
- Kate I promise that I will be joining Sip and Share in the New Year !!!
- She was so epic and kind with her help to anyone on Instagram about how to grow their account whether they were a regular instagram account or a distiller.
- If you have not done so already definitely check out her account.
Brit from @the_botanical_trading_company
- It was then the turn of the lovely Brit from The Botanical Trading Company.
- I have to be completely honest when I was introduced to Brit through Vanessa I was not sure whether her subscription service would work.
- How could it rival other larger subscription services ?
- By the end of our chat I had dropped my Craft Gin Club subscription and signed up to hers.
- I wish I had signed up a month earlier than I did because I missed out on Thunderflower gin.
- You win some you lose some.
- Since signing up I have had Lind & Lime gin which is sensational and Lin Gin which is very nice.
- I can’t wait to see what my next bottle is in January 2021 !!
Alex and Luna from @lawginibiza
- Then I went over to Europe (virtually) and spoke to the fabulous Luna and Alexander from LAW Gin.
- We had such a lovely chat and they were kind enough to send me a bottle of their gin. I have been using it for quite a few cocktails and it is so versatile.
- I am in awe of the process they use to create it in their Alembic still which is the same as it was in the Middle Ages.
- I am still hopeful that they will be distributed here in the UK in the not too distant future.
- Thank you to Paul at The Gin Guide for his help with this one.
Harry and Victoria from @cheshiremobilebars
- Everything seems to happen in Cheshire or Essex it seems gin wise and I was joined by Harry and Victoria from Cheshire Mobile Bars.
- I loved the idea of the mobile bar and more importantly their nationwide delivery service.
- I was also fascinated about Harry’s knowledge and talking to him about master classes.
- I think the favourite nugget I took away though is The Breakfast Martini !! Thank you Harry !!
Paul from @stockportgin
- Loosely related to Cheshire given it was part of that county until it move to Greater Manchester was Stockport Gin.
- I loved the passion Paul from Stockport Gin showed towards his town and his local football team.
- I love the way he clearly has inspired a lot of distillers and also that he has given back to the community.
- I also like the way that he and Cheryl run the brand.
- I was honoured to be gifted some of their gins and I have subsequently gone on to buy some of them for Christmas. Can’t wait to try them.
- If you want to know how to run a successful Instagram distillers account look no further than their account.
- I also love their passion for markets and the fact they are in partnership with Selfridges.
Tammy Jackson from @forcocktailsake
- Then I was joined by a quite simply outstanding mixologist who also happens to be a bit of a social media whizz.
- She was amazing about how she gave so many tips about what you can do with your own instagram or if you are a distillery or bar.
- In addition and the thing that most excited me was talking through how she would change some classic cocktails.
- I still have not tried an infusion but one with Campari and strawberries is definitely on the cards over Christmas.
- If you have not checked out her lives with Paul from Mix and Match on Tuesday and Thursday at 20:00 they are a must !!
Charlie and Mike from @charlesandmike
- Finally my last guest before this episode was Charlie and Mike from Charles and Mike Distilling.
- They told me all about their journey launching the first iteration of The Big Seven and how they have now moved into a new distillery and their Sloe gin.
- I wish them all the luck for next year and on their live with Kate from @sipandshareuk and Vanessa from @nessejay91 on Monday 21st December 2020.
My Instagram Shoutouts
- Vanessa @nessejay91
- Gill @geordieginqueen
- Jamie @jamie_and_gin
- Ali @gin_and_blooms
- Carissa and Lisa @poshginbirds
- Jayne @mothers_not_ruined_
- Andie @geordieslovegin
- Kerri-Anne @glassofgin_packetofseeds
- Carole @grandmasginparlour
- Netty @mothers_ruined_gin
- Bev @gin_meets_girl
- Mel @ginscousegirl
- Emma @an_elfs_ruin
- @ginmakers
- Hayley @gin_obsessed_hayley
- Rory @theginlord
- Holly @gin_obsessed_girl
- Alex @thecocktailvibe
- Natalie @ginderella2020
- Hannah @ahnahdrinks
- Gitte, Carina and Tina @girls_on_gin
- Cassia @ginqueen_kilpatrick
- Maxine @thetealbar
- Laura @mumma_loves_gin
- Carina @carina_wolff_dk
2021 Distillery Catchups
- Now there are some distilleries that I did not get a chance catch up with.
- Otterbeck distillery I would still love to talk to you.
- I would also love to talk to Sian and Andrew from The Gower Gin Company.
- I have reviewed some of their gins and they are amazing. They are botanical mix wizards and from an amazing part of the country.
- I would also love to talk to Macintosh gin and Martin Miller.
- I am hoping that those will come to fruition in 2021.
Thank you
- All that is left for me to say is thank you again for your time to listen to my guests. I look forward to doing it all again in 2021.
Instagram Community Shout Out
- Carina @carina_wolff_dk
- Carina is a gin blogger and a third of @girls_on_gin
- I wanted to highlight her account thought because she has been a massive supporter of mine but also she...
