Why is Gin so popular? Find out more as we Celebrate World Gin Day!

May312019
Why is Gin so popular? Find out more as we Celebrate World Gin Day!

Unless you have been living under a rock the last few years, chances are you have noticed that Gin is very much the modern booze. From Gin tastings to Gin distillery tours, Gin bars and even Gin and tonic tea bags – Gin is undeniably a firm favourite.

From mother's ruin to a modern tipple, the UK has rediscovered Gin in a big way.  The stats do not lie, there are now over 100 gin-makers in the nation compared to just 37 in 2010.  Labelled by the media as a “Gin Epidemic” more than a whopping 66 million bottles of Gin were sold in the UK in 2018.

Gin has long been part of British culture. The original 'Gin craze' was during the Victorian era and its bad reputation and was labelled as 'mother's ruin', since the 20th Century Gin has consistently been portrayed in pop culture as an effortlessly cool, sophisticated booze.

James Bond may be known for his Vodka martinis, but in several of Fleming's books, you will spot Bond and various other characters order Gin and tonics. You will also see Gin crop up many times across episodes of Downton Abbey, only adding to its broad appeal. And let's not forget her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a keen Gin fan and has been spotted many times drinking the spirit.

When is World Din Day?

World Gin Day is on 8th June 2019.  However, we are celebrating for one whole week between 3rd and 9th June 2019 with some slurptastic Gin offers.  You can get 15% off all house, speciality Gins and Gin cocktails in our bar and restaurant.  You can see the discounted prices here.

15% off for Gin Week 2019

Did you know Gin is vegan?

Virtually every brand of hard liquor; Bourbon, Whiskey, Vodka, Gin, and Rum are vegan. Nearly all distilled spirits are vegan except for cream-based liqueurs. Some products do mention honey on the label, which some vegans will not drink, so it is always best to check.

Is Gin gluten-free?

Although most experts say Gin, which typically is made from a mix of grains that can include wheat, barley, and rye, is gluten-free because it's distilled, many people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity nonetheless react to Gin.

What are the calories in Gin?

Unlike calorific beer (they don't call it a beer belly for nothing!), Gin is surprisingly low in calories. A shot of Gin has an average of 72 calories, and given the fact that Gin typically has no less than 37% alcohol ABV – you can get quite merry on Gin without having to sacrifice your diet or healthy lifestyle.

Our Gin recommendations

If Gin and juice is your thing, our Cardiff hotel serves the local Brecon Gin.  It is an excellent quality Gin using botanicals from the four corners of the world and bottled at Penderyn Distillery using water from the Brecon Beacons National Park.

For Gin tasting in Bristol, the hotel serves Bristol Dry Gin.  The micro-distillery definitely has a sense of humour and was developed by a small group of bartenders and service industry professionals.  Apparently, the development process was a gruelling regime of product testing, from which one or two of the team have not yet fully recovered.

In Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth, there is a distillery that has been crafting since 1793 (that's 226 years!).  The award-winning Plymouth Gin is made in the Black Friars Distillery which used to be a Dominican Order Monastery built in 1431.

It’s Gin O’Clock!

Whether it is a Gin and tonic, experimenting with new Gin flavours or your first Gin experience, please remember to drink responsibly.  You can find further facts and advice at Drink Aware.

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