Here at The Gin To My Tonic, we are BIG fans of Christmas, so it’s no wonder that we have decided to launch our very own VIRTUAL Christmas Market this year. Or, as we like to call it, a Gin-Mas Market!
What’s On?
From Friday 4th – Sunday 6th December, get ready for a festive weekend of distillery tours, gin-dulgent Christmas cocktail lessons, perfect Christmas dinner food and drink pairings, and craft sessions.
Plus, limited edition festive releases, and an array of other spirits like rum and vodka to create a jam-packed grotto of merriment you just will not want to leave.
We are so thrilled that we can now announce some of the gin-credible distilleries that will be joining us across the weekend and we can safely say that you are all in for a truly Christmassy treat!
FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER
6.00pm-7.00pm: Virtual Gin-Mas Market Launch & The Festive Collection
Join us for a sneak peek of the brand-new Gin To My Tonic Bar & Gin Tasting HQ, located in the quaint market-town of Faringdon in Oxfordshire. Founders Em & Paul, will be transforming their Festival Collection range of gins, into a true Festive Collection, using a range of different mixers, cocktails, garnishes and food recipes to ensure your gin serves are suitably ‘Christmassy’ and leave a lasting impression.
SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER
1.00pm: An Intimate Island Experience with Isle of Harris
Join us we head to the Isle of Harris Gin Bar, which recently opened in Glasgow’s Merchant City. We will meet their talented team for an intimate Isle of Harris experience, including three bespoke cocktails, and recommended seafood pairings guaranteed to enrich your Christmas dinner celebrations! We will also dive into the fascinating story of how Isle of Harris came to be the coveted gin we know and love today….
1.30pm: Ignite Your Christmas Spirit with a Bit of Black Powder!
Start the festive season with a metaphorical bang as co-founder of Black Powder Distillery, Tony Dalnas, and his merry team take you on a grand distillery tour. Savour the fruits of their labour (quite literally, as they make over 30 fruit gin combinations!) and learn all about their unique process and how they have evolved into one of Lancashire’s foremost distillers. You would be crackers to miss it!
2.00pm: GIN:tv LIVE with Bond Street Distillery
Get ready for a dose of Christmas nostalgia, as Bond Street Distillery create their own version of SM:tv Live (remember the Saturday morning TV Show?). Sketches, competitions and challenges combine with gin, distilling, wise-men and Christmas elves to share the story of this fun and fascinating distillery, all whilst bringing the fun factor.
2.30pm: Late Night Indulgent Cocktails with Brockmans Gin
Staying up late to wait for Father Christmas or just staying up late? Join Brockmans Brand Ambassador Mike Whatmough for some cocktail recipes to enjoy by the fire into the wee small hours. Starting with a winters twist on the classic Brockmans Perfect serve Mike will ensure you have the perfect formula for your festive G+T. He’ll show you how to make Brockmans Fire Side cocktail and finish with the late-night classic Martini and discuss variations from Brockmans cocktail bars around the world. If this isn’t enough to keep you going Mike will be giving away 2 of the Brockmans Gin Cocktail Books that are bursting with amazing cocktail ideas and he’ll have a sack full of offers.
3.00pm: Strange & Quirky Holiday Traditions with Hendrick’s Gin
What are your strange and quirky holiday traditions? We will be celebrating the unusual and taking a fascinating trip to ‘Girvana’, the beloved home of Hendrick’s Gin for a behind the scenes exclusive into their cucumber filled world!
3.30pm: How to Make Your Own Sloe & Damson Gin with Doghouse Distillery
Ever wondered how to make your own Sloe and Damson Gin? Join us in the Doghouse, where Co-Founders Braden and Katherine will be teaching us how to make our very own Sloe and Damson Gin. We will be learning about the differences between the two, what makes a Sloe or Damson Gin truly standout, and festive inspired serves like Mulled Sloe Gin.
4.00pm: The Perfect Edinburgh Christmas with Edinburgh Gin
Join Edinburgh Gin as they capture the wonder of Christmas with perfect serves featuring Rhubarb & Ginger and Raspberry. Plus, we’ll be introducing their limited-edition Christmas Gin, along with all the fabulous ways you can incorporate it into your celebrations. Think comforting yuletide warmth alongside unique botanicals such as frankincense and myrrh.
SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER
1.00pm: Mulled Gin, Cheese & Jazzy Jumpers with Pilgrim’s Gin
Pop on your jazziest Christmas jumper, get cosy and join founder of Pilgrim’s Gin – Allan Drysdale – as he explores how to use Pilgrim’s award-winning liqueurs in your festive celebrations. From welcome drinks to the obligatory after dinner cheese board; you will learn how to impress your friends and family with unique recipes and flavours.
1.30pm: Christmas in Southeast Asia with Tarsier Spirit
Grab your boarding pass and join Founders Tim & Sherwin as you embark on a festive journey around Southeast Asia, whilst sampling Tarsier Oriental Pink.
2.00pm: Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate! with Locksley Distilling
Join us in Sheffield, where Locksley will be using their Cocoa Nib Liqueur, a collaboration with local chocolatier Bullion, to make Christmas extra special for the chocolate lover in your life! Learn how to make easy, but decadent, boozy chocolate Christmas truffles. Come in out of the snow, to a grown-up, peppermint hot chocolate that Father Christmas would most definitely appreciate. And shake up a mochatini (chocolate espresso martini), a perfect cocktail to keep you fuelled-up for marathon gift wrapping.
2.30pm: Ghost Stories and Cocktails with Sky Wave Gin
Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a ghost story. Many credit the tradition to the Victorian Charles Dickens, but it is much older. Andy Parsons, Master Distiller from Sky Wave Gin, mixes up ghost stories from its hometown of Bicester with a few cocktails made from its fabulous spirits and named in their honour, in this highly entertaining half hour.
3.00pm: Hark (the herald) of Heritage and History with Bashall Spirits
Put on the Michael Bublé album, throw another log on the fire and maybe even roast a chestnut…It’s the most wonderful time of year to discover the Bashall Spirits’ range of Gins that hark (the herald) of heritage and history. Join them for a G&T by the fire and relax into the festive season…
3.30pm: Christmas Party Fun & Cocktails with Stockport Gin
Stick on the Christmas music, get dressed up and be ready to have some fun when we join Paul and Cheryl from Stockport Gin as they host their own Christmas Party – and show you how to make some great cocktails from their range of gins at the same time!
4.00pm: Christmas Gin School & Ham Glazing with Crossbill Distilling
Crossbill Distilling are a real celebration of Scottish nature. We’ll be swinging by their hugely popular distillery and Gin School in Glasgow, before we taking a moment to celebrate the mighty Christmas Ham (a must have addition to your Christmas menu). Have you ever tried Christmas Ham with Pineapple Gin that’s been aged in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks? Well now’s your chance to steal the recipe!
How Do I Get Involved?
With so much content on offer we are letting you pick and choose how you get involved by picking your own Gin-Mas Tasting Samples. Each sample is a 50ml (5cl) measure and costs £5 per sample. Access is automatically included with a purchase of four samples or more. A 10% site wide discount will also be included as part of your experience.
The broadcast will be recorded, so you can either watch LIVE or at a time that suits you.