Ginposium 2014
A one day advanced seminar on gin and gin distilling
The series of seminars, held at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden was wide ranging and topics included:
Gin categories and legal definitions
Gin brands past and present and the importance of brand and marketing to ensure sales & success
Creating gin flavour – the effect of different stills (including the use of pot still, carter-head and vacuum stills)
Botanicals and novel botanicals
Two tutored tasting of gins:
Juniper and citrus
Spicy, herbal, etc.
The micro-distilling/ craft distilling movement
Gin quality management
Future perspectives for gin and Gin and its importance in Cocktails.
Watch the 2014 Ginposium highlights now:
For films of previous events and more
See www.theginguild.com
Timings, speakers & details of this Gin event:
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London
Christopher Hayman, Hayman Distillers
Nicholas Cook, The Gin Guild
Professor Paul Hughes, Heriot- Watt University/International Centre for Brewing and Distilling
John McCarthy, Adnams Distillers & Brewers, winner of the 2013 IWSC Gin Trophy
David T Smith, Author of ‘The Craft of Gin’ and upcoming titles, ‘Forgotten Spirits & Long-Lost Liqueurs’ and ‘How to Make Gin’. He runs the website SummerFruitCup.com, and is an international spirits competition judge.
Mark Gamble, Union Distillers – Two Birds gins
Ross Aylott, Partner – Aylott Scientific
Charles Maxwell, Director and Master Distiller, Thames Distillers
Tristan Stephenson, Mixologist, drinks industry expert and director of Fluid Movement – author of The Curious Bartender – The artistry and alchemy of creating the perfect cocktail.
Find out more about the Gin Guild:
Gin Specification
The Guild only recognises gin styles produced by distilling ethyl alcohol in stills traditionally used for gin, in the presence of juniper berries and other botanicals – provided that the juniper taste is predominant.
Gin Guild Management
The strategy of the Guild is set by a Management Committee made up of representatives from the four largest UK gin distillers (Diageo, Grants, Bacardi and Chivas), with other Guild members and Liverymen from the Worshipful Company of Distillers.
The titular head of the Guild is the Grand Rectifier. The four largest distilling companies are represented by Founder Wardens. Other gin distillers are represented by Warden Rectifiers. Individual Guild members are known as Rectifiers.
Gin Guild Membership
Membership is open to all (subject to gin distillers and brand owners meeting the Gin Guild Gin specification).
Applications for membership of the Guild should be addressed to the Gin Guild Director General (see contact details).
Benefits of Gin Guild Membership
As detailed in the Guild objectives, membership brings together Gin distillers and industry leaders involved in the production, promotion, distribution and consumption of Gin.
The Guild annually arrange, co-host and/or facilitate access for Guild members to a programme of gin related events and celebrations.
Current details are available on request, but include:
Annual Gin tasting event
Guild installation ceremonies (including an option for full members of Guild installation at the prestigious venue of the Mansion House, London, followed by a combined Banquet with the Worshipful Company of Distillers in the famous Egyptian Hall).
Gin Guild Promotion
The Gin Guild Website is regularly up-dated and the Guild produce a regular magazine covering both Guild events and gin articles.
Education and Development
The Guild develop its links and encourage further education and research into gin, and work with the London based Wine & Spirit Education Trust, the International Centre for Brewing & Distilling at Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London and the Distillation Department of Minnesota University, USA.