Ginposium 2018
The gin industry annual seminar
By the gin industry, for the gin industry
7th June 2018 – RSA House
Some of the world’s most respected personalities and experts from the drinks and gin trade came together in 2018 to discuss the state of the gin industry and share their knowledge and expertise on all things gin, in the fifth annual Gin Guild organised Ginposium event.
For films of previous events and more
See www.theginguild.com
| Speaker(s) | |
|---|---|
| Ed Pilkington | Grand Rectifier of the Gin Guild |
| James Firth MA (Oxon), MSc, MCIHort, MPGCA, FRGS. | www.firthgardens.co.uk (Forager for Fishers Gin) |
| Dr. Ulrich Dyer | (Medicinal Chemist) Woodlab Distillery |
| Professor Katherine Smart & Dr Christopher Smart, | Surrey Copper Distillery Limited |
| Justin Hicklin | The Gin Guild |
| David T Smith Spirit Author and Gin Judge | SummerfruitCup |
| Alexandre Sakon | ASC- cask suppliers to the barrel-aged spirits industry |
| Olivier Ward | Gin Foundry |
| Joanne Moore Master Distiller | G&J Distillers Quintessential |
| Ben Ellefsen | Atom Brands |
| Simon Ford | Ford’s Gin |
| Dr Anne Brock & Sam Carter | Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke Mill |
| To | From | Details | Speaker(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09.00 | 09.20 | Registration | ||
| 09.20 | 09.30 | Opening remarks and the Gin Guild. | Ed Pilkington | Grand Rectifier of the Gin Guild |
| 09.30 | 10.00 | Dying to be different (the Ambridge effect). The dangers of relying on locally foraged botanicals. Do you know the difference between edible and toxic/dangerous/waste of time/not worth the effort? | James Firth MA (Oxon), MSc, MCIHort, MPGCA, FRGS. | www.firthgardens.co.uk (Forager for Fishers Gin) |
| 10.00 | 10.20 | Local Flavour. Using science to assist the art of recipe development. Analytic techniques to identify and isolate flavour molecules. Pitched at average distiller level! | Dr. Ulrich Dyer | (Medicinal Chemist) Woodlab Distillery |
| 10.20 | 10.40 | Starting up a distillery! The smart approach. What to do and what not to do, from a team that has just done it. | Professor Katherine Smart & Dr Christopher Smart, | Surrey Copper Distillery Limited |
| 10.40 | 11.15 | Coffee and networking | ||
| 11.15 | 11.35 | Gin categories in a wider world and consumer aids to discovery and understanding. A paper for industry consideration. | Justin Hicklin | The Gin Guild |
| 11.35 | 12.05 | Tutored gin tasting - what’s new for 2018 The world of gin is a fast-paced environment with constant innovation and there have been many new releases since last year’s Ginposium. This session looks at some of the more interesting new releases, as well as gin trends on which to keep an eye. With samples | David T Smith Spirit Author and Gin Judge | SummerfruitCup |
| 12.05 | 12.45 | Panel Discussion: Gin categories and consumer aids to discovery and understanding | ||
| 12.45 | 13.05 | “Well he wood say that wouldn’t he!*” Wooded gin (stored and transported in barrels) is part of gin history. With expanding current interest in wood aged gins we look at the effect of different woods and pre-used barrels on gin production. With samples *With apologies to Mandy Rice-Davis | Alexandre Sakon | ASC- cask suppliers to the barrel-aged spirits industry |
| 13.05 | 14.00 | Lunch and networking | ||
| 14.00 | 14.20 | Grain to glass. Fad or fanfare? Increasingly gin distillers are creating their own base spirit. Why bother? At what cost? What effects on the product and marketing? And the importance of the 96% regulation. | Olivier Ward | Gin Foundry |
| 14.20 | 14.45 | It's all about the base, the base Neutral spirit is supposed to be neutral? Do different neutral products create different gins? With gin samples based on • Rye • Barley • Apple • Potato | Joanne Moore Master Distiller | G&J Distillers Quintessential |
| 14.45 | 15.15 | Innovation. Is diversification in the gin industry an aid to building consumer interest (and sales), or a distraction and diversion from sales of a brands key product. With samples | Ben Ellefsen | Atom Brands |
| 15.15 | 15.50 | Tea and networking | ||
| 15.50 | 16.20 | The American Dream. Gin in the USA. A view from across the pond. | Simon Ford | Ford’s Gin |
| 16.20 | 16.50 | Changing tastes - Classic cocktails of the past and their current day interpretations. With samples | Dr Anne Brock & Sam Carter | Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke Mill |
| 16.50 | Gin & Tonic and networking A selection of gin and mixer options presented by London Essence The London Essence Company uses fine fruits and botanicals to create elegant, contemporary mixers. The first all-light mixer collection includes: Classic London Tonic; Grapefruit and Rosemary Tonic; Bitter Orange and Elderflower Tonic; and Delicate Ginger Ale. |
RSA HOUSE, 8 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6EZ
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.
