REVIEW: Gin Journey
“Cocktail Kate” will only let the minibus leave for its next destination when she’s confident its twenty passengers are accounted for and importantly - that we’re all having a damn good time.
The distance between Leeds’ Greek Street branch of The Alchemist to Spanish tapas bar Pintura is negligible, but we’re taken by road rather than foot to keep our gin-seeking group together.
This is the Gin Journey. An award-winning tour founded by petite Liverpudlian Kate and friend Leon and run across various cities in the UK. It’s billed as “like a school trip, only sexier” and it’s one of the finest educations in gin drinking around. If you’re among the hordes seduced by the ongoing botanical renaissance, then you’ll want to spend your Saturday afternoon in this way.
The journey comprises five stops, five gin cocktails, five gin samples and a wealth of gin facts. Our tour began with a Mason’s Yorkshire gin smoking, theatrical lemon and raspberry concoction in The Alchemist, and ended with a classic Sipsmith melon and mint infused tipple four hours later.
Kate and her Gin Journey crack team are bursting with knowledge and enthusiasm and pride themselves on promoting local, independent drinks and venues. New recruits Lee and Ben are learning the Gin Guardian ropes on our tour, making copious notes in between sharing gin history and good humour. When they’re not spouting botanical history, Lee manages a funk and soul joint, and Ben mixes cocktails in one of Leeds’ speakeasy style bars. Something tells me they’re going to be good at this.
FACT BOX
Where: Gin Journey runs in Brighton, Liverpool, London, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle.
When: Saturday afternoons, 2pm-6.30pm although check the website for details of other events
How much: £50-73 - prices vary according to location.
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