Regular readers of my blog will know I love a gin and tonic, from the time I sampled the local gin at Slingsby’s in Harrogate to the creation of a simple gin bar in the corner of my kitchen.
It’s a top drink and I love how popular it has become; it’s coincided with the rise in independent “boutique” gin distilleries in the UK and I recently read that exports of the good stuff have risen by more than a third in five years.
This increase in demand and choice is brilliant news for the gin lover and now there are so many brands and flavours to try and discover.
I was recently sent two bottles of floral gins to try from the online seller 31Dover, to coincide with Chelsea Flower Show at the end of last month. The first was a Yorkshire gin – perfect for a Yorkshire girl like me – Masons Lavender Edition, and the second was an Elderflower liqueur which I’ve tried before from Edinburgh Gins.
Both have a really light and delicate flavour, perfect for a little evening sundowner in the garden amongst your own plants and flowers!
The description of the Masons is that it has lavender notes with the aroma of fennel, a hint of anise and a little spice of pine and juniper. This makes me very excited as I love any gin with a strong juniper taste and also anything with lavender gets my vote. The 31Dover website suggests trying it in a cocktail but I started by sampling it on its own with tonic, with a few sprigs of lavender cut from my front garden. It was so easy to drink and light tasting, I absolutely loved it.
The elderflower gin is described as having hints of pear, peach and grapefruit zest alongside Scottish elderflower, and it really is a lovely drink. I think even non-gin drinkers would appreciate this one as it doesn’t have a strong gin taste but rather a floral light feel to it.
I’ve tried the elderflower gin on its own, with tonic and mixed with the Masons, and all three ways are really good! Both are so light and refreshing and would be great for an early evening drink before dinner. Very English country garden!
The people at 31Dover are offering you a chance to win a bottle of elderflower gin, just fill out the form below. UK entrants only I’m afraid due to postage.
Good luck – and cheers!
x Julia
69 Comments
laura banks
June 4, 2017 at 8:02 pmmy sons dad makes a damson gin every year for xmas which is very nice
Tracy Nixon
June 4, 2017 at 8:53 pmI hhave not tried the 31Dover Gin but often get brought back a bottle of Hendrick’s Gin when my parents go over to their holiday home on the Isle of Arran, Scotland!
Solange
June 4, 2017 at 11:58 pmI love Bombay Sapphire.
Sophie Parry
June 5, 2017 at 7:42 pmOoo…we are HUGE gin lovers. Edinburgh is our favourite closely followed by Jinzu! Lovely post and competition
Anthony Harrington
June 5, 2017 at 9:01 pmmy Son-in-Law is the gin drinker, he likes Dry London Gin but is starting to discover different craft gins
Sarah Christie
June 5, 2017 at 9:38 pmOoh Lavender Gin sounds interesting my favourite cocktail is Lavender Daiquiri so I think I would love it, my fave gin is silent pool so far our of all the gins I have tried x
Gemma Holland
June 8, 2017 at 4:51 pmI love any sort of gin! There’s a lovely gin bar not far away from me which is amazing! I recently tried Aldi’s gin which was very nice!
frances hopkins
June 9, 2017 at 9:21 amNot sure really, but this sounds lovely – perfect for the summer
Eileen Sumner
June 10, 2017 at 8:40 amLike to try different gins
Sharon Morrison
June 10, 2017 at 8:42 amBombay Saphire or homemade sloe gin
Sarah Cooper
June 10, 2017 at 9:52 amDamson gin
iain maciver
June 10, 2017 at 11:36 amour local harris gin
LYNN HEATH
June 10, 2017 at 2:02 pmWe had some pink grapefruit gin from the ely gin company at Christmas and it was lovely
Michael Cunniffe
June 10, 2017 at 3:04 pmLavender sounds different
MANDY DOHERTY
June 10, 2017 at 3:29 pmBombay Sapphire
Leanne Hansell
June 10, 2017 at 7:02 pmMy favourite is Damson Gin.
Alan Burrows
June 10, 2017 at 7:51 pmBOMBAY SAPPHIRE
laura stewart
June 10, 2017 at 8:51 pmsloe gin x
Susan Smith
June 10, 2017 at 9:01 pmSloe Gin for me, up to now
Sheri Darby
June 10, 2017 at 10:08 pmSloe Gin
Rebecca Nisbet
June 10, 2017 at 10:50 pmiv only just started getting in to gin, not sure if i have a favourite yet.
Abigail Cullen
June 10, 2017 at 11:35 pmBombay Sapphire gin.
Elizabeth
June 11, 2017 at 12:16 amBombay Sapphire.
Beccy Rowley
June 11, 2017 at 7:47 amI love Bombay Sapphire
Hali Kinson
June 11, 2017 at 8:12 amSloe gin is my favourite but would love to try this gin
Pam Smith
June 11, 2017 at 9:03 amRhubarb Gin, its delicious
Graham Ross
June 11, 2017 at 11:49 amDamson gin
Robert Price
June 11, 2017 at 12:42 pmBombay saphire
Danielle Pooley
June 11, 2017 at 1:33 pmMy fiance likes Bombay sapphire
Sheena Batey
June 11, 2017 at 1:47 pmOld Tom and not just because it has a picture of a cat on the front though that is a bonus.
carole n
June 11, 2017 at 1:54 pmUsually have regular gin, but would love to try something different
carole n
June 11, 2017 at 1:54 pmUsually have regular gin, but would love to try something different
Katie Wood
June 11, 2017 at 4:45 pmBombay Saphire
Lorna Ledger
June 12, 2017 at 7:58 amI love home made sloe gin! But I also love a really crisp gin! You’ve made me want a G&T now and it’s only 8am 😉
T Brailey
June 12, 2017 at 8:54 amI usually have Dry London Gin
Natalie White
June 12, 2017 at 10:09 amI like Hendricks but with lime not cucumber! 🙂
Kate B
June 12, 2017 at 10:22 amWe’re big fans of Hendricks Gin with a slice of lime and dash of elderflower…delicious!
Clair
June 12, 2017 at 11:26 amEdinburgh Gin is my favourite… I love the rhubarb and ginger!
Laura Whittle
June 12, 2017 at 11:31 amBombay Saphire
Kelly Hanson
June 12, 2017 at 1:27 pmI usually just stick with Gordons, but I would love to try a flavoured gin.
Jade Pawley
June 12, 2017 at 9:07 pmI love Bombay Sapphire!
Gwyn Sharps
June 12, 2017 at 9:30 pmI like Bombay Sapphire
Nicole
June 13, 2017 at 5:22 pmEldeflower gin is already my favourite!
carol boffey
June 13, 2017 at 6:43 pmi love damson gin
chris overett
June 13, 2017 at 6:48 pmBombay Saphire love all things gin
christine WESTLAKE
June 13, 2017 at 8:11 pmplymouth gin
donna l jones
June 13, 2017 at 8:38 pmI love Bombay Sapphire.
JULIE WARD
June 13, 2017 at 9:53 pmThis would be for D-i-L, she drinks normal gin and tonic, with ice and lemon or course
Lauren Old
June 14, 2017 at 8:19 amMine would be Tarquins
rachael mccadden
June 14, 2017 at 10:10 amI love Bombay Sapphire.
Teresa sheldon
June 14, 2017 at 4:26 pmI do like a nice sloe gin, warms the cockles of the heart
Lottie Storey
June 14, 2017 at 6:42 pmI can only pick one?! I loved the Liverpool gin when I tried it x
Chris Fletcher
June 14, 2017 at 7:39 pmI tried some Rhubarb and ginger gin earlier this year and it was delicious!
Emma Middleton
June 14, 2017 at 7:56 pmBombay sapphire
Katrina Bruni
June 14, 2017 at 9:13 pmHenricks, Bombay Sapphire and a locally produced one to Tring Campfire. This looks amazing though – entered!! FAB prize and post lovely lady xxx
Amy Dacre
June 14, 2017 at 10:25 pmTo be loyal it has to be Bombay Sapphire as the distillery is about 30mins away (and you should go, it’s beautiful!)
Ann Skamarauskas
June 15, 2017 at 5:11 amEdinburgh gin
Geoff Hibbert
June 15, 2017 at 9:17 amPlymouth gin – closely followed by Tanqueray
Becky Daniels
June 15, 2017 at 11:08 amLavender gin is my new favourite!!
Allan Wilson
June 15, 2017 at 12:11 pmI’m quite partial to Sipsmiths Gin
Ben Robb
June 15, 2017 at 12:32 pmTanqueray Gin
Julie Baxter
June 15, 2017 at 12:59 pmBombay Sapphire is lovely
Michelle Wild
June 15, 2017 at 1:41 pmThe one they make in Sunderland, can’t think of its name.
Sarah Carter
June 15, 2017 at 3:12 pmI absolutely love Sacred Christmas Pudding Gin its amazing and tastes like Christmas Pudding
Natasha Cross
June 15, 2017 at 3:44 pmSloe gin is my favourite!
Kim Neville
June 15, 2017 at 6:12 pmWe like Dry London Gin
alice lightning
June 15, 2017 at 9:16 pmgordons gin is usually my tipple orange and ice delicious
Carol Phile
June 15, 2017 at 9:18 pmI’ve never tried gin. This looks like a good place to start
Natalie Crossan
June 15, 2017 at 11:22 pmBombay sapphire xxx