The Christmas decorations are officially down, the tree returned outside and the oversized gin calendar safely stowed away in the cupboard. Just because this year was such a special December, here’s a re-cap on what went on…
Bored of the mundane advent calendars that appear every year and to celebrate our first anniversary, we decided to create an advent calendar with a twist. Over a meter wide by a meter and a half high, our Ginvent calendar included 25 bottles of gin, and was proudly on display in Graphic bar.
As a project the Ginvent calendar was always going to be ambitious – giving away 50 gins over a month isn’t for the light hearted! Making the calendar itself wasn’t exactly a small task either – from drawing a botanical for each door, to not taking down half of Graphic Bar’s wall with the weight of so many bottles!
We’re glad to say that no harm came to her over the month, even if there were a few over eager customers looking to take a peep at what was behind up coming doors ahead of time – straight on the naughty list!
To see more on the competitions have a look at the previous Ginvent Calendar post but in brief 26 people shared 50 bottles of gin with one lucky winner – Alex Eike – taking the grand prize: all 25 gins in one go. Our congratulations go to Alex, who we hope will drink through his now vast collection responsibly, savouring the nuances of each along the way. (Who are we kidding! Let’s just hope he’s still get’s in to work on time over the next few months…).
Alex sipping his last beer for a while (left) with Graphic Bar’s GM (right)
Before Alex’s grand swoop, 25 other winners each won a bottle of gin by battling their way through our daily Twitter competitions. With over 100 entries on most days; many thanks to all of you who entered, especially to those who did so religiously every single day until the end!
@PrioryTavern was the first to win a prize, taking home Geranium Gin for correctly answering that it was made by Henrik Hammer.
The classic Beefeater London Dry Gin was won by @NoshableLondon, for correctly tweeting in that Desmond Payne is their Master Distiller.
No3 Gin was won by @Jemmallorie for pointing out that the Berry Bros & Rudd shop was indeed on no.3 St James Street.
@foodycatalicia won the bottle of SW4 Gin after answering that it was distilled in Clapham.
@Bellatrix81 will spend her nights Tanqueray’ed for answering that the gin was first launched in the 1830′s.
The bottle of Sloane’s Gin went to @janbagnall for adding up the botanicals in the gin.
@MrsLittleBoot is now serving Hayman’s Old Tom at home for suggesting a her favourite cocktail .
William’s Gin went to @di9it8 after mustering up the answer; Herefordshire.
@D10Barrr looked up when CJ Greenall’s was first established to win a bottle of Greenall’s Gin.
The Sipsmith went to @Ali991 after correctly answering that their copper still is affectionately called Prudence.
@Aarrbee won the bottle of Whitley Neill by tweeting in Baobab.
@SloeGandT won a bottle of Bombay Sapphire by answering the amount of botanicals contained inside the blue bottle.
@FaerieTaleFoody will be enjoying The Botanist gin for pointing out it comes from the Bruichladdich.
@BuffaloJern Will be enjoying some Darnley’s View for entering her cocktail suggestion into the mix.
Sacred Gin was won by @RaveversRTW for tweeting in that it is distilled in Highgate.
@Poprock won the first of the G’Vine Gins by tweeting in the winner of their 2011 Connoisseur programme.
@Meedja won the Bloom Gin by finding out who their Master Distiller is (non other than Joanne Moore).
The Berekeley Square Gin was won by @ThrinH after suggesting who she would enjoy it with.
@Will_Lowe will be enjoying Hayman’s 1850 Reserve after looking up when the company first began.
@TwistLondon won the Caorunn gin by answering that the name Caorunn was Celtic for Rowan Berry.
@MrsBeeryMatt won the second G’Vine Gin by answering that Ugni Blanc grapes are used to make the base spirit.
@GavinEmerson won the Plymouth Gin for tweeting in that Sean Harrison is Plymouth Master Distiller.
Edinburgh Gin went to @NeilDavis9 for tweeting in which Scottish botanicals are used to make it.
@noodlefish got his hands on some gin by answering that Beefeater is distilled in Kennington.
And last but not least @Sazmo_ won a bottle of Tanqueray No 10 for saying that Aloe Blacc is behind the Downtown track in the Tonight We Tanqueray campaign.
What a month!