This unique addition is served from a copper flask engraved with the scenery, wildlife, folklore and history that surrounds the distillery. London dry’ style gin came about in the 19th Century with a further change in distillation techniques. Anyway, when I posted about this on Instagram the lovely people from Pocketful of Stones took the time and responded the very next day as follows: The pour is a detail that we are aware of and trying to sort. From Greek tavernas and American cocktail bars right through to Kiwi breweries and Australian beer festivals, Mike has held almost every role in hospitality in some of the most unique venues across the world, including a couple of stints with Shaun and Balazs in London. They smuggled in rum, they smuggled in gin, but most of all they smuggled in brandy, lots and lots of brandy.

I ended up with a puddle of gin round the top which would have been wasted if I hadn't had the presence of mind to slurp it out. A rather savoury expression, with a coastal feeling to it, along with a few touches of citrus and spice. After a takeaway meal and trying to show my maturity by drinking more and more gin did not end well. Once upon a time Hendrick’s with its hint of cucumber or your Bombay Sapphire was as exotic as it got. It is from here that terms like ‘mother’s ruin’, ‘gin joint’, and ‘ gin-soaked’ , came into common parlance, surviving today.

I really enjoyed that read and made me want to go and start trying gin again, however my memory of the stuff is tainted. For an extra touch of seaside elegance, add a sprig of rosemary, bringing a fragrant herbal accent that enhances the gin’s unique character. Gin was apparently invented by monks in Salermo, Southern Italy in the 12th Century and began life as a medicinal liquor (yeah right, just medicinal, we’ve all said that 😉 ). Dr Squid Gin opens up when tonic is added release floral and citrus notes of meadow sweet and lemon.

The gin is a savoury Mediterranean style gin, from coriander, sea buck thorn and squid ink, a smooth full mouth feel from vanilla and a slight spice, pepper. Unsurprisingly, things got rather out of control and gin gained a negative reputation and was blamed for various social problems, including apparently mother’s abandoning their children and becoming whores, and an increased death rate.A celebration of the unique relationship between Cornwall and Mexico, with a depth of flavour that has to be tasted! Squid Ink is such a powerful ingredient that only a minimal amount is needed both for the distilling and colour or infusion of the gin. This vodka is very unusual but in my view lush and is taken best neat on the rocks with a pickled onion thrown in or perfect in a Bloody Mary…sorry, I digress! On many occasions we almost conceded that it would not be possible, neither the copper flask nor the balancing of the recipe, but it was an idea that we so steadfastly believed in that we could not let it go.