FOR THE LOVE OF GIN.....AND TRAVEL!

As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to travel the world to experience the cultures, cuisines and challenges that come from visiting and exploring a foreign country. It was the reason I left South Africa to backback around Europe in the 80s and why I never returned there and now call the UK my home. There was, and still is, always another country to visit or place I want to see or return to, so I kept postponing and eventually had to accept that I would never permanently return to Cape Town, as the opportunities for travel were better and easier from the UK.  

Why do I mention all this? Well, it will hopefully explain why I love to do my virtual gin tours and why I have a rather large international gin collection! I travel vicariously through my gin collection and for the past year, that's pretty much all the travel most of us have been able to do! I learn about the locality, cultures, folklore and so much more about each bottle I own, by doing the research and writing a little story about each gin or stop along the virtual route. If you have followed me for a while, you will know I did a European and Scottish Virtual Gin Tour last year, as well as a whizz-stop dash around the world for World Gin Day last June.

This year, I want to take my time and taking some inspiration from Phileas Fogg, I am going to attempt a Round The World in 80 Gins/Days! 80 days definitely....we will have to see if I can do 80 gins too..... that means 80 daily posts on Instagram and then adding the information onto my website as well! I must be crazy, but I'm chomping at the bit and cannot wait to start the research and learn loads along the way about my collection and what makes each bottle so unique. I've no idea what I will uncover or find in my searches, but hopefully it will be interesting and there will be good stories to tell.  

I think it is apt to end the tour on World Gin Day 2021, which means I need to set off on my travels on 25th March and end back in the UK on 12th June. I will not be forgetting some much loved UK brands along my route - so expect a few honorary posts to fill the gaps or where brands take inspiration from other countries or use botanicals from faraway places.  

I'm super excited as you can tell, as this combines my love of travel and gin and it's probably going to take me to places I may never get to visit in my lifetime. Hope you all enjoy the stories..... and most of all, the gins!