As with many ginthusiasts, I acquired my taste for gin by being introduced to Gordon's and Schweppes.  This was probably served up to me on a flight over Africa, as I really don't remember drinking gin before I left South Africa to settle in the UK in the late 80's!

I moved on to Tanqueray, mostly enjoyed visiting friends and while travelling around the USA, and who further encouraged me to keep drinking my T&Ts.

Back in the UK I was taken in by the beautiful blue Bombay Sapphire bottles and many of these were consumed with my cousin in Reading, as well as at home.  I know there is a stash of blue bottles somewhere in the back of a cupboard - too pretty to recycle but which I probably should throw out, as whatever pinterest project I intended doing with them, will probably never happen! 

Fast forward to the gin boom which hit a few years ago, when I realised that this was a drink I loved and I wanted to learn more about it.  You could say I'm a bit obsessed, as I'll always find a way to wangle in a visit to a distillery I may be passing on my travels or catch up with friends in the industry!

As time has passed, I have accumulated a vast collection of gin (close to 600 last count) and I have probably tried many more gins along the way.  I don't profess to know it all, but I'm a keen learner and curious enough to want to know and learn more about what I'm drinking, how it's made and what goes into it.  The backstories for brands also interests me and I've been fortunate to have met several distillers, who have been kind enough to give up their time to meet me to tell me all about their business.  

During the pandemic in 2020 we were all unable to get out and about and given my interest in travelling, I decided to explore my gin collection and travel vicariously through it.  As a result I completed several "virtual gin tours", including Europe, Scotland and also 80 Days Around The World. 

These are not your usual gin reviews and involved many hours of research per writeup and include storytelling, local/destination information and much more.  The stories were fascinating and fuelled my interest in learning more about brands, rather than just taking a bottle and the liquid inside it at face value.   I plan to convert some of these into actual tours, or at least visit some of the destinations covered, when travel abroad becomes easier and when time and money allows.  

Since 2021 I have been privileged to judge alongside leading names in the spirits industry for the World Gin Awards, Gin Masters and Scottish Gin Co-operative Awards, which was not only an honour but also fantastic learning experience for me.  I generally dislike writing tasting notes as I think it's all subjective, but it is reassuring to taste alongside professionals and have similar opinions on many samples.

I regularly post content on social media about whatever gin I'm drinking or reviewing.  These may  include brands from my collection that I've purchased, or that I have been gifted.  I have to date not charged for posts on any of my social media channels or website, as this allows me to write honestly and remain independent.  If I'm asked, I am happy to offer copy pre publication for fact checking purposes, my opinions in the review will always remain my own.  

I also reserve the right to decline gifted offers should I not have time to review the item or feel that I would not do it justice, or discuss payment depending on the nature of the media request.  I have more gin in my collection that I can consume in my lifetime, so if I do accept a gifted bottle, it's usually because I want to support a small brand and am happy to share my thoughts about it on social media with my followers.

I am always flattered when brands ask to share my Instagram posts and by agreement I am happy for them to be shared, as long as I am credited correctly.  

I am also open to paid freelance product photography, content creating opportunities, or consulting and can be emailed privately to discuss.  

In closing, thank you  to the distillers, and to the lovely insta-community of ginthusiasts and ginfluencers, who I am privileged to be part of, whom I learn from every day and whom keep me entertained while quaffing through my gin collection. 

Allison