Keep your gin up!
In an effort to keep spirits high, Harbour Lights at The Sefton have created their very own GIN CLUB!
If you didn’t get your hands their first gin box last week, here’s what you missed out on!
Anyone who knows me (and even some who don’t – what’s THAT all about?) knows that I am a gin fan. A lover of all things ginny. A gin-ficionado, if you will.
In fairness, it has always been my tipple of choice – long before it became a thing – and I have quaffed many, many, MANY brands and styles over the years. I even have a gin cupboard – true story. My absolute favourites come from the East Anglian coast, just up the road from where I grew up, namely Adnams Copper House and Adnams Rising Sun – but it’s not easy to get them here, and Adnams doesn’t deliver to the IOM. Which is a bit poo, frankly.
Anyhoooo, I am now an avid fan of Fynoderee (all the ‘seasons’ – love ’em all), which was started by my good friends, Tiffany and Paul Kerruish. Their gins are utterly lovely, produced in small batches with an artisan vibe, a fabulous Manx legend as inspo, and wonderful branding and artwork (take a bow, Julia Ashby-Smythe!).
As well as keeping it local with Fynoderee, for three years or so I have been a member of the Craft Gin Club, a UK-based subscription service which delivers an interesting gin (often with a great back story), good tonics, garnishes and snacks, along with instructions for how to make the perfect serves and yummy cocktails. You can imagine my delight when I learnt that we were getting our own island-based version, organised by Harbour Lights at The Sefton – happiest of happy days!
I signed up pronto, and my box was delivered (social distance-styley) on Saturday by a smiley chap in a Wiltshire Farm Foods van – which confused the heck out of me and I nearly sent him away, until he explained it was my gin box!
It was such a treat, packaged beautifully: a bottle of Fynoderee ‘Winter’, a selection of tonics (admittedly not a brand I would ever buy – I am a total tonic snob, soz), some additional mixers for cocktails, an cute garnish pack, a fresh lemon and lime, and some snackage – most of which was scarfed down during our weekly quiz night with the family on Zoom. Chocolate (Green & Blacks and Bournville) and a few savoury snacks – perfect!
Apparently the first box has been such a success that Harbour Lights at The Sefton is going to launch a regular subscription service – the first box was priced at £45, including delivery, which is good value considering the gin alone is £36 from the Fyn shop.
I will be signing up, for certain.
My only request is for a different tonic (FeverTree, pretty please!). Having a treat delivered to the house is great in these strange times and you will be supporting a range of local businesses – from Fynoderee in this month’s box, to Harbour Lights, to the local suppliers of the snacks.
I can’t wait to see what is in the next box and am delighted to ‘keep it local’ – if you like your gin, you won’t be disappointed.
You can order a one of box or sign up at: www.ginbox.im
Cheers, bottoms up, and chin chin!
