Continuing throughout the summer, GinFest will showcase more than 38 premium brands, including a wide range of engaging and/or educational events and activations such as masterclasses, gin tours, secret gin parties and social media giveaways.
The pub group has also teamed up with spirits brand Diageo and Tanqueray brand ambassador Tim Homewood, to create a bespoke, limited-edition Barrel-Aged Tanqueray Festival Gin.
Festival exclusive
The spirit has been added to repurposed whisky barrels for four weeks and just 400 litres of the gin will be available exclusively at the festival.
Among the variety of gins available, there are 14 new entries and a focus on Navy-Strength, Old Tom and flavour-led varieties, such as Sipsmith VJOP, Hayman’s Old Tom, Bathtub Old Tom, Warner Edwards Victoria’s Rhubarb, Williams Sloe & Mulberry and Plymouth Navy Strength.
Also Nicholson Gin, which is relaunching this summer, will be available alongside premium non-alcoholic spirit Seedlip for non-drinkers.
Among the exclusive events taking place is a 1940s party, ‘Little Bird Fly By’, and a gin tour of selected pubs.
Gin heritage
Nicholson’s marketing manager Annette Middleton said: “Nicholson’s love of gin goes way back – our founder William Nicholson first started his career running a gin distillery in London and we are still serving the best gins in many of his venues today.
“We want to share our love of gin with consumers and get them engaged with as many experiences and tastings as possible to not only reinforce their love for the spirit, but to educate them on this booming category.
“This year’s GinFest is the biggest to date and our aim is to keep growing with the category and the current craft distilling movement.”