Harbour views, kickass cocktails and friendly staff make Gin & It add up to damn good time. The pop-up cocktail bar comes from the guys behind the Barber Shop, and they’re showcasing not only the largest selection of gin in the country but celebrating one cocktail in particular: the ultra-strong, super-delightful Gin & It.
So first things first: if you like Martinis, this is the drink to order. It’s a blend of high-strength Star of Bombay gin, barrel-aged Cocchi, vermouth di Torino and housemade orange bitters. It’s clean and fresh and beautifully balanced – and we can see why they named this place after it.
All the cocktails here come in intriguing little bottles, which the super-friendly staff pre-prepare to save time when it gets busy. Good idea! They're mixed up every morning so remain super fresh. In fact this wouldn't matter with a Negroni anyway, as it’s devoid of fresh ingredients (it's what makes this cocktail the perfect at-home tipple: three pours and you're set). Here it's a blend of Bombay Sapphire gin which has been barrel aged to give a caramel-like, woody quality that's perfect in this drink, which is essentially a celebration of bitter. Then there's the requisite Campari, a blend of two vermouths (La Quintinye and Punt E Mes), orange zest spray and a little mineral water, so you don't have to wait for the cocktail to water down before you dive right in.
Another highlight is the Coriandrum, which tastes like a bonfire by way of Bombay Sapphire gin smoked over apple cedar wood. It's savoury, herbaceous and slightly sweet thanks to the coriander and housemade celery liquor, and there's a kick of acid from fresh lemon. Don't leave without trying it: it's the best drink here.
The Peach and Beet is less earthy than you'd expect, and more peachy that you might like. It's the juice cocktail for people who don't love the taste of strong booze.
There's also an extensive wine list, plus beers for those not into the hard stuff. So, with bartenders of this calibre, views this impressive and cocktails this good, it's time to treat yourself.