Private London Gin History Tour with Tastings

The journey, in full

Start your London Gin Tasting Experience in London’s Seven Dials, in the west end of London and greater Covent Garden area. Covent Garden is a hive of little passages and charming shopping streets that was once home to Chinatown’s opium dens, sordid theaters, and gin parlors. Your guide will navigate your way through this lively and beautiful district taking you back through 400 years of London’s history as you make your way to local pubs, get cozy, and introduce the world of Gins. From its humble medicinal origins to world-class spirit the story of Gin reflects the life and politics of its time. As you sample this uniquely clean and botanical beverage your guide will share stories of a drink that became known as “mothers Ruin” how Gin’s origins lie in a truly British rivalry with the French, and how for nearly half a century even the children of London were drinking up to three pints of the stuff per week. Discover how a supposedly moralistic driven and respectable city was turned into a pit of intoxication (a reputation that has proven hard for Londoners to shake off) where after just a few years of Gins creation more than 7,000 gin bars opened up in London alone. Dive into the past into a world of cabarets and top hats as your evening continues at elaborate, eccentric, and opulent Gin Palaces and the historic pubs before your guide helps you navigate the alleyways of the dandy West end. Sample different pairings and learn which gins work with which garnish, how to impress friends and guests by choosing the correct mixer, and the interesting story behind the addition of Indian Tonic water to this British staple.