Tom Flint: A celebration of sensational Sussex gin

The thing that is so great about gin is its versatility. You can flavour it with pretty much anything, provided juniper is the main botanical, and the variety and diversity of flavour means that there is something for everyone. This is something that the founders of The Brighton Gin Club are only too aware of, and want to celebrate.

Brighton Gin Club specialises in creating one-off pop-up events. These range from tasting events through to chef collaborations, matching gin with a variety of different cuisines. Being the booze purist that I am, read as ‘borderline alcoholic’ I spurned the food pairings and went straight for the festival of Sussex gins at Hotel Du Vin. As the name suggests the event showcased the different gin suppliers that our county is now home to.

Upon arrival at Hotel du Vin I was presented with my gin festival glass, tasting glass and informed that all producers would be offering a free taster and drinks tokens could be purchased from the bar for longer drinks. This was music to my ears being a fan of consuming my gin neat, provided it is a good one. I started my tasting at Foxhole gin, which is made at Bolney vineyard from the by-products of wine production. A great looking bottle and a decent sipping gin, I think it would be better suited to a nice G&T.

Next up I tried the rather confidently named Brilliant Gin. These guys were clearly going for the more luxurious market, with some slick marketing and branding. The gin was decent, a smooth and easy drinking London dry, and would be a quality mixing gin in most people’s collection. I moved quickly onto Slake who are from Shoreham, operating out of a garage. This is a superb gin packed with layers of flavour and can be sipped with ease.

Next up was my favourite new discovery of the festival, Mayfield. The gin is produced using Sussex hops as one of the main botanicals, and their suggested serving style is to mix a double shot with a local IPA – novel indeed. The gin itself was very easy going, with the classic citrus notes and then grassy savoury bitterness that comes from the hops. I was drawn to their bottle thanks to the medieval imagery, and was pleased that the gin kept my interest. A bottle of this now sits within my collection I enjoyed it that much.

I finished at the always impressive Blackdown stand. We got to sample a gin recently created under licence for the Grosvenor hotel called Simpson’s. If you are a liquorice fan you will go mad for it. I am not but still thought it sensational. I then discovered that Sarah was offering vespa martinis as a long drink, and this was the best news I had all day. The all Blackdown vespa was one of the best Martinis I’ve sampled and a thing of beauty.

Brighton Gin Club holds regular events and tastings throughout the year. For details on upcoming events head over to their website at www.brightonginclub.com