Gin’s popularity has somewhat boomed in the UK and shows no sign of dwindling, with new distilleries, innovative creations and masterclasses popping up all over the place.
We joined award-winning Franklin & Sons at Balls Brothers Austin Friars for the ultimate gin and tonic pairing masterclass, and not even a chilly Tuesday evening could lessen my excitement.
On arrival we sipped a welcome G&T and nibbled canapés, eager for the evening ahead. We then headed downstairs to let the masterclass commence. The space was intimate with soft lighting, wooden furniture, exposed brick walls and framed pictures decorating the walls, lending both a relaxed and quirky vibe. Each table was laid with the Franklin & Sons gin matt, revealing which gins and tonics we would be soon be guzzling.
Franklin & Sons was founded in 1886; the brainchild of three brothers who were originally carpenters by trade. They created their own blend of handcrafted, premium, carbonated drinks using a method that they still use today. Using natural mineral water and with no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners, the resulting tonics are crisp and fresh.
We were presented with the four gins of choice and worked our way through them with the famous Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley, who lead the masterclass. We used our senses to appreciate the notes of the four gins we would be pairing with Franklin & Sons’ tonics and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the spirit itself. This helped us to make the most out of the flavours. Then, we moved on to pairing them.
The pairings were as follows:
Indian Tonic – City of London dry gin
Light Tonic – Silent Pool gin
Sicilian Lemon Tonic – Sipsmith sloe gin
Ginger Ale – Rhubarb gin
Garnishes including citrus peel, orange, lime and lemon, star anise, cinnamon sticks and juniper berries. Each added personality and allowed us to get a little creative.
Up first was the City of London dry gin paired with Franklin & Sons’ tonic water – a very luxurious classic.
Next was Silent Pool gin. It’s a refreshing, floral gin and a classic at heart. It’s full-bodied and fresh, with depth, clarity and above all else, flavour. It features 24 locally sourced botanicals, including lime, chamomile, local honey and lavender. The result was a very clean, subtly sweet and intricately balanced libation with lavender, chamomile and juniper on the nose and a long-lasting, dry finish.
Pairing number three was my (and most of the room’s) favourite of the night. Sipsmiths sloe gin was paired with the Sicilian lemon tonic, which boasted a very natural, zingy fresh flavour and balanced the warming notes of the sloes nicely. In fact, I think it would pair well with most gins – it was just that delicious.
Last but certainly not least was the quintessential rhubarb gin paired with ginger ale. Again, this was refreshing rather than overpowering, and not a combination I would have thought to pair myself but came in as my second favourite.
Overall, the brilliant experience made me think outside the box and up my G&T game. Franklin & Sons have taught me that tonic can make or break a concoction, so I will certainly be keeping an eye out for the gorgeous vintage branding in the shops. I couldn’t resist buying the sloe gin and Sicilian lemon tonic for myself – it’s a very tasty drink indeed.
