The Power Of Pink

You can never go wrong with a little pink…….. a lot works too!

With the ever rising popularity of Gin drinks rocketing our supermarket shelves, it is no wonder that the new pink gin phase has taken the commercial world by storm. But why has this newfound gin got us so addicted?

In the mid-1800s, Pink Gin or Pink Plymouth was a cocktail made fashionable consisting of Plymouth gin infused with a dash of ginger. Despite beliefs of many – pink gin is actually not pink, but clear with citrus oils from lemon rind used to compliment the flavour of this tremendous tipple.

21st century Gin

Today Pink Gin is transformational. It’s now catching the eyes of new age gin drinkers out there with companies infusing the traditional recipes with sweeter flavours such as strawberries and raspberries to infuse a cocktail hint of a drink once consumed only by sailors. This millennial target audience has caused companies to transform bottles, ingredients and even the colour of their gins to make them more appealing to a wider audience which has now become one of the biggest beverage crazes of the 21stCentury – anyone would struggle now to walk into a bar and not find a pink gin smoothly placed on the optic shelf.

Our top 5 Pink Gins to try right now

5th Fire Red Fruits

A sweet and almost silky sprit, 5th Fire has been gently infused with a whole range of soft red fruits (including blackberry, blueberry, currant and strawberry). Gooseberry and strawberry come through initially with a mild but noticeable juniper bitterness. This is a fantastically experimental gin. We suggest serve over ice with Fever-Tree Tonic, a slice of Strawberry and piece of dark chocolate.

Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin

All you sweet tooth’s out there will appreciate this twist on the original juniper-heavy Gordon’s gin recipe. Bursting with berries – raspberries, strawberries and all things berrylicious – the result is a slightly sweeter take on your average G&T but with an underlying tartness that will wow your taste buds. We suggest serve with two parts lemonade and one part prosecco, before garnishing with fresh strawberries.

Greenall’s Wild Berry

This pink version has been infused with a mix of juicy blackberries and raspberries, grown on English hedgerows. This fruity twist on an old classic works particularly well with lime juice and ginger beer so here at Hogarth’s we suggest you serve it exactly this way.

Eden Mill Love Gin

This hibiscus and rose petal infused gin produces one of the palest pink gin from our selection. The sweetness of strawberries in this gin really impacts the delivery of the smooth and luxurious flavour and leaves its consumer with an aftertaste of all things sweet. Replace ice cubes with frozen berries, and top up with elderflower tonic for the ultimate serve.

Slingsby Rhubarb Gin

Based in the picturesque town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, Slingsby uses the local spring water to create its dry gin. Yorkshire rhubarb is added to this small batch gin resulting in a well balanced sweetness and hint of tang. Our perfect serve would be neat or with Schweppes Ginger Ale.

Is Britain Gin Crazy?

Since its introduction in the 17th Century, Gin’s history has been something of ups and downs. However, in recent years, it has become one of drinks of choice for Britons across the country.

Although William Hogarth’s 1751 art depicted gin drinking as evil and life ruining for the inhabitants of the famous Gin Lane, it is surprising how stylish and sophisticated it now is to have a perfect serve G&T in your local bar or pub.

The 1920s saw the boom in positivity in regards to the classiness of the Gin and Tonic. It hit the heights of glamour and was adopted as the “Cinderella of Spirits” as it became the fuel of many upper-class and regal parties and events.

Despite fizzling out of popularity in the mid-20th century, the love of all things gin has grown and grown in the new 21st Century which has a new, more sophisticated and hipper, outlook on the famous clear spirit. With gin flavours being imagined like never before, now you can grab a gin that tastes like nothing you have had in your life. Long gone are the days of the ‘classic G&T’ and now are the days of gin that defies the sense and that is re-envisioned to make us fall in love with the terrific tipple once again.

And new studies have shown that gin can even cure your common cold, with winter well and truly here, this gives us even more a reason to drink our beloved gin.

“Thanks to its natural base ingredients – juniper, sage, coriander, nutmeg, rosemary, gin come packed with fruity antioxidants and herbal benefits that could power each glass with some rather healthy rewards.

Juniper berries are considered a superfood, in that they come laden with fortifying antioxidants and plenty of Vitamin C, which could help to stave off colds, flu and bugs.

Gin also contains low sulphite levels, another “cold villain” that is particularly difficult for asthmatics”

With over 45 million bottles of gin purchased last year, Britain is set to become one of the greatest gin consumers in the world. UK gin sales have doubled with records reaching a staggering £1.2bn in 2016. New brands are stepping into the limelight and classic brands are jumping on coloured & flavoured gin bandwagon – it’s no wonder we have gone gin crazy.

At no point does our love of this tremendous tipple seem to be slowing down and with new colours, flavours and textures of gin created each and every day by brands across the world, it is no surprise that our drink of choice is the glorious G&T.

So if you are new to this gin craze or simply want to try something more ginspirational then head to Hogarth’s – The Home of Gin and get your hands on our many perfect serves and join the craze that is sweeping the nation…one balloon glass at a time.