We all know London is the home of gin and has been for 300 years or so. The history of gin drinking is quite colourful, filled with rogues, strumpets and vagabonds who lurched from one tavern to another in search of the juniper juice once known as Geneva. Many Gin acts were passed during the 1700’s in an attempt to control the production of shall we say, inferior quality gin. Some of these acts were harsh and often caused uproar amongst the distillers and gin hawkers of Ye Olde London Town.
One such act was put into force at midnight on September 29th 1736. This act meant you had to buy a license to sell gin. The license fee was £50, which given many people didn’t earn that in a year was quite restrictive.
Most people believed this would bean end to gin and a procession was held lamenting the death of Madam Geneva. Below is an original etching from the era showing the procession. Madam Geneva’s coffin with a glass, jug and barrel, being led to a graveyard and followed by a hoard of people. A sign on the tavern reads ‘Gin no more by retale’ .
The satirical etching, by an unknown artist has as much going on as any Hogarth does.
So, without the history lesson….. being a gin bar, and in London , we can’t let this date go unnoticed.
The wonderful people at £50 gin ( couldn’t be more appropriate if it tried) will be supporting our event on September 29th. We will be creating some cocktails and gin drinks fitting ( within reason) of the era and celebrating all that is now good about gin! which, lets face is, is a lot!
If you fancy popping in let us know and book a table!
