Join us to celebrate all things gin with the support of ‘Fifty Pounds’
When William of Orange prohibited the importing of alcohol to
England in the early Eighteenth Century, so began the production
and consumption of (domestic) English gin by huge numbers of
distillers, the majority being of dubious quality.
Its popularity was such, especially amongst the poor, that gin was
distilled and sold in one fifth of all London homes. This excessive
and uncontrolled consumption provoked a rapid degradation of
society, a period given the name the Gin Craze.
In trying to curb this ‘social evil’, the 1736 Gin Act was introduced
during the reign of George II, whereby an annual levy of £50 was
imposed on those wishing to produce and sell gin.
After six years, just two distilleries had agreed to pay this tax.
Shortly after the Gin Act 1736, a family of independent London
Distillers came up with an original gin recipe, known ironically
amongst themselves as ‘Fifty Pounds’ in honour of the Gin Act levy,
which was characterised by its particular smoothness and flavour.
The recipe remained hidden for generations, until the descendants
of those pioneering master distillers rescued it from oblivion and
re‐discovered its extraordinary qualities. so, come and try some!