The Barbican has announced a collaboration with East London Liquor Company to launch a special edition Barbican London Dry Gin, which will be available for conference and event delegates to buy in the Barbican Shop and drink at events using the centre’s bars from March 2019.
The gin has been distilled using the finest 100% British wheat spirit infused with lemon & grapefruit peel, coriander, angelica root, juniper berries, cubeb berries and cardamom, and features a label design inspired by the iconic Brutalist architecture of the Barbican.
To celebrate its launch, the head mixologist at the Barbican’s Martini Bar, which is available for hire as part of the Barbican’s event offering, has created a ‘Signature’ Barbican Gin and Elderflower Martini cocktail, which blends the Barbican London Dry Gin with elderflower liqueur, apple juice, lemon juice and fresh ginger to release the bold, fresh, citrus flavours of the gin. The ‘Signature’ cocktail will be served at the Martini Bar on the first floor of the Barbican Centre throughout the spring and summer.
The first whisky, gin and vodka distillery to find its home in east London in over 100 years, East London Liquor Company has been at the forefront of the boom in quality spirits since it began distilling in Bow Wharf by Victoria Park in 2014. Tom Hills, Head Distiller at East London Liquor Company, said: ‘I can remember my first visit to the Barbican and being in awe of the structure and brutalism around me. More recently, the Barbican’s progressive arts programming has been a steadfast source of inspiration and a reminder of the merits of wholehearted commitment to interdisciplinary innovation. I want Barbican Gin to convey that same boldness with fresh citrus and the spice of the cubeb berries and cardamom. I can think of no better way to enjoy everything that the Barbican has to offer than with a gin cocktail in hand.’
Jo Davis, Head of Retail at the Barbican, said: ‘London has always been associated with gin, and with a gin renaissance happening over the last few years it was only right that we should introduce it to the Barbican! We were excited to learn about East London Liquor Company who, located almost on our doorstep in Mile End, have brought gin distilling back to London’s East End after more than a century.
Jackie Boughton, Head of Barbican Business Events concludes: ‘We are always looking for new ways to enhance the delegate experience here at the Barbican. Offering our own gin is just another part of that process and we hope to announce opportunities for client tastings and drinks packages using the gin in the near future.’