Gin Discovery

Being a gin enthusiast myself, I was very excited to attend this ‘All Around the World with Different Gins’ experience and it definitely didn’t disappoint from start to finish!

I was warmly welcomed by Rob, the gin tasting host, on my arrival with a refreshing sea glass gin cocktail. He was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the history of gin, as well as educating us on the different botanicals used in gin and encouraging us to engage with our taste buds.
Along the way I learned about the history of Genever, how the Dutch influenced the British to drink this and where the phrase ‘Dutch courage’ originates from. We also got to smell the famous juniper berry and discover its contribution to the world of gin.
Three courses were served in between the gin samples and I enjoyed some delicious sweet potato fries, chicken burger and a gorgeous home-made brownie with ice-cream!

Of course the best part has to be the gin itself! Tasters included ‘Old Tom’ Gin, Genever and Mermaid Gin and we also got to enjoy some delicious cocktails as a result! I tried a Rhubarb tonic which I loved and as I usually prefer to have lemonade with my gin, I was pleasantly surprised. We even got Negroni’s made for us which were lovely.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and would recommend this to anyone who loves gin and wants to explore more!

Top Tip
Seize the opportunity to experiment with different flavours and garnishes that you wouldn’t normally try!

Situated at the very foot of Cheddar Gorge, Lion Rock Tea Rooms is surrounded by beautiful scenery and stunning views. We were greeted by a very friendly member of staff when we arrived and given the choice of tables available. We were also asked what order we’d like the gin and tea and we opted for gin first, followed by food, then finished with the tea. There were two choices of gin for us to choose – a classic or a fruit flavoured gin – both served with ice and tonic. The food was delicious and included salmon/egg/cheese sandwiches, homemade scones with cream and jam and a selection of sweets to finish. All were served on a beautiful 3-tier stand with delicate mismatched china plates and cups. We were very impressed with the food and presentation. The tea came in a large tea pot and was served traditionally as tea leaves – there was enough tea there for about 4 cups each! After we finished eating, we decided to have a look around the tearoom and discovered lots of interesting artefacts including an old retro TV and photos of Cheddar Gorge throughout the years. Overall, we both thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon and would recommend to anyone who loves good food and quaint tearooms.

Top Tip
Take some time to have a look around the tearoom – especially upstairs!