Marylebone Gin, 70 cl

Product Information

As Johnny Neill, the man behind Marylebone Gin, explains: “What I love about the idea of these gardens is the thought of Georgian refinement, with the likes of Handel hosting concerts there, side-by-side with a bit of notoriety, gambling and card sharping.” The finished liquid is then bottled in a stunning creation of vibrant cobalt blue, inspired by fine Bristol glassware from the 18th century. Pour all the ingredients into a glass shaker filled with ice. Pour into a glass and garnish with grapefruit zest.

While the majority of the gardens were well-lit with glittering lamps and laughter – novelist Tobias Smith wrote that the illuminations and magic lanterns “almost made me feel I was in some enchanted castle or fairy palace” – so-called ‘dark walks’, where paths snaked off into shadow, were prime hunting ground for predators of all kinds. Nose: Very spicy and rich with juniper upfront and coriander seed, angelica root and lemon sherbet in support. Johnny, you’re family is pretty much steeped in gin – so where does all this inspiration come from?Settle in the indoor lounge or venture out onto the wrap-around terrace and enjoy views of the London skyline while downing your beverage of choice. DJs provide endless entertainment from their treehouse “fort.” Mayahuel The bar has made a name for itself thanks to its multi-sensory creations where the skilled mixologists use aromas, fogs, airs, and foams to bring their unique concoctions to life. We’ll probably run her in the mornings for the most part, when the bar is quiet” Johnny laughs. “But the Marylebone Hotel has given Pleasure Gardens Distilling company a home, in what is probably London’s most centrally located distillery. We’re looking to source as much as we can locally, and – most importantly – to have as much fun as we possibly can!” You could say I grew up on gin,” laughs Johnny. “I’m descended from Thomas Greenall, who founded a brewery in 1762. Our family started distilling not long after, and my father, his uncle and my great grandfather all worked for the company. There’s a fair bit of history there.”

JN: It’s been a hell of a ride from early days when it was very hard to sell a premium gin to a bar and restaurant. It took a lot of time and effort. We were thinking around 2012-14 that things were going to slow down, but actually, it’s accelerated. It may slow down and might become more difficult in the on-trade over the next 18 months for operators to have such a large range of gin, but we’ll see how we go. But consumers are still on board and still experimenting. As long as we’re still producing really good liquids with interesting stories behind them and reasons for them then I don’t see it letting up. There are a number of new distilleries and I suppose we all think ‘gosh, how are they going to get it to market, but if there’s always a story behind the distillery and they’re producing good gin then why not? Everyone’s been very supportive of each other, everyone talks to each other in the industry, generally, every producer is happy to help. Whilst there’s competition, it’s healthy competition, there’s a lot of collaboration. He says, “The pleasure gardens gave me the inspiration to explore botanicals that are a little more floral in their outlook – chamomile, lemon balm and lime flower, with a hint of grapefruit to deliver a lovely, fresh, citrus-y zing.” Johnny works with Isabella, his stunning 50 litre still. Named after Isabella Greenall, the starting point of the Neill adventures in gin, and Johnny’s own daughter, recently she’s found a new home: 108 Bar at the Marylebone Hotel, right in centre of the world’s greatest metropolis. She’ll stay there for the foreseeable future, churning out lovely batches of beautiful gin as patrons sit and drink alongside her. MoM: Why did you decide to branch out and create different gin brands in Marylebone London Dry Gin and Berkshire Botanical gin? Marylebone is accessible via public transport with the Marylebone Station, Edgware Road, Baker Street, Great Portland Street, and Bond Street serving as close local stations.

The Best Bars in Marylebone

While Marylebone may fly under the radar for some, these are popular places so book ahead to avoid disappointment.