November 2009

Join the Gintelligentsia at our Martin Miller’s Gin Masterclasses

Head of Martin Miller’s Gin in the UK, Craig Harper educated and entertained our first 20 members of the Gintelligentsia at Miller's Residence in Notting Hill.  Due to the success of the event, which was hosted by Martin himself, the second phase of Masterclasses in London next year has been organised. Craig takes guests through the history of the Gin Martini and they have the chance to mix and shake their own cocktails. Everyone goes home with a bottle of the super premium gin and a Story of Martin Miller's Gin hardback book, for £10 per person.  Plans are afoot for gintelligent Masterclasses in Scotland and the rest of England in 2010. 

For further information and tickets: masterclass@martinmillersgin.com

October 2009

Calling the Gintelligentsia

Calling all aspiring cocktail connoisseurs, Martin Miller’s Gin is launching the ‘Martin Miller’s Gin. Masterclasses for the Gintelligentsia’ at Miller’s Residence, Martin Miller’s boutique hotel in Notting Hill, London. The Classes will be held during November, December and January and will be co-hosted by Martin Miller and Craig Harper, Master Mixologist and Head of Martin Miller’s Gin. A limited amount of tickets will be available at £10 each, redeemable against a bottle of Martin Miller’s Gin on the night. For more information email: masterclass@martinmillersgin.com

October 2009

Martin Miller’s 10th Anniversary Strength Gin scoops ‘Best Gin’
at ISC Awards

Martin Miller is delighted to announce that his 10th Anniversary Strength Gin scooped the ‘Best Gin’ Trophy last night at the ISC Awards in London.  Martin says: "I’m delighted that the excellent quality of Martin Miller's Gin has been recognised by the ISC, particularly as the judging panel includes some of the best palates in the world and we were up against some of the best gin brands in the world.  I’m proud to say we've produced a world-class 54% super premium gin, distilled in England, with some of the world's purest water added in Iceland, shipped in 1,000 striking bottles and labels lovingly signed by me. It’s 10 out of 10 on our 10th Anniversary!”

The Trophy joins the two Gold medals already awarded to Martin’s Westbourne and 10th Anniversary Strength gins by the International Spirits Challenge and Martin is particularly pleased as, out of a total of three Gold Medals awarded in the blind-tasting of gins, Martin Miller’s Gin won two. The 1,000 Limited Edition hand-signed bottles will be used to celebrate the 10th Anniversary and are being given to friends of Martin Miller’s Gin and to those who have helped the growth of the world’s first super premium gin.

September 2009

Martin Miller's Gin
at 69 Colebrooke Row

Craig Harper, Head of Martin Miler’s Gin in the UK, drinks a Martin Miller’s Gin Martini in the fantastic 69 Colebrooke Row, from his own 4th century Roman glass. Craig was with Stu and Camille Hobby-Limon, at the newly opened “Bar with no name” in Islington, London. Camille and Tony Conigliaro are behind the new bar – Tony C was voted International Bartender of the Year 2009 at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans recently.

July 2009

Top Bar Man Ryan Chetiyawardana
Wins Martin Miller’s Gin 10th Anniversary
Cocktail Competition On Brighton Beach

The super premium brand, Martin Miller’s Gin, celebrated its 10th Anniversary this week by hosting a UK Cocktail Competition with a difference. Craig Harper, Head of Martin Miller’s Gin in the UK, decided that a novel venue of Brighton Beach itself would be a fitting way to celebrate the brand’s 10th Birthday. Top barmen from around the UK joined a panel of judges to compete for a trip to the Martin Miller’s Gin Masters in the US in November. In view of Brighton Pier and its slightly less sturdy neighbour, the West Pier, and a pebble’s throw from the beach itself, the participants battled it out over an al fresco bar.

The winner overall was Edinburgh’s Ryan Chetiyawardana of Bramble, with his 10th Anniversary Cocktail, Decennalia, with the winning ingredients of Martin Miller’s Gin and Springbank 10 year old Single Malt and with his ‘Lost & Stolen’ drink Ace of Violets, for which he redistilled Miller’s Westbourne Strength to produce an innovative Crème d’Yvette drink. Jamie MacDonald, Barman at the newly opened Hotel Missoni, won first prize in the ‘Lost & Stolen’ category with a Cosmo and it was his knowledge and balance of the cocktail which won him the round. Cameron Daws from Koba in Brighton won the prize for Overall Bar Personality with what Lucinda McCaffrey, Martin Miller’s Gin Brand Ambassador, described as his “cheeky personality” and his “hilarious” speed round meant the judges voted they would most like to sit at his bar. The other finalists included Dave White from Tiger Lily and Nico Espagnol from Lonsdale, who for the Speed Round stripped down to his Speedo swimming trunks!

Martin Miller’s Gin 10th Anniversary Cocktail
Decennalia by Ryan Chetiyawardana
2 brown sugar cubes Rhubarb bitters
50ml Martin Miller’s Gin Westbourne Strength
25ml Springbank 10 Year Old Single Malt
1 x whole egg Grapefruit zest

Martin Miller’s Gin Lost & Stolen Cocktail
Act of Violets by Ryan Chetiyawardana
37.5ml Martin Miller’s Gin 40
20ml fresh lemon juice
25ml Martin Miller’s Yvette (redistilled Martin Miller’s Gin with Crème d’Yvette)
10ml Noilly Dry
Dash of Angostura Orange
1 x egg white
Nutmeg

June 2009

The Martin Miller’s Gin Flaming Art Festival

A piece of art by Banksy was saved from the bonfire at the inaugural Martin Miller’s Gin Flaming Art Festival in Wookey Hole, Somerset recently. An anonymous bidder paid £1,600 for the painted log signed ‘Banksy’ to save it from the flames of the ‘installation’ bonfire at the first of Martin Miller, of Miller’s Antiques Price Guides fame, Flaming Art Festivals. Martin says: “Under any other circumstances a piece of wood would be eminently suitable for burning, but this Banksy piece was delivered to Glencot House Hotel by a guy wearing a pulled down base ball cap and sunglasses yesterday afternoon.” Glencot House is close to Bristol, where Banksy originates and home to his latest exhibition. Any art that was not bought at the auction, which raised £4,500 for charity, was then added to the bonfire and burnt.

Martin Miller’s Gin Flaming Red Snapper and Chilli Bees Knees cocktails were served to bidders by award-winning mixologists using Martin’s eponymous gin.

Martin Miller toasting art by Banksy at the Martin Miller's Gin Flaming Art Festival

May 2009

The Martin Miller’s Gin
Flaming Art Festival

Martin Miller, maverick entrepreneur and founder of his eponymous gin, is launching the inaugural Martin Miller’s Gin Flaming Art Festival in Somerset in June. The Festival is being held three days before Glastonbury, to raise money for charity and to celebrate the 10th Birthday of the world’s first super premium gin.

In aid of the Nordoff Robbins Trust, Martin Miller is asking for donations of modern art for an Auction at his retreat, Glencot House, Wookey Hole on the longest day of the year Sunday 21st June which coincides with Father’s Day. Martin hopes he will attract work from some famous amateur artists such as Ronnie Wood and Queen’s Roger Taylor. “Anything not sold will be hung on a giant frame as an installation. Then we'll throw it to the flames and have a barbecue,” says Miller. “It's time people had an opportunity to assess whether Damien Hirst's work is truly worthy or should face the mighty fires!”

Martin will be joined by ex Christie’s and Sotheby’s Auctioneer Terence Rodriguez.
Any art suitable for the flames, or indeed to be saved, can be delivered to Miller’s Academy off Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill Gate or Glencot House Hotel, Wookey Hole, before the event, or brought with you on the evening. For tickets please contact Reception at Glencot House Hotel on 01749 677160. Exclusive and original cocktails will be showcased by Miller’s Master Mixologist, Craig Harper:

• The Flaming Red Snapper:
Martin Miller’s Gin’s take on the spicy Bloody Mary

• The Combustible Gin & Tonic:
An alternative to the traditional G&T with a garnish of Flaming Bitters
(don’t try this at home!)

• The Naga Chilli Bees Knees:
A Martin Miller’s Gin-based cocktail with Somerset honey and a molecular foam
with a hint of Dorset Naga chilli (the hottest in the world)

18th May 2009

Martin Miller’s Gin
Strikes Double Gold at 2009 International Spirits Challenge

Martin Miller's Gin Anniversary Strength Limited Edition and Martin Miller's Gin Westbourne Strength have both been awarded a Gold Medal at the prestigious International Spirits Challenge 2009.

Craig Harper, Head of UK Sales for Martin Miller's Gin comments: "We are really pleased that the high quality of Martin Miller's Gin has been recognised by the ISC. It's great that in our 10th Anniversary year we've also produced a world-class 54% AbV version which is distilled in England, has some of the world's purest water added in Iceland and is shipped in 1,000 striking bottles, with labels hand signed and numbered by Martin Miller himself.”

Martin Miller’s Gin Westbourne Strength is a multi award-winning 45.2% AbV gin, widely used and recognised in the On Trade as a gin for cocktail mixology. These industry accolades confirm the quality of the product which Martin Miller and his friends David Bromige and Andreas Versteegh created in 1999 ‘with obsessive attention to detail’, becoming pioneers of the category and founders of the world’s first super premium gin.

Martin Miller’s Gin’s numerous awards include the Gold Medal yet again at the 2009 San Francisco World Competition, for the fourth consecutive year, Gold Medals in The International Spirit Challenge in 2005 and 2007, Silver Medals in 2004 and 2008 and Overall Trophy Winner in 2007.

Martin Miller’s Gin is distributed in the key markets of the UK, US, and Australia.

April 2009

Drinking at Foodies

Foodies Festivals are feasts for lovers of all things food and drink. The top chefs from the best restaurants are in action at Foodies with a chance to tempt taste buds with the most delicious food and drink. www.gintime.co.uk is hosting a series of Gin Tutored Tastings at this year’s Foodies Festival going in depth on top gin brands including Martin Miller’s Gin. All the demonstrations, sampling and Master Classes are free and there’s a special 2 for 1 on entry to Foodies Festivals.  Call Seetickets on 0871 230 7144 and quote Foodies-2-for1-ticket offer.

Foodies Festivals:
Hampton Court Palace, London – 23, 24 and 25th May
Glasgow – 18th and 19th July
Edinburgh – 22nd and 23rd August
Detailed information on events: www.foodiesfestival.com