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21st November 2018
09:37am GMT
From a gossip in the pub, to your grandmothers quirky traditions, the exquisite literature of Joyce to de-de-de discussions on the Joe Duffy Show - the Irish love to chit, chatter and natter.
As a result of this, we're a nation filled with captivating culture and heritage. We've grown up listening to stories about who our ancestors were, what they did, where they came from. This is a big part in how we live and grow as a nation.
The storytelling tradition has passed on and we now see it and use it in our everyday life.
For me, having a drink is a very social thing. Whenever I have a gin and tonic, I'm usually surrounded by friends having a big catch up and telling stories.
Recently, I've become really interested in gin. I define myself as a GINfluencer and I've spent a lot of time reading up about it and doing my research... a.k.a drinking all kinds of gin.
Whenever I go to a bar, I ask the bartender for their recommendation and to tell me a little bit about the gin their serving. One gin that stood out for me as of late, was one that captured a story of Dublin City that I wasn't aware of.
When I went to join my friends at our table, I came back with bright eyes and a new scéal.
Chinnery Gin takes inspiration from Georgian Dublin and Imperial China.
In the 1800s, fruits were heavily imported from the sea trade with Imperial China. Huge East Indiaman ships would deliver silk, spices, tea and porcelin to Europe.
Many adventurers would board these ships in the hope of new discoveries and ideas. One of these voyagers was George Chinnery, an artist who left Dublin to sketch portraits of the traders of Canton and life in southern China.
This gin was created to remember him, tell his story and to bring a taste of the Old China Trade back to Ireland.
This is one of the cutest in bottles I've seen in a long time.
Even from a first glance, you can see the amount of effort that has gone into creating it.
On the front of the bottle, you'll see a Georgian Dublin building with its long windows and iconic brickwork. Through the windows you'll see a colourful chinoiserie print.
If you peer through, you can spot a tiny illustration of George Chinnery in the print.
The label says Chinnery in bold black print with it written in Chinese below.
It's really eye catching and would definitely be the centre of attention on any drinks trolley.
George Chinnery was born in London in 1774. He attended art school there, became a portrait artist. He moved to Dublin in 1796 and lived in the heart of Dublin city.
In those days Ireland still had its own parliament, stacked with peers and wealthy members who spread money about and supported a thriving social scene. These were the kind of people that would purchase Chinnery's work.
In 1802, he took an East India Company ship to India, where he continued his vocation as an artist. His portraits of the traders he saw are hugely important in documenting that era.
Chinnery Gin was created to capture some of the romance that can be seen in his work of the Old China Trade.
The gin is distilled with eight of its ten botanicals. The other two - osmanthus and oolong - are infused and distilled individually. This is done to give it a strong and unique flavour.
On the nose it's very sweet, floral and summery. There's warm notes of honey, strawberries and wild flowers. Of course, following through you'll get that sharp smell of juniper berries and aromatic spices finishing off with subtle zesty notes.
There's a fresh, herbal and creamy taste to the gin. Like the aroma, there's sweet and spicy flavours. It's well-rounded with a smooth finish.
Tonic brings the flavours of Oolong tea and Chinese spices through along with a kick from the coriander and juniper berries. It still manages however, to have sweet and crisp overall flavours.
Well...
Are you feeling Ginfluenced yet?
Header Image: @chinnerygin
READ MORE: GINFLUENCED: Ha'Penny Gin Captures The Essence Of Dublin In One Sip
