The camp is split when it comes to freezing vodka, though it should certainly be chilled (0-4°C is optimal). While freezing vodka improves the viscosity and achieves a richer mouthfeel, you do risk muting the more nuanced aromas. Gin Tasting London: The 58 Gin expert host will guide you through their unique distillation process, you’ll build rapport with the botanicals and get a real feel for flavour and aroma. Your host will lead you through the nuances and complexities of gin in a formal tasting in a hands-on, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Includes tasting of three gins. For something a little different, consider venturing out of London to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery Guided Tour in Hampshire. It’s a great alternative to the London options.

Hayman’s Distillery Tours: Take this Distillery Tour for a behind the scenes look into how their award-winning family gin is made, distilled in the same way since 1863. The tour includes a welcome Hayman’s London Dry G&T and a fun and interactive talk through the gin botanicals with an opportunity to get a real feel for flavour and aromas. Plus a tutored tasting of three of award-winning gins with different mixers. We carefully source every part of our product and our uncompromising approach is reflected in the way we produce the liquid. Our potato distillate originates from Germany; we blend and bottle our vodka in Lancashire, using local water. Our caps are manufactured in Italy, the bottles in France and our glass decoration comes from Scotland. Gin Adventure: Visit Mrs Fogg’s for a one-of-a-kind, immersive gin-making experience, where you will discover exotic flavours, the secrets of the craft and so much more, leading you to create your own very best gin. It’s always crucial to have dumplings at Ognisko. Cheese, potato and onion pierogi were surprisingly light and delicious.Gin Lover’s Experience: Visit Skylon Bar for a true epicurean bar experience; a gin & tonic masterclass led by Skylon’s expert mixologist. The masterclass will begin with the tasting of three gins from their extensive collection, each paired with the appropriate tonic. Dukes Bar, 35 St James's Place, SW1A 1NY. The Library Bar at The Ned, Bank Stylish surroundings at Library Bar

Make Your Own Gin: Visit the Gin Lab to learn about distilling and the different botanicals, design your own recipe and distil your very own personalised bottle of London Dry style gin. The Gin Lab Experience takes approximately 2 hours and includes three drinks. We had a series of starters: Barszez was a rich, sweet beetroot consommé with a hint of horseradish bite and served with cream on the side. It came with a mushroom pasztecik, a light glazed pastry stuffed with a luxurious mushroom filling. The complex notes of the Kavka Tokaji vodka brought out the flavours in the barszez beautifully.Gin Tasting ExperiencesLondon Merchant House of Bow Lane – 13 Well Court, off Bow Lane, London EC4M 9DN Next up is filtering, which gives vodka its clean mouthfeel. Although some craft distillers choose to skip this step altogether to impart a more unique flavour. Distillery Visit: Visit the Sacred Distillery in the heart of Highgate at the world’s first vacuum distillery. While you sip on a Sacred G&T, a member of the knowledgeable team will guide you through a short history of gin and explain the unique Sacred process, while you taste through 8 of their award-winning spirits. One of an extraordinary 17 bars at The Ned, The Library Bar is the place to go for a private atmosphere in stylish surroundings. Boasting one of the best curated vodka lists in London, the Library Bar’s vodka martinis are worth the trip in themselves. The bar’s Apricot Vesper is a delightful twist on the classic, and the trolley attendants are happy to expertly guide you through the menu. I’m not a stranger to the Polish restaurant Ognisko. I have spent many happy evenings there downing flavoured vodkas and eating their refined take on Polish cuisine. Our editor Fiona has been there as well but claims she doesn’t remember too much about it…