Ever wondered how to set up a gin bar at home? These days there are gazillions of Pinterest boards full of gin bar inspiration. Mine is a little more humble, but it is really lovely to have my favourite tipple in one place!
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Mother’s Ruin
Aaah gin. They call it ‘Mother’s Ruin’ don’t they?
In the 1700s it was considered a poor man’s drink as it was so cheap. To the extent that some workers were given gin in lieu of wages.
By 1743 the equivalent of 10 litres of gin per person, per year, was being drunk in England.
In fact, it was so widely consumed that there was an epidemic of drunk and disorderly behaviour in London. And the government imposed a tax — The Gin Act 1751 — to try to reduce the effects of it.
These days it’s a little more gentile.
Mostly.
Gin O’Clock
‘Gin o’clock’ has become the by-word for relaxation. And with numerous artisan gin companies popping up all over the place — distilling small batches of the juniper infused spirit — gin is enjoying a heady revival.
I’ve said on many occasions that it’s my favourite tipple. It actually states ‘gin lover’ in my bio on my social media channels; and I think it would be fair to say that I love the stuff.
I created a little gin based cocktail last year — The Jubarb. And my boy and I have an ongoing competition to see who can outdo each other by bringing home the ‘best’ or most unusual gin.
We’ve had Dodd’s, Caorunn, Aviation. Plus one from Portugal that was DELICIOUS. But, sadly, I can’t remember the name of.
To name just a few.
My favourite used to be Brecon, by the Penderyn Distillery. Although that has been superseded by Adnams Copper House Dry Gin. An explosion of ginny, florally, citrusy goodness with a gorgeous sweet finish.
(You’ll note the lack of an Adnams bottle in my photos — it doesn’t tend to last too long once it crosses the threshold of our home).
Our Little Gin Bar at Home
We always have a few bottles of ‘mothers ruin’ stashed in our drinks cupboard; but then some of the bottles are so pretty that it’s a real shame to hide them away.
Cue a mission to find a suitable table to create a little gin bar at home.
I found the perfect one at HomeSense — a bargainous £39.99 with fold away legs and a removable butler’s tray top.
I’ve seen cheaper alternatives but I loved the reverse dipped legs and white/pale wood colourway. Plus if we’re ever out of gin — *snorts* — it doubles up nicely as a cute lamp table.
So there we have it.
The perfect little display table for our gin collection and large enough to house all the other accoutrements needed to make a G&T.
Apart from it’s not *quite* big enough to accommodate a mini drinks fridge/freezer for the ice and tonic.
Ho-hum.
A girl can’t have everything, now, can she?
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
gin!!!*
Gin is my drink of choice, so I absolutely love this idea! I think I might make one of these xx
DO it Zoe!!! Seeing all the bottles on display and picking which to have every night is LOVELY! I’d highly recommend it :)
I will not be showing the other half, he will only want it. He’s does like his gin. Love the table it’s really cool!
Haha!! He’s a man after my own heart — I do LOVE my gin :)
I’m probably the only mum in the world that doesn’t like gin… My husband, however, would absolutely love this!!
I definitely think it’s an acquired taste Steph! Lots of my friends can’t bear it ‘cos they say it makes them maudlin!!!
Love the table, and I love gin! It’s one of the very few spirits that I drink and my favourite for an early summer drink on the porch :) Love the idea of a gin bar…!
Me too! I’m not much of a drinker at all to be honest — although you wouldn’t think it to look at our gin collection!!!! ;)
What a fab gin bar you’ve made! :-)
Thanks :)
I love the little table. Homesense is fab, isn’t it? We have one here and I love it. So many unusual things there. I wish I liked gin! I feel like the odd one out from all my mummy friends. Maybe I just haven’t found the right gin yet! x
It’s fab isn’t it? So useful too — and YES! I BET you just haven’t found the right gin ;) You should definitely try Adnams — it’s lovely — my absolute favourite at the moment :) x
Oh you are a lady after my own hart, Gin lover is also in many of my bios although I never get to have one.
I have just got a bottle of Sloe Gin which I am excited to test, I love the idea of a Gin Bar, in fact I love the idea of a little drinks table full stop, they seem to be a thing of the past, my parents always had one xx
It’s weird isn’t it? Drinks trolleys definitely used to be a thing didn’t they? I’m all for bringing them back!! ;)
I’m going to show this post to my bestie who is very much into her gin, once she’s given birth to baby number 2 of course! x
Ohmygoodness — I REALLY missed it when I was pregnant with the twins!!! Gin was the one thing that I properly missed when I was preggo!!
I bookmarked this weeks ago so I could pin it and in the meantime I’ve been to HomeSense and bought the same tray table!!!! I want to be just like you, Caro!! I got it in turquoise, though, just to be a little bit different :) x
They’re SUCH great tables aren’t they????!! I blooming love ours. And I LOVE the fact that I have my very own gin bar at home!!! ;)