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 Although that has been superseded by Adnams Copper House Dry Gin.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.
Mmm, gin. My dad maintains that till he was 35 he thought only total alcos drank gin. Then he tried it and loved it! He’s passed that love on to his daughters.
I love your passion for gin. So nice to have a dedicated gin bar in your home.
I never stood a chance!! My mum and dad — AND my parents in law are ALL huge gin lovers!!! As is my boy!! :) We LOVE the stuff. And I don’t get drunk on it either, which is a huge bonus.
There are SO many these days though!! There’s a hotel that I’m desperate to go to — they’ve got the most comprehensive gin bar in Europe. Over 200 different varieties!! I’d never want to leave!!
It makes a fabulous gin bar, what a very cute little table – and I do love the straws!!
It does doesn’t it?! SO nice to see all the lovely bottles on show, rather than hiding them in the back of a cupboard. The only negative is, I suddenly realised how many different gins we’ve got!! That wasn’t even all of them!! ;)
I love your gin bar. We are huge gin fans but only ever have one bottle at a time…..! x
Thanks lovely! Aaah I get bored too easily with just one bottle on the go — I like to mix it up a bit! I didn’t put them all out though — I think the collection is getting out of hand!! ;) xx
I don’t drink Gin but that looks lovely, ‘adds Gin to shopping list’ #otherdrinksareavailable : )
Don’t drink gin???? Lolly?! You *must* start!!!
Immediately!! ;)
I see you have my favourite within your stash. . Opihr.. I just love the spices it’s infused with ❤❤
A gin hotel? ?… let’s book a weekend away! !
YES!! LET’S! It’s in Oxfordshire — I’m *desperate* to go. Maybe we should treat ourselves when we’ve made our first property sale??? ;)
That’s a splendid idea Caro ?? Let’s do it!
xxx
DEFINITELY!! :)
I became a gin-lover after moving to the UK. You’re giving me gin-envy! I love how you’ve displayed yours on that table! Very cute!
It’s weird isn’t it? I do think it’s quite an English tipple. Our American friends say they really only drink it when they come to the UK… maybe it’s to do with the tonic? Not sure. But hey! Let’s celebrate with a G&T next time we see each other!!! ;) xx
Love it! Even if I don’t drink gin, weirdly just never taken to it and I will drink almost anything, haha! I would still love a cute little gin bar like this in my home, I’m going to show it to my Mum who does love a good G&T! That table really is a bargain too, what a find xx
The table’s lush isn’t it? I’ve seen slightly cheaper alternatives but they don’t have the gorgeous dipped legs… although I guess if you were feeling creative you could do that yourself!! ;) I can’t BELIEVE you’re not a gin lover Hayley!! Next time I see you I’m going to convert you!!! ;)
I love this! I am a big gin fan too as you know but haven’t tried a lot of these. Don’t they all look great on that cool table? Perfect! X
They look fab don’t they? So nice to see the bottles on show, rather than hidden away! That little table is perfect!! :)
Utterly adorable! I can’t stand gin…too floral tasting for my liking, but make that a martini bar and I’m right there! xx
It’s funny isn’t it? It really divides people! Although a Martini is traditionally made with gin and vermouth, so I guess you’re halfway there!! ;)
I love him so I am all over this like a rash! We’ve started a general bar rather than just gin, although I may have to change this! Adnams is my favourite too – and I’ve been on their brewery tour which was fun! xx
Aaaah Adnams is LOVELY isn’t it?! Brecon has been my fave for SO long — and despite all the gins that my boy and I brought home, it stayed on the top spot for AGES! He bought the Adnams for Christmas last year and I was hooked! I’d love to go to the brewery! :)
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!!! ;)