Gin Tasting
Join us on a journey through the long and fascinating history of gin, from the original jenever through to contemporary ‘new-age’ brands. Discover gin’s often illicit – and sometimes medicinal – past. Sample varieties from different stages of the spirits’ evolution and learn how the flavour is manipulated by tailoring the blend of the various botanicals in the mixture.
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Length
Recommended session lasts for two hours.
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Reception Cocktail
Enjoy a classic gin cocktail in before your tasting begins.
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Introduction of Class
You’ll be introduced to your class leader and talked through the various elements of the session.
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Taste a Range of Gin
Drink your way through the sometimes-sinister history of gin. During your gin tour, our class leader will explain the various styles and methods involved in this quintessentially English spirit. Or is it?
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Afters
All our guided tastings take place down in our atmospheric vaults, just around the corner from our subterranean cocktail bar, the Cellar Bar. Why not stick around to sample some of our seasonal menu after the class?
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Food
Cold food pairings are available for private tastings on request.
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Our public gin tastings run one Saturday per month from 3pm.
Locations
We have a range of dedicated event spaces in which to hold our tastings, Public Tastings are usually held for between around 10 and 20 people to ensure the most in-depth and interactive experience for all our guests but for private tastings we can accommodate up to 50 guests or even more with enough prior notice. Depending on class-size, you may find yourself in one of the following:
The Vaults
The former cells of the Victorian police station that once occupied our venue, now converted into intimate booths, perfect for smaller tasting sessions.
The Orangery
Our biggest event-space and studio, set amongst hanging plants and large windows, the Orangery is perfect for sunny days with its bright airy atmosphere. Its spacious, L-shaped layout means it’s the optimum room for our bigger tasting sessions.
The Cinema
Our Cinema features reclaimed tiered theatre-seating for up to 52 guests making it another great option for our larger tasting sessions.
Group Enquiry
If you want to make a private booking for a group, or have any specific needs that require our attention, our enquiry form is the fastest route to the answers you need. Once completed, one of our team will be in touch.
Public Tastings
Our range of public tastings are perfect for smaller groups of five or less. We run a rotating selection of classes in our vaults every Saturday at 3pm. At the moment, there’s rum, whisk(e)y and gin to choose from, and you’ll be joining a group of like-minded individuals.
Private Tastings
Our private tastings are perfect for groups of six or more keen to develop their appreciation for their chosen spirit. Every aspect of our private tastings are customizable, from your welcome drink all the way up to the bottles you’ll be working your way through on the day. Get in touch today.
Buy Gift Vouchers
Purchasing for somebody else and aren’t sure when they’ll want to join us? Our gift vouchers are the ideal option. You’ll receive a beautifully presented voucher in the post, there’s also the option of digitally-downloadable PDF vouchers if you’re running short on time!
Whsik(e)y Tastings
Taste your way around the world of whisk(e)y on one of our weekly tasting sessions. Be guided through a selection of 7 expressions and learn more about the history and production of the liquid.
Rum Tastings
Discover the wild and colourful history of rum and sample a carefully chosen selection of the incredibly diverse spirit on one of our guided rum tastings. The story of rum is rife with corruption and piracy on the high seas – and the variety of flavours to enjoy is just as rich.
Cocktail Classes
Our cocktail classes are 100% interactive, every guest makes and drinks a selection of five cocktails using their own equipment and area behind one of our custom-built cocktail bars. Private bookings available, any time, any size.
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We did a gin tasting here. It was very informative and entertaining and we got to try a LOT of gin! The venue is very atmospheric, cool without being pretentious. Amazing range of spirits in the bottle shop and behind the bar.
Andy Southcombe
Google Review
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A great gin tasting experience! Super fun, interesting and lots of gin to go round, plus we got to go onto the exclusive roof terrace with wonderful views of London afterwards. The staff are also all very friendly. Highly recommend!
Leila Robertson
Google Review
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We went to a Gin tasting hosted by Pat. It was really fun and Pat was really knowledgable would definitely recommend going.
Ella Good
Google Review
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Danica was an excellent host for our gin tasting experience for 12 lovely ladies on our hen do experience.
Alison Savage
Google Review
Tastings FAQ's
We currently host 2 hours tastings sessions on Saturdays at 3pm rotating through whisky, gin, rum and Agave/Tequila.
Yes absolutely, we will need to clear the table but will be able to find you another table to enjoy a few drinks at.
All our experiences are held in our multifaceted flagship venue, TT Liquor on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch, East London. We are within walking distance of Liverpool St. Station, Old Street tube station and Shoreditch High Street and Hoxton overground stations.
Spirit tastings run for 2 hours including a short break in the middle.
You can book as far in advance as you like. Our tastings are always on the same days of the week or month, and this is unlikely to change.
Group Enquiry
If you want to make a private booking for a group, or have any specific needs that require our attention, our enquiry form is the fastest route to the answers you need. Once completed, one of our team will be in touch.
Previous One-Off Tasting Events
Bar Bookings
Book yourself an alcove in our subterranean cocktail bar tucked away underneath our liquor store, the Cellar Bar. We serve out seasonal cocktail menus designed around different journeys or concepts accompanied by a soulful soundtrack.
Online Liquor Store
We are gradually taking our Liquor store online, it includes a growing selection of bottles as well as vouchers for our entire range of experiences and ticketed events. Browse our full selection of wares, ranging from rare bottles, to mixers, to bartending staple.
Virtual Classes
In 2020 we took our cocktail classes digital, offering virtual versions of our interactive mixology masterclasses. We send you everything you need including all the spirits, liqueurs and mixers, fresh fruit and a full professional cocktail kit for you to keep afterwards.
Tasting Sessions – Isle of Harris Gin
The first exclusive Tasting Session we had with Isle of Harris gin was led by Rachel Macdonald of Isle of Harris Gin.
They pride themselves on being ‘The Social Distillery’. What they mean by this is that they embrace the generous character of their island home and the people who live there, opening their doors six days a week to connect with all those who want to learn more about their story and share their spirit.
Rachel guided us through the fascinating tale of the brand’s conception, as well as the unique processes that set their liquid apart. Expect tales of the starring role sugar kelp plays in their botanical make-up, their unparalleled connection to the land and sea around them, and how a feisty local lady of rather diminutive stature lent her name to one of their first copper stills.
Attendees will got the chance to taste their gin neat, before trying it with the addition of their trademark sugar kelp aromatic water, and finally with tonic to gain a full perspective and appreciation of the range of flavours in store at each stage.
Tasting Sessions – Isle of Harris Gin
We had a plethora of gin brands in the building on Thursday 13th June, setting up down in our vaults for another of our weekly Tasting Sessions.
Our instructor, Nick Unsworth, took us through four very distinctive gin brands, ranging from our doorstep in east London, all the way to the hills of New Zealand, explaining their varying backstories and what sets them apart from a crowded market.
Guests were then given the chance to taste each gin, and compare the different botanical make-ups and taste profiles of each.
Tasting Sessions – Plymouth Botanical Lab
After a successful run of sessions last year, The Botanical Lab workshops came to TT Liquor, Taking place on alternating Saturdays in our Shoreditch home for a couple of weeks.
As you may already know, the country is in the midst of a “ginaissance” – with the number of UK-based gin distilleries doubling over the past 5 years. Indeed, you can now find the stuff in almost every bar and drinking emporium in the country – in anything from a classic G & T to the most innovative of cocktails.
Guests got hands-on and learnt all there was to know about the country’s fastest growing spirit category during an interactive session led by your own knowledgeable tutor, Annie.
Annie is Plymouth born and bred, growing up a mere stones throw from the distillery. She worked at Plymouth distillery for 5 years before becoming a brand ambassador in 2017 – so she certainly knows her gins from her genevers.
For these sessions, guests were welcomed through the doors of our liquor store with a gin-based welcome cocktail before being taken upstairs to our fully-equipped botanicals lab, where they were led through the maritime history of Plymouth Gin, and learned to nose and taste their award-winning gin like a pro.
Then, lab coats and goggles safely donned, attendees got the chance to put their new-found knowledge to the test as Annie challenges you to make your very own gin, balancing the 7 classic botanicals that Plymouth Gin is world-famous for.
Finally, there was a bit of healthy competition to round things off, with your gin creations being pitted against each other and evaluated by the host.
The winning concoction won its owner a special prize at the end, but nobody left empty handed as all guests will be able to take their creation home with them at the session’s end.
