Kids say the funniest things. T1 and T2 are only 6 and I often have to remind myself of this fact during the tantrums and brotherly fights. Their understanding and they way they converse would lead anyone to believe they are much older.
Fortunately, they do occasionally remind me with some of the things they say and to be honest they are too cute to correct. Spaghetti has always been “Busghetti” to them and if you ask them what you measure things with, they are likely to reply with a “Teasure Mape”. The next one I am going to highlight is clearly a misheard word from someone at school and while it’s not quite scientifically correct, it’s pretty close and not a bad description. T1 throws a ball to T2 and it hits him right between the legs, he immediately shouts in a funny voice “you hit me in the…” now lets pause for a second, this is a 6 year old, a very impressionable age and one where they just soak up whatever they are told. So you can imagine my fear at what is going to come next, is this the first foul language to come home from school? Are the flood gates about to be opened? But no the word is far more innocent; “you hit me in the Peanuts!”. Queue very loud sniggering from me and the two of them rolling around the floor like it’s the funniest thing in the world. Mind you to a 6 year old boy, the words “boobies” and “knickers” are like the holy grail of naughtiness mixed with hilarity. I adore this innocence and will never rob them of it. Society in general, seems to be piling more and more pressure on us as parents and on our children for them to grow up before they are emotionally and developmentally ready. Don’t worry, I’m not going to go in to a deep discussion on how we will eventually have a generation of adults all with mental health issues due to the constant and overbearing pressures being applied to them at such a young age! Just let them be children, they’ll thank you for it one day. There, I said it.
Conversely, we do have some deep conversations that they instigate and I am so thankful that they have the language and ability to discuss these with such maturity. However, when I am wandering around a busy supermarket, on a Saturday morning, with T1, T2 and the +1 in tow, it is probably not the best time for coupling this understanding and language with humour. After a stressful, meandering along every aisle at least 3 times as I’ve forgotten things the first and second time along them, I decided to head to the alcohol section, more specifically the gin shelves. Before I get there, T1 is obviously feeling the stress too and sensing the direction we are heading, announces very loudly “UMMM Daddy not more gin, don’t you have enough, there is a cupboard FULL of gin at home”. Oh world, swallow me up now! There are at least 4 other shoppers trying not to laugh at hearing this little gem and 2 members of staff with the biggest grin on their faces. Is now a good opportunity to teach my children about sarcasm? Some quick responses run through my head “Daddy has a problem with gin” or “It’s what gets me through shopping trips like this”. Instead I opted just to laugh along and ask him if Mummy put him up to this (I like to encourage this humour as long as it doesn’t get out of hand). We quickly bypassed the gin and went straight for the cakes (via the bags of peanuts for a giggle)!
Given that my children clearly feel I have too much gin, maybe I shouldn’t have attended Junipalooza (quite possibly the best gin festival known to man) a few weekends ago. I was always going to come home from such a great gin festival with more bottles of gin! However, both myself and Jake managed to blag a day pass from our partners and headed off to London to meet a whole host of distilleries and sample hundreds of gins.
We spent an amazing 4 hours talking and drinking gin. We met some awesome people and got to understand their stories and passion for making gin. Looks like we now have some distillery trips to get planned so look out for those at some point in the future.
While I was planning my day at Junipalooza I put out a tweet for any must sample gins, that I could add to my route. The first to reply was 6 O’Clock Gin, with an invite to come and say hi and have a chat about their gins. I’m all for supporting local producers, so being a Bristolian born and bred and now living in Wiltshire, I certainly wasn’t going to pass up on this offer from the neighbouring Gloucester based distillery.
Upon finding 6 O’Clock Gin’s stand, we were greeted by Maria. Her enthusiasm for the distillery and their gin is infectious. We were enlightened as to where the name 6 O’Clock Gin comes from and also to the range of gins they produce: 6 O’Clock Gin, Damson Gin, Sloe Gin and Brunel edition (I’m not going to comment on these fantastic gins now as I’m sure I will be reviewing them in the future). So where does that leave this review? Well, 6 O’Clock Gin decided to bring along their unreleased and freshly bottled Jekka’s Edition and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a bottle at the festival (Thank you Maria).
Jekka’s Edition stems from an interesting concept where experts in two different industries have come together to make something pretty special! First, take 6 O’Clock Gin’s ability to create super smooth, well balanced gin. Then add the vast, herbal knowledge of the multi RHS and Chelsea Flower Show award winning, Jekka McVicar. The end result – a bright, fresh gin that’s full of flavour, but not over powering, perfect for the summer.
What I like best about this gin is the freshness of the herbs being used, it really does make the gin so much crisper and brighter in the mouth. Jekka’s herb farm is only a few miles down the road from the distillery and the herbs are delivered fresh on the day of gin production. Mixed among the usual botanicals expected are a couple of big hitters in the flavour department, Lemon Verbena and Swiss Mint. The Lemon Verbena adds a delicate lemon/floral note, while the Swiss Mint provides a freshness, but without being hot like other mints.
I honestly have no gin like this in my collection, it may be more herbal than some gins, but it is so well balanced and so smooth that it has a “moreish” quality about it. I have a funny feeling that this bottle is not going to last very long when the weather is this sunny, I had better order a spare!
Price Paid
Sample from the amazing people at 6 O’Clock Gin.
Can be purchased for around £38 online direct from 6 O’Clock Gin.
Tastes Like
A lively, refreshing gin. Herbal, but fresh, with a lemon hint.
Would go well with
Tonic and a sprig of mint. Also goes well with elder flower tonic.
Recommended?
Yes, yes and yes! This is a sure fire, summer refresher.