Oh yes. I do rather like a Collioure salad, with such anchovies, hard-boiled egg, olives, red peppers etc.

Another Lidl bargain and one the bearded one may wish to partake. Hampstead London Dry Gin, £9.50 for 50cl, 40% abv.

Nice over ice

Now that the price of my favoured "house" gin (Plymouth) has gone up to exceed £20 per 70cl (often as much as £25), I am willing to cast my net somewhat wider and, at £9.50 (albeit per 50 cl rather than 70 cl), this Hampstead brand sounds tempting.
I shall investigate further.

Only tangentially relevant, it occurred to me that what with Juniper being the main botanical used to flavour gins, and with Gin being a derivative of the Dutch spirit Genever ... was the song Jennifer Juniper in any way inspired by Genever (so Genever Juniper)... if anyone bumps into Donovan, could you ask him please?

Maybe I'm over-thinking this .....

Tried Lidl's Hampstead gin.
Didn't like it, even in a G and T ... for me it was sweet and too perfumed.
Now I understand what some people mean when they say they don't like gin because it tastes like cologne.

Anyone got suggestions of what to with 40cl of unwanted gin?
Maybe I could experiment with infusing ...

Anyway, I've gone back to Plymouth gin for its slightly sourer botanicals but, at £25 per 70cl, less often. (who says pricing doesn't cut down drinking ... at £25 it does with me).
Despite looking, I've never found another another of the same style.

I find that the big sellers like Gordons, Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater etc are a bit too "clean" flavoured for me ( i.e. they are "London" style gins ), although palateable.
I have tried various smaller brands (some at high prices !) including Bendicks and so-called Bathtub and so on etc etc... and have stopped experimenting with them because they are too wierd for an old git who "knows what he likes".

Top the bottle with sloes then

Sloes not being something I've ever sought-out but ... maybe.

damsons are another option

Not for a while they aren't.

I'm not sure if this issue has been mentioned before in a separate thread but apparently now Monsanto and others are being granted patents by the European Patents office on all natural crops such as broccoli, in essence making it Monsantos private property. This was shared with me from a friend of mine. It's mentioned on the natural news website. Have only viewed it on my mobile phone, so haven't included a link. Maybe other people can look more deeply? if this is the case will it Monsanto and other holding the world to ransom of natural food?

Just found this from last month, which suggests Monsanto have 'given up' on the EU. However ... In the meantime: Chemical used by Monsanto found in the urine of people in 18 European countries.

Just found this from last month, which suggests Monsanto have 'given up' on the EU. However ... In the meantime: Chemical used by Monsanto found in the urine of people in 18 European countries.