A ginterestingly good experience …

A short while back, we took Bear down to Teignmouth to have a run around on the town’s dog-friendly Back Beach, with the full intention of having an ice cream, followed by a visit to The Lobster Lounge to hear our friend Mary play with her band, ‘Cat in the Hat.’

Alas, we got to the gig just as they were thrashing out the last number before heading off to wow another audience … but our trip was not in vain: with our disappointment  being tempered by the discovery of a very good, gin-friendly watering hole, which describes itself as “A ginterestingly good vintage tapas bar.”  We will be trying the fabulous looking food soon also.

Intrigued, we did, of course, have to sample one of the many gins’ and I chose the Engine Gin because I liked the retro-looking, urban chic can it comes in: reminding me of the old cars and bikes I’d owned in the 80s and 90s when topping up the oil was an essential weekly task.  The distinctive motor oil-inspired can, made from proper tin, is down to founder Paolo Dalla Mora’s fervent passion for engines, reminiscent of the peak motocross era of the 1980s.

From Alta Langa in north-western Italy, botanicals include juniper from Tuscany, Calabrian liquorice, and sage as well as Damask rose from Piedmont.  Zesty lemon and liquorice compete, along with the oiliness of rosemary which, we thought, gives it a bitter-sweet roundness that magically really does work.  I enjoyed my 40^% tipple as the maker recommends, with Indian tonic water and plenty of ice – a delicious herbaceous-forward gin with sage at its forefront and peppery warmth on the finish.

Engine Gin is, however, a bit like Marmite in that people either love it or loathe it.  Many feel it loses its character in a cocktail, others that it’s at its best as a simple G&T – we fall into the latter category and will be buying yet another can very soon to lubricate our own taste buds.

Engine Gin can be purchased widely online for around £38