The Old Curiosity Gin Garden Terrace launches at Harvey Nichols
Kerry went along last night to the exclusive launch of the Old Curiosity Gin Garden Terrace at Harvey Nichols. What a fabulous evening of gin-filled magic and canapes, in celebration of a quite unique, Scottish gin.
She’s already a big fan of this gin and you can read more about it in an earlier review on Edinburgh Foody but in case you haven’t heard of it, the Old Curiosity Gins are a labour of love.
In 2012, co-founder Hamish Martin and his wife Liberty bought a derelict plot of land on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and it was there they laid the roots of the secret herb garden. In 2016 Steve Ross, Old Curiosity Distillery Co-founder number two, joined the Secret Herb Garden as a volunteer to learn more about the incredible powers of herbs. With over 50 years combined experience in the drinks trade and a joint passion for creating unique tipples from glorious natural ingredients, a herbologist and a mixologist began experimenting.
They developed many more concoctions of fine gin and hand-grown herbs, then took to exploring a barn full of curious things. Among the odds and sods, and the bits and bobs, Old Curiosity Distillery was founded in 2017.
Three perfectly curated cocktails
These Old Curiosity Gins really are something quite magical, and change colour naturally with the addition of tonic and they’re now available at the exclusive Old Curiosity Gin Garden Terrace at Harvey Nichols, with its outstanding views across St Andrew’s Square and across to the Edinburgh Castle.
A drinking terrace with a view – The Old Curiosity Gin Garden Terrace at Harvey Nichols
On offer were a selection of three perfectly curated cocktails, although they were a too sweet for my liking. There was: the Old Magenta (Old Curiosity, Lavender and Echinacea Gin, Violetta, Maraschino, citric, sugar syrup and Fever Tree Tonic); Clover Rosa (Old Curiosity Apothecary Rose Gin, Chambard, rose liqueur, egg white, lemon, Grenadine, and sugar syrup); and the Bachelor’s Button (Old Curiosity Chamomile & Cornflower Gin, rose liqueur, lemon, egg white, and chamomile sugar syrup).
Perfectly curated Old Curiosity Gins at the Harvey Nichols Old Curiosity Gin Garden Terrace
The Perfect Serves
However the real winners were the perfect serves, which matched the various Old Curiosity gins and HN’s own tonics. The three on offer were: Old Curiosity Lavender & Echinacea served with HN orange & lavender tonic; Old Curiosity Apothecary Rose served with Thomas Henry Cherry Blossom Tonic; and my favourite, the Old Curiosity Chamomile & Cornflower Gin served with HN elderflower & pomegranate tonic.
The Old Curiosity Gin Terrace will be running until September – just perfect for some summer drinking if the sun ever decides to shine.
The Old Curiosity Gin Garden Terrace
4th Floor
Harvey Nichols
30-34 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh EH2 2AD
Tel: 0131 524 8350
Email forthfloor.reservations@harveynichols.com
