Auckland's Two-Week Gin Festival Is Back for 2019
A two-week celebration of the humble G&T.
Initially created by British troops in the 1700s as a cure for tropical diseases like malaria, the humble gin and tonic has since earned itself a place on the leaderboard of classic three-ingredients-or-less cocktails. Here to prove that there's more to the beverage than a 1:1 ratio of house brand ingredients is the East Imperial Gin Jubilee.
The 15-day gin festival will touch down in Auckland for its third year this October and November. The core objective of the festival is to redefine what a traditional gin and tonic is by bringing together some of the world's finest gins and the region's best bartenders. It annually attracts more than 10,000 imbibers across Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Singapore.
Held from October 25 to November 9, Gin Jubilee 2019 will include a program of gin pop-ups, gin masterclasses, food and cocktail pairings, and an awards ceremony where the winner of Auckland's best gin and tonic will be crowned. Takapuna's Fantail & Turtle is hosting a beginners hula dance class to celebrate the launch of its Dancing Sands cocktail; Lighthouse Gin will take over K Road's Madam George with cocktails by Andrea Marseglia and distiller Rachel Hall; and Ponsonby institution is hosting bartender masterclass and food pairing with gin cocktails.
More than 50 Auckland bars are already onboard to share their variation of the classic drink marriage. Attendees are invited to cast their vote for the best concoction. Last year Arun Rodgers of 1885 Britomart rose victorious, with his creation Message in a Bottle being named the best G&T in the Asia-Pacific.
For more information about the 2019 East Imperial Gin Jubilee and the full list of G&Ts, visit ginjubilee.com.
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