Overview
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 week-long gin festival will touch down in Auckland for its second year this April. 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, the region's best bars and bartenders. It annually attracts more than 10,000 imbibers across Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Singapore.
Held from April 4–14, 2018, Gin Jubilee 2018 will include gin pop-ups, gin masterclasses, food and cocktail pairings at Satya Chai Lounge and Lillius, painting and gin drinking at Fukuko, and an award ceremony. 29 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.
The Gin Lane closing street party on Saturday 14 April will showcase a series of pop-up bars and gin brands at Ponsonby's Gypsy Caravan. The winner of Auckland's best gin and tonic will also be crowned.
For more information about the 2018 East Imperial Gin Jubilee and the full calendar of events, visit ginjubilee.com.