Bar smashes world record for biggest gin tasting

The Botanist has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest gin tasting across multiple venues, after nearly 800 gin lovers piled together to sip the spirit in unison.

Credit: Facebook: The Botanist Manchester

Oned by the New World Trading Company, The Botanist has eight branches across Manchester, Leeds and Chester. On 11 February its bars joined together to secure the record for the largest gin tasting across multiple venues last night, inviting hundreds of gin lovers to help them achieve the title.

A total of 796 drinkers took part in the record attempt, with each having won a competition for the chance to take part, smashing the previous record which included just 300 people.

Each taster sampled a flight of three gins from Tanqueray 10, Whitley Neill and Caorunn, before celebrating their success with free drinks and live music.

The New World Trading Company said it was “completely thrilled” to have claimed the title. The chain also holds the title for the most varieties of rum commercially available at The Smugglers Cove in Liverpool, which stocks 151 different types of the spirit.

Fuelling further enthusiasm for gin, a bar that already holds the record for having the most varieties of gin behind its bar is now offering its patrons a rare shot of the spirit priced at £1,000. The Fence Gate in Burnley stocks a selection of 623 gins, and now counts a one-off bottle of Gilbey’s orange gin, made in 1947, among its collection. Just 25ml of the gin will set you back £1,000.