Mrs. Farrell, the 18th c. property tycoon who owned 20 common lodging houses in the Rookery, for obvious reasons could not make the private view of London’s Underworld Unearthed – but sent her best teapots along to enable the assembled company to sample an original 19th c. recipe for Gin Twists, best served from battered teapots.
Jared Brown from Sipsmiths
I am indebted to Jared Brown, Sipsmith gin’s resident mixologist and drinks historian, who told me that Gin Twist was a most popular drink of c.1823 and cited the following:
“The buxom widow received his addresses with a courtesy, a glass of gin twist, and several ohs! and ahs! just thrown in by way of candy to the entertainment.” — The Torchlight and Public Advisor, 1826
Gin Twist is simple to make: 40ml gin, 25ml fresh-squeezed lemon juice (bottled juice does not work in this drink), sugar to taste, 100ml boiling water. Combine ingredients in a tea cup or Irish Coffee mug. Stir. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Note: Serve from a Samovar or battered tea pots.
(A big thank you to Graziella Mecarone who ‘borrowed’ them off of Mrs. Farrell for the occasion…)
My London’s Underworld Unearthed: The Secret Life of the Rookery private view was kindly sponsored by Sipsmith’s Gin, who certainly kept our Gin Twist’s flowing into the night!