Trevethan Gin Brings a Taste of Modern Heritage to Cocktails in the City

If you're looking for a great excuse to enjoy a summer cocktail in London, Cocktails in the City is shaping up to be one of the season's must-visit events. 

Returning to the beautiful surroundings of Bedford Square Gardens from 6–8 August, the festival promises an impressive mix of world-class bars, live music, street food, tastings and, of course, some truly memorable drinks.

Among this year's highlights is Trevethan Original 1929 Dry Gin, a spirit with a fascinating story that proves good ideas never really go out of fashion.

The tale begins almost a century ago when Norman Trevethan created his own "bathtub" gin while working as a chauffeur on Cornwall's stunning Port Eliot Estate during the glamorous golden age of cocktails. 

More than 80 years later, the forgotten recipe was rediscovered by chemist-turned-master distiller John Hall, who lovingly recreated it as an award-winning London Dry Gin.

Now that historic recipe is enjoying a fresh chapter as Trevethan partners with The Gin Bar at Holborn Dining Room, Rosewood London, creating two exclusive cocktails especially for this year's festival.

It's all part of a growing trend known as modern heritage – where classic spirits and traditional craftsmanship meet contemporary creativity behind the bar. Today's cocktail lovers increasingly want more than just a well-made drink. They enjoy discovering the stories behind the bottles, the places they come from and the people who keep those traditions alive while giving them a fresh twist.

Trevethan's Brand Manager, Carly Fordy, told That's Food and Drink that the aim is to show how a handcrafted London Dry Gin can be transformed by talented bartenders into something exciting for today's drinkers while still respecting its heritage.

Festival visitors will have the chance to sample two limited-edition serves.

The Eden Highball is a light and refreshing summer drink combining Trevethan Original 1929 Dry Gin with elderflower, tropical tea and fresh lime. Finished with sparkling bubbles and an elderflower jelly garnish, it sounds like the perfect companion for a warm August afternoon.

Meanwhile, Zest & Stone offers something a little more adventurous, blending the gin with yuzu sake, peach, lemon and fig leaf soda before being finished with a fragrant peach spray. It promises plenty of bright, seasonal flavours with a distinctive botanical character.

Cocktails in the City has built a reputation for bringing together some of London's finest bars alongside international cocktail talent, giving visitors the chance to sample exclusive creations they might otherwise never discover.

Whether you're a dedicated gin enthusiast or simply enjoy discovering new drinks in a relaxed summer setting, Trevethan's modern take on a classic Cornish recipe looks set to be one of the festival's standout attractions. Sometimes the best way to celebrate history is simply to pour it over ice, add a little creativity, and raise a glass.

Cocktails in the City

Dates: 6–8 August

Venue: Bedford Square Gardens, London WC1B 3HH

Nearest Underground: Tottenham Court Road

https://cocktailsinthecity.com/tickets

Father's Day Gifts: Save £8.50 on top-scoring Trevethan 1929 Gin at Sainsbury's

As cinema found its voice and the world embraced the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, a Cornish chauffeur named Norman Trevethan was quietly crafting his own masterpiece, a classic 'bathtub gin' inspired by London's historic gin palaces. 

Nearly a century later, that original 1929 recipe has been revived, refined and reimagined by chemist-turned-master distiller John Hall, after a trip to a whisky distillery inspired him to go into the drinks business. Introducing Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin, a spirit steeped in heritage, and perfected by science. 

The award-winning Cornish gin is available at a special promotional price in Sainsbury's from the 10-30 June.  The super luxe gin is reduced from £38 to £29.50 with a Nectar card – offering a touch of luxe for less, just in time for Father's Day gifting and hosting.

Trevethan Distillery achieved significant recognition in the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) - one of the toughest drinks competitions in the world. In  2021, Trevethan was named 'UK Gin Distillery of the year, ' and a year later the gin scored 98/100 in a blind tasting: a record for the London Dry category at the time, and an 'outstanding' gold medal. 

Crafted in Cornwall and perfected by science, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin (43% ABV | 70cl | RRP £38) is distilled using the traditional London Dry method. It balances ten botanicals with precision and poise – juniper, coriander and angelica forming its classic backbone, layered with orange and lemon peel, cassia, cardamom and vanilla. Locally foraged Cornish elderflower and gorse flower lend a soft floral elegance, bringing warmth and romance to every sip.

The result is beautifully structured and expressive: bold juniper and bright citrus open the palate, unfolding into gentle florals and herbal complexity before finishing smooth with a subtle spiced sweetness. Venues such as Cici's Bar at Paul Ainsworth's No.6 in Padstow, Lympstone Manor, and Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling MBE serve the gin in G&Ts and cocktails.

Housed in a striking Art Deco-inspired bottle, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin looks as stunning on your drinks cabinet as it does in a G&T. This is the perfect centrepiece for summer gatherings – celebratory toasts and moments.

The Perfect Serve

For a refreshing springtime G&T, the dream way to serve Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin is to  fill the glass with ice, then the tonic, followed by the gin so the botanicals are not disrupted. 

John Hall told That's Food and Drink: “There is one rule in my house  on how to make a G&T. Add the gin first! As a distiller, and if you're interested in the chemistry of gin, then you'll know tonic water and gin have very different density levels. 

If you pour gin over ice immediately you'll shock the botanical oils within the gin, and this will destroy the balance of the drink. If we  put the ice in first, then the tonic, stir, and then the gin in last, what happens is the gin will cool a lot more slowly.

"As the gin cools, the lighter density of te gin starts to slowly match the density of the tonic.  The slower cooling is much less of a 'shock' to the gin. This way you'll get a much more balanced drink, the best G&T you've ever tried, with the flavour shining through.” 

Garnish a Trevethan G&T  with a twist of orange peel and a sprig of rosemary to enhance its citrus brightness and juniper depth – a gin steeped in history, made with passion and perfected by science, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin is almost a century in the making – a timeless spirit designed to be shared.

For more information, visit:

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/trevethan-handcrafted-cornish-dry-gin-70cl 

Save £8.50 on Luxe Gin: Top-Scoring Trevethan 1929 Gin Sainsbury's Offer

This year celebrate the arrival of Spring with a glass of Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin, a spirit steeped in heritage and twenties romance. 

Even better, the award-winning Cornish gin is available at a special promotional price in Sainsbury's from the 8th–28th April.  

The super luxe gin is reduced from £38 to £29.50 with a Nectar card, offering a touch of luxe for less, just in time for Spring gatherings and Easter entertaining.

Trevethan Distillery has also achieved significant recognition in the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) - one of the toughest drinks competitions in the world. 

In  2021, Trevethan was named 'UK Gin Distillery of the year, ' and a year later the gin scored 98/100 in a blind tasting: a record for the London Dry category at the time, and an 'outstanding' gold medal.

As cinema found its voice and the world embraced the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, a Cornish chauffeur named Norman Trevethan was quietly crafting his own masterpiece, a classic 'bathtub gin' inspired by London's historic gin palaces. 

Nearly a century later, that original 1929 recipe has been revived, refined and reimagined by chemist-turned-master distiller John Hall, a trip to a whisky distillery inspiring him to go into the drinks business.

Crafted in Cornwall and perfected by science, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin (43% ABV | 70cl | RRP £38) is distilled using the traditional London Dry method. 

It balances ten botanicals with precision and poise, juniper, coriander and angelica forming its classic backbone, layered with orange and lemon peel, cassia, cardamom and vanilla. 

Locally foraged Cornish elderflower and gorse flower lend a soft floral elegance, bringing warmth and romance to every sip.

The result is beautifully structured and expressive: bold juniper and bright citrus open the palate, unfolding into gentle florals and herbal complexity before finishing smooth with a subtle spiced sweetness. Venues such as Cici's Bar at Paul Ainsworth's No.6 in Padstow, Lympstone Manor, and Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling MBE serve the gin in G&Ts and cocktails.

Housed in a striking Art Deco-inspired bottle, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin looks as stunning on your drinks cabinet as it does in a G&T. This is the perfect centrepiece for spring gatherings, bringing a touch of vintage glamour to long lunches, garden drinks and celebratory toasts.

The Perfect Serve

For a refreshing springtime G&T, the dream way to serve Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin is to add the gin first, then the tonic, followed by the ice, so the botanicals are not disrupted. 

 John Hall told That's Food and Drink: “There is one rule in my house on how to make a G&T. Always add the gin first!

"As a distiller, and if you're interested in the chemistry of gin, then you'll know tonic water and gin have very different density levels. If you pour gin over ice immediately you'll shock the botanical oils within the gin, and this will destroy the drink's balance. If we put the ice in first, then the tonic, stir, and then the gin in last, what will happen is the gin will cool a lot more slowly. As the gin cools, the lighter density of the gin starts to slowly match the density of the tonic. The slower cooling is much less of a 'shock' to the gin. This way you'll get a much more balanced drink, the best G&T you've ever tried, with the flavour shining through.” 

Garnish a Trevethan G&T  with a twist of orange peel and a sprig of rosemary to enhance its citrus brightness and juniper depth – a beautifully balanced serve ideal for Spring entertaining.

Another Cocktail Inspiration: French 75

Bring a touch of 1920s glamour to hosting with this classic 

Trevethan French 75:

Ingredients:

35ml Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin

15ml fresh lemon juice

15ml simple syrup

60ml Champagne or sparkling wine

Lemon twist for garnish

Method:

Add ice to a mixer, then the lemon juice, and simple syrup, and lastly the gin and stir slowly.

Strain into a chilled flute.

Top with Champagne or sparkling wine.

Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

Steeped in history, made with passion and perfected by science, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin is almost a century in the making – a timeless spirit designed to be shared.

For more information, visit: https://www.trevethandistillery.com

One Cornishman's 'driving' ambition. A Roaring Twenties Romance in a Bottle - Celebrating Nearly a Century of Craft

As cinema found its voice and the world embraced the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, a Cornish chauffeur named Norman Trevethan was quietly crafting his own masterpiece, a classic 'bathtub gin' inspired by London's famous gin palaces. 

Nearly a century later, that original 1929 recipe has been revived, refined and reimagined by chemist-turned-master distiller John Hall, transforming a family legacy into a modern icon.

Crafted in Cornwall and perfected by science, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin (43% ABV | 70cl | RRP £38 at Sainsbury's) is distilled using the traditional London Dry method. 

It balances ten botanicals with precision and poise, juniper, coriander and angelica forming its classic backbone, layered with orange and lemon peel, cassia, cardamom and vanilla. 

Locally foraged Cornish elderflower and gorse flower lend a delicate and soft floral elegance, bringing warmth and romance to every sip.

The result is beautifully structured and expressive: bold juniper and bright citrus open the palate, unfolding into gentle florals and herbal complexity, finishing smooth with a subtle spiced sweetness.

Venues such as Cici's Bar at Paul Ainsworth's No. 6 Restaurant in Padstow, Michael Caine's Lympstone Manor and Adam Handling MBE Ugly Butterfly are serving the gin served in both G&Ts and cocktails.

Housed in a striking Art Deco-inspired bottle, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin looks as stunning in your drinks cabinet as it does in a G&T. This Mother's Day, it's a fitting tribute to the women who shape our stories, lead with grace, and deserve a little everyday glamour of their own.

For a show-stopping Mother's Day serve worthy of the red carpet, pair 50ml of Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin with premium light tonic over ice. Garnish with a twist of orange peel and a sprig of rosemary to enhance its citrus brightness and juniper depth - a perfectly balanced G&T designed for celebrating at home.

Steeped in history, made with passion and perfected by science, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin is almost a century in the making - a timeless gift for mothers who deserve nothing less than star treatment.

For more information, visit: https://www.trevethandistillery.com.