Gone are the days when a pint of beer or glass of wine was the most popular order at the bar, with gin now making its claim as the nation's new favourite tipple. Creatively infused cocktails have renewed the UK's passion for gin over recent years, breathing new life into the clssic G&T and inspiring a drinking craze booze lovers can't get enough of. And with Saturday 9 June marking World Gin Day, there are plenty of gin-credible ways to toast the occasion here in Leeds. A gin revolution Research commissioned by national events firm, The Gin Fayre, found that 77 per cent of people now opt for gin as their number one beverage of choice, with as many as one in sixteen drinking a glass of mother's ruin on a daily basis. Edinburgh Gin proved to be the nation's most popular choice of gin brand, closely followed by Hendricks, Brockmans and Gordan's, but with 315 distilleries now in Britain (more than double the figure five years ago) there are a wealth of new brands to try. The research also highlighted that gender, age, salary and living situation had no affect on whether a person is more likley to drink gin, although location was found to be an influencing factor with 70 per cent of people more likely to drink gin at home rather than in a bar, night club or restaurant. Founder of The Gin Fayre, Jasmine Wheelhouse commented: "There is no denying that gin is undergoing a huge revival; it's such a flexible drink that can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways and the simplicity of its production is what makes it such a popular choice of alcocholic beverage. "Once known as 'mother's ruin', gin is now a beverage enjoyed by all ages, genders and social backgrounds." The best gin haunts in Leeds Delve into some of the best gin cocktails in the city this Saturday at one of these popular watering holes, where creative gin-fuelled tipples are the top of the menu. Pintura Boasting an impressive basement gin bar which is home to more than 100 different gins, drinkers can enjoy a great selection of cocktails served in the Spanish ‘copa’ style goblets and paired with an individual tonic and garnishes to highlight the flavours. Visit: 1 Trinity Street, LS1 6AP – pinturakitchen.co.uk Lazy Lounge Priding itself on its gin, wine and whisky offering, Lazy Lounge offers a huge variety of gins to enjoy in its cosy space tucked away on Wellington Street, and they also serve a tasty gin and afternoon tea for an indulgent treat. Visit: Unit D, Westpoint, Wellington Street, LS1 4JY – lazy-lounge.com There are a wealth of exciting gin cocktails to be sampled around Leeds (Photo: Lazy Lounge) The Maven Known for its secretive location and speakeasy style, The Maven is a stylish and sophisticated drinking den offering some of the most creative cocktails in the city, and you’ll find an impressive array of gin infused tipples to enjoy. Visit: 1 Call Lane, LS1 7DH – themavenbar.com Jake’s Bar & Still Room This specialist cocktail bar produces its own unique range of spirits and liqueurs from its affectionately named copper pot still, Tabitha, and offers an ever changing selection of tipples, including their signature Portobello Road Gin cocktail. Visit: 27 Call Lane, LS1 7BT – jakesbar.co.uk Water Lane Boathouse Spread across two floors, with a large outdoor area overlooking the canal, this characterful watering hole prides itself on its great selection of craft beers and gin and tonics. For something with a bit of zest try their Waterlane Gin cocktail, served with Fever Tree tonic, grapefruit and rosemary. Visit: Canal Wharf, LS11 5PS – waterlaneboathouse.com Make your own cocktails If you're planning a night-in this weekend, you can still get in on the gin action and have a go at creating your own cocktails from the comfort of home. Harrogate-based gin brands Slingsby and Carthy and Black have great tasting recipes to try if you're looking to liven up your G&T with new flavours. Rhubarb and Raspberry Gin Mule Ingredients:50ml Slingsby Rhubarb Gin1/2 lime chopped into quarters6 raspberries4 mint leavesGinger beer Method:Muddle the limes and raspberries in a tall glass, then add gin, mint and half fill the glass with ice. Top with ginger beer, stir thoroughly and garnish with a mint sprig and fresh raspberries. Try your hand at making your own gin cocktails with these simple recipes (Photo: Slingsby Gin) Ey up petal Ingredients:25ml Slingsby London Dry Gin12.5ml hibiscus syrup20ml fresh lemon juiceRose lemonade Method:Add the gin, hibiscus syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker and fine strain into a coupe glass. Top with rose lemonade. Carthy & Black's Lemon and Lime Cheesecake Cocktail Ingredients:50ml Carthy & Black Lemon Gin Cream2 scoops vanilla ice cream50ml clotted cream25ml Limoncello Method:Blend all ingredients and pour into a glass. Top with digestive biscuit crumbs and grated lime zest.
