The State of Gin in 2021 – Panel Discussion - Ginposium 2021
Panel
Chaired by Dr. Anne Brock, the panel discuss the state of the gin industry a year into the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Anne Brock is Bombay Sapphire’s Master Distiller and a Director of the Gin Guild. Educated at Oxford University, Anne achieved a PhD in Organic Chemistry from St. Catherine’s College and spent four years as lead distiller at a small distillery in central London. In September 2017, she joined the Bombay Sapphire team at the Laverstoke Mill Distillery in Hampshire, bringing with her technical experience and a passion for and in-depth knowledge of the exciting and rapidly expanding gin category. Working alongside the Master of Botanicals, Ivano Tonutti, Anne is responsible for fulfilling the global demand for Bombay Sapphire gin, leading the team of 16 distillers who produce every drop and bottle of Bombay Sapphire at Laverstoke, enjoyed around the world.
Anne is a Rectifier in the Gin Guild and is its current Grand Rectifier.
Dr. Georgia Billing is the General Manager at the City of London Distillery & Bar. She holds a PhD in Nutrition Research. Having grown up in the hospitality business, Georgia has worked in the bar industry since 2004.
Georgia now incorporates her own handmade ingredients, from cordials to vermouths, creating unique cocktail experiences for every customer. Georgia co-founded the Reina Lab., which produces bespoke ingredients for cocktail menus and competitions, using foraged botanicals wherever possible. Georgia’s bitters recipe won her a place in the New Malt Order, an international group of 12 innovative bartenders, who collectively made the first Bartender’s Malt scotch whisky. Georgia was also a top-ten finalist in the Diageo UK World Class bartender competition 2018.
Siobhan Feeley started fresh out of college working in The Oliver Conquest (OC), a little pub in the middle of Aldgate that specialised in gin. Her knowledge and passion for gin and spirits grew from there and through it she was introduced to Ian and Hilary, founders of Sacred Spirits in Highgate, north London. She joined them as an Apprentice Distiller, and is now Distiller and Distillery Manager.
Bernadette Pamplin of Under The Ginfluence writes for Gin Magazine and Distiller Magazine and works behind the scenes for the Craft Distilling Expo. She has judged for Gin of the Year, the World Gin Awards, Spirits Business Awards, Gin Guide Awards, IWSC and the American Distilling Institutes Judging of Craft Spirits, held in San Francisco.
Vanessa Piromallo (ilgin.it) started writing about gin in 2014. She’s the founder and Editor in chief of ilGin.it, the most read Italian website about Gin & Tonic, and a consultant for gin producers. Her mission is to spread the culture of gin in Italy and to make Italian gins known in the world.
Caroline Childerley launched ‘The Gin Queen’ in December 2013 to share her enthusiasm for gin and the people who make it.
Since then, she has launched Junipalooza Melbourne and Sydney with her business partners Spirits Society, and her business The Ginporium, Australia’s First Gin Concierge. She was the first Australian member to be inducted into The Gin Guild and in 2020 was named Icons of Gin ‘Communicator of the Year’.
The Gin Queen is now Australia’s most influential website dedicated to all things gin. Caroline was a Judge for Tasting Australia Spirits Awards 2019, The American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition 2020, Judge for World Gin Awards 2020 and Associate Judge for the 2017 & 2018 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.