3rd Annual Gin Summit

The ADI’s Gin Summit returns with for its third year, this time in the mountain stronghold of gin distilling: Denver, Colorado. Master of Ceremonies Eric “EZ” Zandona will be returning to host the proceedings.

09:00 – 09:30 a.m. Distilling In Colorado

with our keynote speaker, Stephen Gould of Golden Moon Distillery

Colorado has a rich history of distilling gin and many of the country’s most established and highly-regarded gins are made in the state; Stephen will welcome the audience with his talk on distilling in Colorado, past and present.

09:30 – 10:00 a.m. The Chemistry of Botanicals

with Matthew S. V. Pauley of Heriot-Watt University

A handful of chemical compounds affect the flavours and aromas of gin – what are they and why do they matter? Gin Scholar Matthew S. V. Pauley shares some of his research and investigations into this area.

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. – A Gin Distiller’s World Tour

with International Spirits Consultant Julia Nourney

From Ireland to Lebanon, Germany to the USA, International Spirits Consultant Julia Nourney has spent years travelling the world, helping distillers make the very best gin that they can. Julia will share case studies on some of her favorite projects, from capturing the sea in gin to harvesting juniper on the Syrian border.

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. – ABV: The Proof’s in the Drinking

How does the alcoholic strength of a gin affect its flavour? Find out for yourself by tasting a selection of gins all made using the recipe, but diluted to different alcoholic strengths.

Samples kindly provided by Golden Moon Distillery.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon – A Gin Drinker’s World Tour

with International Food & Drinks Writer Virginia Miller

International Food and Drinks Writer and Academy Chair (West USA and West Canada) for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Virginia Miller has spent plenty of time traversing the globe and trying some of the most delectable gin concoctions known to mankind. In her talk, she shares some of her insights on and tales of enjoying gin across five continents.

12:00 noon – 12:30 p.m. – Turning Genius into Gin

with Gin Genius, Lauren Patz of Spiritworks

This talk will tell the tale of a gin’s journey from abstract to concept, through development and then production – all of the steps required for it to become a fully-fledged, delicious liquid in a bottle, including some of the potential pitfalls along the way.

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. – Colorado Gin Showcase

Local Denver-based Gin Consultant Aaron J Knoll and David T Smith – the team  behind “The Craft of Gin” – are back (by no popular demand whatsoever) to present and taste a handpicked selection of some of the finest and more unusual gins that the fine state of Colorado has to offer.

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. – GIN, so what’s next?

A lively discussion on where gin is headed in the next decade. Each speaker will have a few minutes to share their thoughts before the panel takes questions from the floor.

Speakers include:

Aaron J Knoll, Author and Spirits Expert

Keli Rivers, Gin Tsar

Brad Plummer, Farallon Gin

Ben Capdevielle, Captive Spirits

Natasha Bahrami, Gin World, The Gin Girl & The Gin Room

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. – Focusing on Flavour: A New Approach

with Nicholas Cook, Director General of The Gin Guild

Nicholas will introduce “The Gin Note”: the Gin Guild’s new approach to describe a gin’s character to consumers and other users of gin. Nicholas will explain how it works, the response so far, and plans for the future.

4:00 – 4:45 p.m. – Martini vs. Negroni – The Showdown

The battle of two gin (drink) titans! In the green corner, the clean, crisp, and elegant Martini; in the red corner, the bold, deep, and complex Negroni. Advocates of each drink will discuss their finer points and answer the audience’s questions and comments. Whichever drink gets the most drinks orders from the audience at the end of the session is the winner – culminating in a fun and a rather tasty finale.

Representing the Martini:

Natasha “Stirred Not Shaken” Bahrami, The Gin Room

Representing the Negroni:

Keli “Equal Parts or Die” Rivers, Sipsmith

4:45 – 5:30 p.m. Gin & Tonic Networking