Let me state, for the record, that gin is my One True Love. Over the last few years I have transitioned from vodka and coke to gin and tonic to gin martini to building a gin lounge in my spare room, and there's only one place I would trust to provide me with the best quality spirits to stock it. That place is the Good Spirits Co.
The store opened in the early summer of 2011 in a unit previously inhabited by 23rd Precinct. Tucked under Bath Street, the Former record shop has been transformed into a bright and inviting space, lined floor to ceiling with the best quality booze in town. Shelves to the left glow amber with whiskies, rum and cognac, and to the right behind the till you will find gin, vodka, tequila, cachaca and an intriguing selection of mysteriously labelled and coloured spirits, bitters and liqueurs that will no doubt bring out the latent Jerry Thomas in you. They also stock a neat range of beer, champagnes, and fortified wine (although I'm sure that this will grow once their new venture is up and running) and towards the back of the store is a walk in humidor.
And then there's the tasting room.
I don't remember my first visit to the GSC tasting room. This is no surprise because, as I recently tweeted, I never leave GSC entirely sober. Most times I bound up the stairs, new gin tucked under my arm, burnished with a tipsy gin glow. I have enjoyed many tastings here, most of them led by Matthew, who I must thank for always being eternally patient and gracious as I witter and enthuse and babble my way through each tasting. What a gentleman. Most of the tastings take the same shape- six gins, a cocktail, some tonic, some gin chat, some oatcakes, some purchases. And despite styling myself as somewhat if a gin expert, I always come away having learnt or tried or appreciated something new.
The tastings are undoubtedly my favourite way to spend an evening in Glasgow. I have been with my husband, my friends, as a group, and as part of my hen do, and I never tire of it. For my hen my friend arranged a mid-afternoon private tasting led by Matthew with cocktails made by Aidan Bowie, then of the Blythswood, now of the Mondrian. On paper, an elegant affair. In reality...well, I'll let you judge by the photos, put together by my friend Miki, and perhaps you'll see why I consider Matthew to be such a gracious individual.
In conclusion, my advice is simple. Visit the Good Spirits Co. Their knowledge in their field is unsurpassed, they are eternally patient and kind, they listen to the needs of their customers, and they're bloody lovely.