It takes time to create perfection. For example, did you know that the average elephant pregnancy lasts a whopping 95 weeks? Other beautiful things take a little less time to come into the world. For human babies, it’s roughly 40 weeks. And to infuse Ableforth’s Bathtub Gin with its distinctively delicious flavour, it’s one week.
But first things first. The whole process starts with copper pot-distilled gin made with juniper, coriander and a range of fragrant botanicals. It’s then that the week-long magic takes place. A portion of this gin is then infused over the course of those seven days with a further six botanicals (we’re talking zesty orange peel, spicy-sweet cassia, citrussy coriander seed, and warming cardamom and clove) and gently blended back into the original mixture, giving Ableforth’s its unique and distinct flavour not found in other gins. Add ice and tonic and you’ve got yourself the G&T of your dreams.
Ableforth’s one-week creation period got us thinking: what else could we achieve over the course of 168 hours? So, with the summer holidays just around the corner we’ve drawn up the ultimate guide to one week travelling around England and Wales. Spoiler: we’ve taken a little bit of inspo from that fine-looking Ableforth’s Bathtub Gin and its creation process.
To find out more about Ableforth’s, check them out on Insta and Facebook. Look for their #weekwellspent campaign on social, too.
We couldn’t talk about ‘the delicious’ without mentioning Time Out’s favourite foodie hangout. A neat little pit stop in Neal’s Yard, The Barbary dishes up modern Israeli fare that’ll have you weak at the knees. Think deep-fried pastry ‘cigars’ filled with cod, lemon and Moroccan spices, octopus that has been slow-braised with oranges and bay leaves and ancient recipe, leavened bread that is nothing short of triumphant.
Descend into the limestone caves of Wookey Hole and you’ll soon understand why they’re a fascination for locals and tourists alike. In fact, the whole place looks like something straight out of a fairytale – and you can expect stalagmites, stalactites and beautifully lit natural lakes. Our advice? Pick up a guide and discover the history and mysteries that have been coupled with the cave for centuries.
There are many great things to see in Brighton, but this one landmark lets you see a big bunch of them all at the same time. Yep, the 531-foot-high British Airways i360 sweeps you up into the clouds, letting you gawp at everything from the South Downs over to the Channel. Deep breaths in, because the vista is nothing short of astonishing.
Fancy knocking up your perfect fragrance? Well you can now play atelier at perfumery Bloom’s bespoke perfume lab. Create your concept, pick out your scents and have on-site assistance. Before you know it, you’ll have your own ready-to-wear perfume. Ah the sweet smell of success.
If you haven’t visited Cadbury World then it’s hard to explain the overwhelming joy that prolonged cocoa exposure can bring – but trust us, it’s heaven scent. And there’s not just something in the air at this super sweet attraction, but you’ll enjoy a nice dollop of Bournville-based history and fair whack of chocolate tastings, too.
Manchester has some rather unusual museums, galleries and more, but if you want to test your brain alongside some familiar faces, try and get a ticket for Countdown. It’s filmed in MediaCity, Salford Quays, and you’ll get to learn all about language with Suzie Dent and Nick Hewer. We’ll take a vowel, please.
Kent is the home of Ableforth's, but it’s not just good for gin – it’s nicknamed ‘the garden of England’ for heaven’s sake. So next time you pass through the lush county, march yourself down to the astonishing Tonbridge Castle. There’s a great big dose of history within its walls and great events often take place within the floral grounds.
As part of their #weekwellspent campaign, Ableforth’s would like to hear about your dream seven days. And one lucky winner will have that dream come true. Click 'read more' for more info.