Johnny Neill, founder of the Marylebone Gin brand and the man behind Whitley Neill Gin, said: Ginhas always been well enjoyed at the RAF Club, so it seemed only right that we should recognise this celebratory year with a commemorative spirit.

MoM: You’re one of the leading producers of flavoured gin. Why was this a category that interested you? Drinks are on the pricier side of things, though we’re still dreaming about the (uber) spicy Margarita we downed weeks ago. So, we think they’re worth it. He says, “The pleasure gardens gave me the inspiration to explore botanicals that are a little more floral in their outlook – chamomile, lemon balm and lime flower, with a hint of grapefruit to deliver a lovely, fresh, citrus-y zing.”As Johnny Neill, the man behind Marylebone Gin, explains: “What I love about the idea of these gardens is the thought of Georgian refinement, with the likes of Handel hosting concerts there, side-by-side with a bit of notoriety, gambling and card sharping.” I freely admit to being a geek. Working in science it kind of goes with the territory – sure my physics is absolutely rubbish (no really), but actually my chemistry is OK, and my biology is pretty good. When it comes to gin, all of the above can come in handy if you really want to get in depth. Understanding not only how it’s made, but it’s action on the body (taking you from yum! to heyyyy drunky!), and the physiology and psychology of how we taste. In the end, Johnny settled on Pleasure Garden Distilling Company as a name for his venture, and 13 elegant botanicals to go into his flagship gin. These combine to form the refined liquid in the beautiful blue bottle that you unwrapped in this month’s Gin of the Month box. And what a liquid it is.

Palate: The palate brings some floral and perfumed qualities with angelica, heather and Parma Violets with piney juniper and orange peel in support. Master of Malt: It seems like you’ve got distilling in your blood. Were you always destined to enter the spirits industry? This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users. The Marylebone Pleasure Gardens that inspired Johnny Neill’s amazing Gin of the Month started out as a bandstand and two bowling greens down the side of the local pub. Entry was free, even when several acres from a neighbouring estate were bolted on.Overall: Tastes as good as it looks and makes a smashing G&T, Marylebone London Dry Gin is a well balanced and elegant expression. Once Johnny had resolved to make a gin honouring his favourite London neighbourhood, he had to face the first, and most serious, hurdle: finding a botanical blend to do the streets of Marylebone justice. I get geeky about everything. But it does means I can also be a bit of a fan girl. I take inspiration from all sorts of areas, not just gin related. Getting a DM from a favourite brewer to ask my opinion is always going to make me have a moment. And when the first Master Distiller added me as a friend on Facebook… In this Georgian era, gin was very much the drink of choice for Londoners – albeit, the spirit was a bit rougher than what we drink today,” he says. “So making a gin really seemed like the natural thing for me to do.” Looking for the best bars in Marylebone? Marylebone might fly under the radar as one of London’s drinking spots, but it boasts a wealth of cool bars if you know where to look.

I was inspired by the diversity and uniqueness of Marylebone,” he says. “The area really does feel like a village. The people and business are proud of where they live, and there’s a strong culture of helping each other. We wanted to be a firm part of the local community.” This is no understated drinking den. The floor-to-ceiling lilac decorations, glittering chandeliers and Chinese-inspired design combine to create quite the interior.Despite being relatively new, The Nest can already lay claim to being one of London’s best rooftop bars. The Pleasure GardensDistillingCompany is situated less than a mile from the Mayfair-based RAF Club, a private charitable membersclubfor serving and former serving officers of theRAF and their families. Nose: Floral citrus blossom and aromatic chamomile, with underlying (somewhat festive) hints of clove and orange.