Royals, Rascals and Refugees: A History of Gin with Bronwyn

  • 6th Mar, 2025
  • 6:15pm - 7:30pm (AEDT)
  • Laneway Learning
    Level 3 Rooms 14, 15/37 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
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$25 AUD + BF
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From religious refugees fleeing persecution to British Royals discovering a thirst, gin’s history is as intoxicating as the drink itself. 

Discover how this once-maligned “mother’s ruin” went from fueling London’s wildest gin craze to becoming a sophisticated staple of high society.

We’ll embark on a fascinating journey through the history of gin, beginning in the ancient world where early forms of distillation laid the groundwork for the spirit we know today. 

Along the way we’ll meet scandalous tax dodgers and creative marketers – because gin’s past is anything but dry!

What will we cover?

In this class we will look at:

  • The art of distillation from the ancient worlds to the present
  • Ingredients and botanicals – Juniper!
  • The changing roles of gin, from medicinal to recreational
  • Regional expressions of flavour
  • The wild anecdotes and characters that make this history so colourful!
  • Some tasting and smelling samples – educational of course. You must be over 18.

    Accessibility

    • Wheelchair Accessible Venue
    • Gender Neutral Bathrooms
    • Free Tickets to First Nation Attendees

    Who will be Teaching?

    Bronwyn (she/her) a self-proclaimed trivia nerd, with an undeniable love for the obscure, and a big brass mug to prove it, found herself drawn into the enticing world of spirits and cocktails. With endless time on her hands in lockdown and an insatiable curiosity, she dove into the rich history of drinks, unraveling stories of the oddball characters who created and sipped them. She created an instagram account @serve_stories, and loves sharing the amusing, bizarre and illuminating tales which enrich every sip.

    Important info:

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    Photo by John Fornander on Unsplash

    Any other questions or ways we can assist with accessibility? Just shoot an email to Maddy (she/her) at melbourne@lanewaylearning.com.