The Botanist Greenhouse | Summer at Rosewood London

The Botanist Gin and Rosewood London have collaborated to construct a stunning summer greenhouse right in the middle of Rosewood London’s famous Edwardian courtyard for guests to enjoy a gin experience in London like no other.

The courtyard of Rosewood London is the perfect sun trap in the summer and provides a unique outside dining experience away from the busy crowds of central London. As you walk into the greenhouse your eye is immediately drawn to the luscious foliage and hanging terrariums bridging the gap between outside and inside seamlessly.

What makes The Botanist Gin so special is that it is handcrafted and distilled on the Scottish island of Islay in small batches. The gin is known for its smooth taste and is made from 22 local botanicals that are responsibly foraged by hand by experienced scientists from the windswept hills, Atlantic shores and marshes of the Hebridean island.

The botanicals are then delicately augmented with nine berries, barks, seeds and peels during a slow but essential distillation process. The key to the process is the slow ‘simmer’ distilled in a unique and very much loved Lomond pot-still which is affectionately known as “Ugly Betty” by the head distiller of the company, Jim McEwan.

One of the highlights from the new menu is a concoction called ‘The Quest,’ this refreshing cocktail is a mix of flavours from around the world including The Botanist Gin, Green Chartreuse, Yuzu juice and topped with Angostura bitters.

Another on our list to try is ‘The Odyssey,’ a combination of The Botanist Gin infused with cardamom, lime, Italicus and rooibos tea – designed for two to share, so you don’t need to worry about drink envy here.

If gin is not your drink of choice don’t panic, guests are also invited to sample non-gin based cocktails too like ‘Breakfast in Milan’ – Cointreau, Cointreau Blood Orange, Campari, topped with grapefruit soda. Or if your tastebuds call for something a little more tropical why not try the ‘Baha Mar Breeze’, a combination of Mount Gay black barrel rum, Crème de Bananes, lime, anise syrup and pineapple juice. Guests are also able to choose their own garnishes using botanicals and fresh herbs which are placed on each table as a centrepiece, as well as around the Greenhouse for you to forage and find including: lavender, mint, rosemary, lemon balm, thyme, fresh dill, dried citrus as well as pineapple, apple, pear, and a large selection of spices and edible flowers. This interactive experience provides the perfect opportunity to try out new flavours and immerses you in elements of the Isle of Islay.

The Gin Bar at Rosewood London is located within the Holborn dining room, home to over 530 gins! The team of experts use their extensive knowledge of botanicals to create Rosewood London’s refreshingly bespoke cocktail menu. Served exclusively in The Botanist greenhouse, the drinks have been mixed to complement the complex flavours of The Botanist – from apple mint to coriander with anise undertones and citrus, to honey from thistle, coconut from gorse and wild mint – the cocktail menu is sure to entice your tastebuds whether you love a classic G&T or feel like trying something new.

The food menu in the greenhouse is provided by the Holborn Dining Room kitchen with a selection of award winning dishes as complex and delicious and the cocktails. The Botanist Greenhouse will be open from 5th June to 29th September, Monday to Saturday from 12pm – 10.30pm, Sunday 12pm – 10.00pm and will be available to guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made for groups of six or more here.

Images kindly supplied by Rosewood London, photography credit – John Carey.