Ginspiration - 'cene x Colombo No.7 Gin
Colombo No.7 Gin and ‘cene magazine combine to bring an evening of Sri Lankan flavour to Kentish behaviour in Folkestone
A slight breeze wafting sea air onto a balcony terrace in the sunshine while sipping fine gin - it’s no bad way to spend an evening in any luxury resort.
Well last month ‘cene events alongside sponsor Colombo No.7 gin saw the exotic smells and flavours of Sri Lanka burst onto the Folkestone scene.
Popular harbour restaurant Rocksalt - itself one of the catalysts of Folkestone’s regeneration – played host to more than 100 guests as they celebrated the arrival of Colombo No.7 as one of the UK’s most sought after gins.
Paired with Fever Tree and Fentimans mixers, each guest got the chance to taste Colombo No.7, before being treated to some live entertainment overlooking the harbour and a beautiful sunset.
Much like ‘cene magazine, Colombo No.7 has a very unique story behind its creation.
Sri Lanka-based Rockland Distillery released Colombo No.7 Gin in May 2015, based on a 70-year-old-recipe created when trade channels in the country became blocked during the Second World War.
Founded in 1924, Rockland was the first commercial distillery to be established in Sri Lanka, designed to produce Arrack liqueur. But during the war it was asked by the British Government to stop what it was doing and begin making spirits for the war effort. Rockland founder Carl de Silva Wijeyeratne not only obeyed, but also came up with a unique recipe base for a gin.
Using the core ingredients of juniper, angelica and liquorice, but due to restriction on trade of other ingredients, Wijeyeratne also added in the domestically grown cinnamon bark, ginger root, coriander seeds and curry leaf , too. And so the recipe was born.
Still family run by Carl’s grandson, Amal de Silva Wijeyeratne, - who joined the company in 2005 in order to rebuild it following the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 – he found the recipe to recreate Colombo No.7.
Back in Folkestone guests were introduced to the spirit at Rocksalt’s speciality gin bar while ‘cene magazine provided the entertainment. Canterbury duo High Tide were first up on stage with their witty banter while decades of popular hits were given the acoustic guitar and box drum treatment to up the tempo and get the drinks flowing.
Feature interviewee and up and coming comic Adam Morrison offered gin lovers some comedic refreshment during the break before singer songwriter of some repute George Ogilvie gave everyone a sample of the talent that has him courting more than half a million monthly listeners on Spotify as the headline act.
While a fair few carried on into the night, the dulcet tones of Ogilvie, fading light and subtle flavours of Sri Lanka, made for a g-inspiring end to the summer event.
For more info visit colombosevengin.com or cenemagazine.co.uk
