Mother's Ruin Podcast

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Learn about the history of gin, get ideas for recipes and infusions, hear the latest gin news and hear us taste the best gins on the market.

Mat Reed and Sarah Donnelly

  • May 12, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • infrequent NEW EPISODES
  • 58m AVG DURATION
  • 29 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Mother's Ruin Podcast

29: Plagues, pandemics and pathogens: Lockdown special

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2020 58:51


28: Ginfluencers: Five titans of gin

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2019 49:32


Sources:https://www.liquor.com/articles/jared-brown/#gs.3fnlcqhttps://www.31dover.com/blog/spotlight-on-lesley-graciehttps://robbreport.com/muse/entertaining/hendricks-gins-master-distiller-lesley-gracie-2822764/

27: The science of tasting

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2019 66:25


Sources: https://www.decanter.com/spirits/how-to-taste-gin-ask-decanter-382912/#YSkgyVR6Ikg3vgT7.99https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste#Fattiness_.28oleogustus.29https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/taste/2018/do-different-parts-of-the-tongue-taste-different-things-010319https://www.ginfoundry.com/insights/how-to-taste-gin-part-one/https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/kids-taste-buds.htmhttp://www.yalescientific.org/2016/04/the-flow-of-flavor-how-exhaling-while-eating-affects-smell-and-taste/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-olfactory-neuron-turnover/https://www.craftginclub.co.uk/ginnedmagazine/2016/2/24/how-to-taste-ginhttps://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-taste-gin-2018-6?r=US&IR=T

26: Number crunching: The gin industry in statistics

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2019 57:43


Which country consumes the most gin per head? How do our gin consumption levels match those of the gin craze years? And is the industry really still on its way up? All these and more as we delve into some fascinating facts and figures about gin. Plus we taste some non-alcoholic or low alcohol alternatives to gin.

25: From the craze to the Krays: More gin and crime

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2019 54:21


More gin and crime is on the menu, as we complete our look at highwaymen’s relationship with gin, comparing gin’s reputation in the 18th century with that of 1960s gangland London. We also have a masterclass from Hepple, and of course all the latest gin news.

24: Stand and deliver: Crime in the gin-craze era

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2019 53:11


In this episode we examine the myths and mystique surrounding highwaymen and their relationship to gin. We also talk to Emma from York Gin about Outlaw, their roguish new gin inspired by York's notorious ne'er-do-wells, plus a tasting with mixologist Sophia Holt.

23: Weird science

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2019 69:47


This episode explores strange scientific phenomena associated with gin, from the wonders of yeast to spontaneous human combustion and hangover-free gin. We also concoct some marvellous medicinal gin cocktails, all in the name of science. Plus the latest gin news.

22: The story of Genever part two

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2019 59:56


This week we complete the history of Genever, the precursor to gin which remains hugely popular today. We also have a Gin of the Week special featuring a tasting Isle of Harris, plus an interview with their brand ambassador Iona Cairns. Plus all the latest gin news.

21: World Gin Day special

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2019 67:33


In honour of World Gin Day, we return with a show dedicated to gins around the world. We learn about the history of Genever, we play Top Trumps - around the world in eight gins, plus we have an interview with Thomas Steinhart, from the Steinhart distillery in Canada. And of course all the latest gin news. 

20: The great big gin quiz part two

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2019 60:49


As season two draws to a close, Matthew takes the great big gin quiz, which reveals some of the fascinating facts we didn’t get to cover in previous episodes. We also speak to Jen and Robby from the South City Gin Club over in St Louis, Missouri, who give us the lowdown on the best American gins.

19: Gin: Medicine or poison?

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2019 40:25


Gin began its life as a miracle cure for all ills, but later came to be regarded as a deadly poison. Here we uncover the truths and myths behind gin’s effects on the human body. We also have an interview with Dobson and Parnell, a restaurant and gin bar hailed as one of the best in the world.

18: Message on a bottle: Gin bottles, names and labels

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2019 45:06


This week we re-visit the topic of gin bottles, names and labels. Why does the Gordon's bottle bear the symbol of a boar? What was so different about the Beefeater brand when it launched, and where do Roku, Rock Rose and Kouru get their names? We also interview Costswolds Gin to find out all about the origins of their whiskey-style bottle design.

17: Gin and food

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2019 68:42


This week's episode looks at gin's relationship with food. Can you cook with gin? Can gin-soaked foods get you drunk? And what is the science behind gin as an aperitif? We also talk to the team from Fezziwig's Gin Yard in Liverpool, who give us all the bartender secrets on choosing a good gin.

16: The gin glossary part two

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2019 64:36


In this show we complete the gin glossary from N-Z. What does ‘nose’ mean, what is ‘vacuum distillation’, and who was Zosimos of Panopolis? Find out this week. We also have an interview with the head distiller at Newcastle Gin, and in battle of the gins we pitch two old toms against each other.

15: The gin glossary part one

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2019 47:41


Mr Hobbs Gin: https://www.mrhobbsgin.co.uk/The Gin Dictionary: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gin-Dictionary-David-T-Smith/dp/1784723983

14: Ginfamous: Bootlegging and prohibition

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2019 58:07


Read more about prohibition via The Mob Museum: http://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/Hepple Douglas Fir Vodka: https://moorlandspirit.co/douglas-fir-vodka

13: Gin in literature

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2018 58:07


Guest written by Kitty Donnelly: https://kittydonnellypoet.com/ We’re drinking Lone Wolf gin: https://www.lonewolfspirits.com/ Interview with Sam Galsworthy of Sipsmith: https://sipsmith.com/

12: The drinker's vernacular

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2018 58:07


Drinks by the Christmas crackers: https://www.drinksbythedram.com/christmas-crackers/

11: Gin meets religion and the supernatural

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2018 78:18


Drinks by the Dram Advent Calendar: https://www.drinksbythedram.com/advent-calendars/

10: Great big gin quiz

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2018 78:18


This episode takes a look at the history of cocktails from their early beginnings to prohibition and James Bond. We also discover Osmoz grape gin via the Craft Gin Club's monthly box of delights, and we have the final of the Tin Gin World Cup.

09: Along came the cocktail

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2018 62:36


This episode takes a look at the history of cocktails from their early beginnings to prohibition and James Bond. We also discover Osmoz grape gin via the Craft Gin Club's monthly box of delights, and we have the final of the Tin Gin World Cup.

08: A look behind the labels

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2018 61:04


Join us to take a look at some of the fascinating fables behind gin bottles, gin labels and gin names. Matthew takes a quiz to test his knowledge on the subject, plus we have the semi-finals of the Tin Gin World Cup featuring Gavin Webster, and we put Ginfusions garnish packs to the test.

07: Gin and crime

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2018 60:54


Gin has been linked with some of the most heinous crimes in British history. But was gin really to blame, or were there more complex factors at play? This week we also hold the quarter final of the Tin Gin World Cup alongside comedian and whiskey drinker Gavin Webster, whom we try to convert to gin while trying some ready-mixed tinned gins.

06: Gin, industry and Birmingham's Best-kept secrets

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2018 55:07


40 St. Paul’shttps://www.40stpauls.co.uk/Langley Distillery: http://www.langleydistillery.co.uk/Richard Barnett, the Book of Gin: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Gin-Alchemists-Artisanal-Cocktails/dp/0802120431

05: Gin gets the blues: Gin in music

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2018 54:15


Gin playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/comedymat/playlist/4GBdVOPVfxTpwFDG7W20km

04: Gin meets tonic

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2018 47:25


In this episode we bring the history of gin timeline through Britain's imperial century - where it meets tonic water, through prohibition and up to the present day. We also have guest Ben Crompton - AKA Ed Tollett - from Game of Thrones tasting a GOT themed cocktail.

03: The Recovery

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2018


This week we see gin move out of the gutter an into the gin palaces, as the dawning of the 19th century hails a new beginning for gin. We also make Purl, and bring you the latest gin news.

02: The Gin Craze

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2018 51:50


The Book of Gin by Richard Barnett: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Gin-Alchemists-Artisanal-Cocktails/dp/0802120431Hogarth’s Gin Lane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Street_and_Gin_LaneOld Curiosity gin: https://www.theoldcuriosity.co.uk/home/

01: The origins of gin

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2018 57:50


We take you back in time to discover the origins of gin, from Middle Eastern alchemy to Dutch courage. We also make Dog's Nose and give you a roundup of the latest gin news.

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