Surrey


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02-1000x1000.jpeg" alt="Silent Pool Distillery Aroma Masterclass, in Albury, Surrey." class="wp-image-56700" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-02.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<p>If you love the theatre that goes with crafting the perfect G&amp;T &#8211; you&#8217;ll love the <a href="https://silentpooldistillers.com/aroma-experience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aroma garnish masterclass</a> at Silent Pool Distillery in the Surrey Hills. </p>



<p>The distillery, which celebrates its 10th birthday this year, has been accumulating awards since it started. But there&#8217;s more to this handcrafted gin than simply the gin. </p>



<p>As any gin lover worth their salt knows, the perfect G&amp;T requires the perfect garnish. And Silent Pool has crafted an innovative aroma garnish. Just two sprays over your G&amp;T does all the work of a fresh slice, and it enhances the botanicals in your gin as well.</p>



<p>The Silent Pool masterclass takes place in a converted dairy barn across the courtyard from the distillery on the Albury Estate in the pretty village of Albury, just a few bucolic miles outside Guildford.</p>



<p>It&#8217;s a beautiful spot overlooking the mystical Silent Pool with the chalky Surrey Hills rising up around it. The estate is a hub of local artisan producers that also includes the Albury Organic Vineyard, makers of fine sparking wine, and Mandira’s Kitchen, one of the best home-made curries in the whole of the county.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gin-school">GIN SCHOOL</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01.jpeg" alt="Silent Pool Distillery Aroma Masterclass, in Albury, Surrey." class="wp-image-56699" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-01-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>But I digress. Today, it&#8217;s all about the liquid aroma garnish. Our potions master is Andy, a gin expert, gin lover and gin connoisseur. What Andy doesn&#8217;t know about gin &#8211; Silent Pool Gin in particular &#8211; probably isn&#8217;t worth knowing.</p>



<p>He takes us through a potted history of Silent Pool Gin, then talks us through the process of how Silent Pool Gin is distilled. It’s all done with a huge amount of thought &#8211; accompanied by a handy powerpoint presentation. It was telling that no-one had any questions about the process owing to Andy&#8217;s thorough approach. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quaff">QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1060" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-05.jpeg" alt="Silent Pool Distillery Aroma Masterclass, in Albury, Surrey." class="wp-image-56703" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-05.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-05-800x565.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-05-1000x707.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-05-400x283.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/Silent-Pool-aroma-masterclass-AE-05-768x543.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Silent Pool Distillers produce a range of gins – from the original Silent Pool gin to the popular Rose Expression and Rare Citrus gins. And now the 10th anniversary celebration edition gin. We work our way through each of these four gins &#8211; smelling, sipping and scrutinising the tasting notes. Was that honey, pear or lavender I picked up on those finishing notes? </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-potion">THE POTION</h2>



<p>And then all that was left was to get stuck into some creative mixing for the liquid aroma garnish. We each have a small beaker and a pipette. Down the middle of the table are the essential oils we&#8217;ll be using to create our own signature blends. There are 12 in total, three of each botanical. In the floral camp there&#8217;s lavender, rose and chamomile. Citrus includes lime, orange and Thai lime. Over in the herb botanicals group there&#8217;s coriander seed, vetiver and cardamom; and things get spicy with grains of paradise, juniper and Timur pepper.</p>



<p>There are no real rules. You can use as much or as little of each one as you like &#8211; but Andy suggests we stick to 5ml of each botanical. Smelling and mixing as we go, it&#8217;s a fun and social process. You can smell mine if I can smell yours! Oh yes, those words were uttered. More than once.</p>



<p>Andy&#8217;s top tip when it comes to getting the best from an aroma: keep your mouth open while you sniff. It works, too. Although you feel a bit daft.</p>



<p>A bit of dibbing and dabbing, sniffing and snorting (mostly with laughter) &#8211; and my potion was coming along nicely. Did I feel like Hermione? Hell yes! </p>



<p>The exact recipe for Amber&#8217;s Aroma shall remain top secret &#8211; but I can disclose that nine botanicals were used: chamomile, lavender, lime, Thai lime, orange, cardamom, coriander, juniper and grains of paradise.</p>



<p>Does it smell wonderful? Of course! But the real test is whether two spritzes over my G&amp;T enhances the flavour. And the answer to that is a resounding yes!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/11/Silent-Pool-Gin.jpg" alt="A bottle of Silent Pool gin next to a gin and tonic." class="wp-image-50423" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/11/Silent-Pool-Gin.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/11/Silent-Pool-Gin-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/11/Silent-Pool-Gin-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/11/Silent-Pool-Gin-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/11/Silent-Pool-Gin-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/11/Silent-Pool-Gin-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong>&nbsp;This is one for gin lovers. It&#8217;s a fun couples experience, and also excellent for groups of friends. Great for gifting to hard-to-buy-for friends and family.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:&nbsp;</strong>Teetotallers also need not apply because a lot of the fun is in the gin tasting.</p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong>&nbsp;The 90-minute Aroma Masterclass is on alternate Saturdays from 11am and costs £35-£45 per person.&nbsp;<a href="https://silentpooldistillers.com/aroma-experience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book here.</a></p>



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<p><em><strong><a href="https://silentpooldistillers.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silent Pool Distillery</a>, Shere Road, Albury, Surrey, GU5 9BW</strong></em></p>


The Aroma Masterclass at Silent Pool Distillery: the Muddy verdict

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