It's GIN-tastic!

There are only three beverages that I drink; water, fruit juice (except orange) and gin. That's it. I don't like the taste of wine, coffee, tea and the rest of them. Weird I know. So when my friend advised me that a Bombay Sapphire inspired gin pop-up bar was opening in Melbourne for a limited time, I got more than a little excited!

Called Project Botanicals, Bombay Sapphire created a unique bar with ten brilliantly designed gin cocktails, each one specific to one of the botanicals found in Bombay, including juniper berries, coriander seeds and bitter almonds. Paired with these cocktails were some mouth-watering tapas style dish created by chef Gary Mehigan.

For a $38 entry fee, you received two cocktails and accompanying dishes, which is more than reasonable but I was a little disappointed by the lack of vegetarian options. There were two desserts that were meat-free but of the 8 'tapas' dishes, only two had a vegetarian alternative. Fortunately, you could mix and match your dishes, and so I ended up with:
Cubeb Berry Fizz and Tartine of Field Mushrooms and
Orris Root Aviation and Strawberries and Cream.

Enjoying our Orris Root Aviation cocktail and dessert

Sadly, two were just not enough and for an extra $12 a cocktail I also ordered the Cassia Blackberry Fix and the Grains of Paradise Flip.

The food was absolutely amazing and with my group of 24 people, there was not one negative comment to be made about it, except for wanting more! All the cocktails hit the spot too but my favourite would have to be the first of the night, the Cubeb Berry Fizz, despite the fact I also don't like lavender!

Project Botanicals (photo by Andi Snelling)

Before we knew it, the two hour booking had flown by and had to make room for the next group of drinkers. 

the amazing menu

There's a reason why Bombay Sapphire is my favourite gin, and Project Botanicals has completely and utterly reinforced this for me. Sadly, the whole event is now completely booked out but hope to see it back again soon.