The Botanist gin, is hosting for the first time in India, a unique immersive experience titled The Botanist Wild 22. Taking place in South Goa from August 19-21, the three-day event will culminate in a bartending competition. Combining the world of The Botanist gin with their stellar mixology talents, 22 of India’s best bartenders will compete for the title of ‘The Botanist Wild One’ as a part this unique three-day exploratory journey.
Caitlin Hill, brand ambassador, The Botanist will be hosting this adventure. Known as an ace mixologist, with an added passion for foraging and sustainability, Hill will be the primary navigator for this 3-day experiential journey. Partnering with Hill in this adventure will be Matt Whiley who has been named Evening Standard’s top 1000 most influential Londoners and has been awarded European’s Best Mixologist in 2019.
With an increasing focus on using locally sourced and produced ingredients, the process of foraging will take center stage in this interactive experience. A learning expedition with an expert highlighting the rules of sustainable foraging will be carried out for all guests in a private spice and fruit farm in South Goa, where all bartenders will forage for a minimum of one local ingredient that they will use for the cocktail competition. The number ‘22’ is particularly significant as it represents the 22 hand-foraged local island botanicals that delicately augment the berries, barks, seeds and peels that go into the making of The Botanist. In addition to the morning of foraging, other highlights include mixology lessons with the experts, dinners at secret locations in the wilderness of tropical Goa and fishing sessions. The Botanist Wild One - The final competition on day-3 will be held at Firefly, one of India’s hottest new bars.
Participating bartenders will invent their signature gin cocktail featuring one locally foraged ingredient. The winner will be awarded the title of ‘The Botanist Wild One’ by a 4-member panel including Caitlin Hill, Matt Whiley, celebrity Chef Vicky Ratnani and artisanal bread-maker Sujit Sumitran.
The winning cocktail will be served to guests as the evening culminates with ‘TheBotanist Wild 22 Night’. The winner of the competition wins to a chance to visit Scotland to be part of a unique experience at the birthplace of The Botanist, in the wild Hebridean island of Islay, in March 2020.
