During 2019, we made three trips to Montpellier. Principally, these were to visit Hannah & Cormac, who opened their Gin Bar, the first in the city and probably one of the earliest in France. They had spent a lot of time researching what they wanted to do and by May were nearly ready to do it.
So, I took Jean there just ahead of her 70th birthday, believing that she was just visiting Hannah & Cormac to have a look at the bar just before it opened. She had no idea that Michael, Dan, Lorna, Scott, Ella, Katie, Chris & Marion would all be secreted inside the bar with balloons as the door was opened to cheers all around! It was a 'soft' opening and we spent the whole evening there, bringing in tapas from an adjacent bar. Gin sampling had begun!
We had a few days together touring the city, as well as drinking gin, and there were no impediments from the gilet jaunes, demonstrating in the Place du Comedie during our lunch.
Finally, the gin bar, Juniper, opened in June so a further birthday was celebrated for Michael with a return visit!
And there it is, open for business and the tasting began in earnest! But we did also manage to celebrate Michael's birthday with a dinner out.
To round off 2019, we returned to Montpellier again in late December, together with Michael & Dan, to spend New Year with Hannah & Cormac and visiting friends. For the evening, Dan had prepared a quiz for our lock-in private party celebrations at Juniper G&T Bar.
My team, unfortunately, came last in the quiz despite a late rally, but much fun was had by all in another of Dan's masterpieces, customised for the occasion.
In between, some further sampling of gins took place, but many of their wide selection remain untouched, dictating future visits...............
And so, it was farewell to 2019 and hello to 2020!
So, I took Jean there just ahead of her 70th birthday, believing that she was just visiting Hannah & Cormac to have a look at the bar just before it opened. She had no idea that Michael, Dan, Lorna, Scott, Ella, Katie, Chris & Marion would all be secreted inside the bar with balloons as the door was opened to cheers all around! It was a 'soft' opening and we spent the whole evening there, bringing in tapas from an adjacent bar. Gin sampling had begun!
Even a birthday wish in Russian for Jean
Finally, the gin bar, Juniper, opened in June so a further birthday was celebrated for Michael with a return visit!
And there it is, open for business and the tasting began in earnest! But we did also manage to celebrate Michael's birthday with a dinner out.
To round off 2019, we returned to Montpellier again in late December, together with Michael & Dan, to spend New Year with Hannah & Cormac and visiting friends. For the evening, Dan had prepared a quiz for our lock-in private party celebrations at Juniper G&T Bar.
H&C's dog, Dog, seems underwhelmed by the new decade!
My team, unfortunately, came last in the quiz despite a late rally, but much fun was had by all in another of Dan's masterpieces, customised for the occasion.
In between, some further sampling of gins took place, but many of their wide selection remain untouched, dictating future visits...............
And so, it was farewell to 2019 and hello to 2020!
