REVIEW: That Gin & Cocktail Bar

When That Gin & Cocktail Bar opened in May 2021 owner Steve Bazell said he wanted to offer a "unique experience" for gin lovers.

We were invited down to try out the Swan Street venue, and we found he has done exactly that.

The boutique bar offers customers the choice of over 100 different flavour combinations, from well-known brands to unique tipples.

Upon arrival we were seated and presented with a menu of all the huge number of drinks on offer. Instead of being daunted by the choice, Steve showed us that each gin had been given a flavour profile and told us to find something we had tried before and then match up the flavours we liked with something new.

His advice was spot on, and first off I tried Japanese craft gin Roku, served in a double measure - as are all the gins in That Gin & Cocktail Bar. It proved a good choice and a very enjoyable start to the evening

My partner opted to start with one of the in-house blends. The bar distills its own gin on site, flavouring it with bold additions which Steve said offers costumers something completely different. Yet again, he was right.

The boutique bar offers customers the choice of over 100 different flavour combinations

Having let us sample a small bit of the jalapeno and grapefruit flavours, she opted for the pineapple which was very well received, and unlike anything either of us had had before.

Upon receiving our first drinks it was also clear what high levels of customer service Steve strives for.

From asking us about our preferences and then making suggestions based on that, it was clear that the staff genuinely cared about our evening.

Then when the drinks arrived they were served with a range of dried garnishes that enhanced the experience, a single large spherical ball of ice, and then a metal straw with a filter on the end to keep the garnish out.

It was small details like that which made it clear how much thought had gone into the customer experience - it is not just your average bar where you just order a drink at the bar.

More drinks were ordered. I opted for one of the in-house blends, a passion fruit flavour garnished with half an additional passion fruit. Sweet and slightly bitter at the same time, it was very well received.

We also tried one of the bar's sharing platters

While my partner decided to have something different and tried a marmalade variety from Zym - another winner.

During the evening we also sampled some of the sharing boards designed to compliment the experience.

As well as chorizo, prosciutto and pastrami, we had a goats cheese, brie and really tasty blue cheese. Served with crackers and chutneys it was the perfect accompaniment to the drinks - adding that extra something to the night but not taking away from the focus of trying the range of gins on offer.

Steve told us that he is always on the lookout for new drinks and flavours to keep things fresh and to keep things interesting for customers.

While the bar also serves a range of cocktails, prosecco, wines, spirits and mocktails as well as 0% alcohol gin, we also saw Steve making cocktails not on the menu for one customer - showing how he goes the extra bit to make the evening enjoyable for all.

We rounded the night off with another in-house flavour, this time watermelon, and by returning to the high street brands with Monkey 47.

As well as gins the bar also serves a range of cocktails (image by Everybody Smile Photography)

Steve was also kind enough to let us try a shot each of a coffee tequila he had just brought in - it was nothing like what you would expect, and definitely worth a try if you are ever offered some.

While we did not try them on the night, our eyes were also caught by the Sicilian orange, pink pepper, black pepper and cardamon, dandelion and burdock and hop flavoured gins on offer.

They will all definitely be ordered the next time that we visit, which I hope will be sometime soon.

Overall the night was thoroughly enjoyable, and definitely the 'experience' that Steve wants it to be. At no point did we feel like we were just in a regular bar where the staff are not interested in your evening.

We felt welcomed, and felt like we embraced the opportunity to try some new things.

And to top it off, the venue also hosts gin tasting events and live music and has a private hire room for use - what is not to like?