I Bought This Gin for The Tea Cup That Came With It

I know some of you guys are familiar with the fact that the magazines over here (unlike in the States), usually come with a giftie attached to it. For instance my British Marie Claire came with some delicious smelling lotion from L’Occitane, my BBC Food mag came with a magenta spatula, and last year I bought Cath a British Vogue with an Alice Temperly tote bag attached. Pretty nice prezies for £3.50 plus a glossy mag, non? The consumerist in my gleefully claps her hands every time I pass the magazine rack at Tesco or the Scotsman.

So it is perhaps not surprising that when I saw that Hendrick’s gin (my favorite gin because it is made with rose and cucumber — delicious*) came with a tea cup, I did my consumerist happy dance in the aisles of Waitrose last week.

Here’s the thing. I’m not a big drinker. I wish I could be a slightly bigger drinker. I love going out with friends and having a tipple, but I have a rummy tummy that would prefer it if I just drank water for the rest of my life. Usually I just get a sip or two of whatever Cath or Matt order, and spend my evenings staring wistfully at other people’s tipsiness, with angry glances at my glass of water.

Anywhoddle, not being able to drink much, does not preclude me from buying a large bottle of gin (hoping Matt loves the stuff) because I want to keep the tea cup that comes with it.

You might wonder what a gin company is doing handing out tea cups. Well, Hendrick’s thinks you might be interested in switching your afternoon tea to something a bit stronger. Here is a suggested recipe (to be poured into your tea cup):

I’m going to geek-out on you a bit here about some designery stuff. I also bought this gin and tea cup set because Hendrick’s has some of the best product packaging (website included — you should definitely take a gander, those of age!). It’s glorious and witty, and makes me wish I had come up with the branding.

Oh also, Hendrick’s is made right here in bonnie Scotland! Girvan to be exact (note to self: must take field trip to distillery). So apart from appealing to my graphic designery self and consumerist indulgences, I’m supporting the local economy. Lovely!

*Disclaimer for readers under age: Gin is really not all that tasty until you get a bit older. When I was your age, I thought it smelled like pine trees and rubbing alcohol, and I swear that’s what it tastes like until you’re about 25-ish. Really.

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Dear Kitcath,

Thank you so much for wearing cute outfits that I can aspire to. Since I moved here, my one motivation when deciding what to wear has been “how can I stay warm.” So I end up wearing things like this (ack!):

This “outfit” above was for climbing up Arthur’s Seat on Guy Fawkes, so I was hoping the dark would disguise some of my sartorial shame. I am going to try to be less of a weather whimp and wear some nicer outfits so you don’t think I’ve completely lost it here.

Miss you ever so much! Skype date this weekend?

Love,

Larbar