Hong Kong’s Ginsanity gin festival is back; free-to-enter event features more than 50 distilleries – and no single-use plastic glasses
- Back for its second edition, Ginsanity will feature more than 50 distilleries and over 100 different variations of the popular spirit
- Single-use plastic glasses are banned, so bring a non-glass tumbler or buy a metal Ginsanity tumbler
Founded in August 2019, Hong Kong’s outdoor gin festival Ginsanity is back after an almost four-year hiatus.
The second edition at Central’s PMQ on May 12 and 13 is an expanded version of its inaugural edition, and will feature more than 50 distilleries and over 100 different variations from around the world, serving the city’s gin drinkers and craft gin enthusiasts.
Notable international distilleries taking part include Sipsmith and Hendricks from the UK, Roku from Japan, and Applewood from Australia.
Ginsanity is free to enter, and organisers say that guests can enjoy a regular 350ml gin-and-tonic at a reasonable price, starting from HK$65 (US$8.30). Other cocktails and non-alcoholic options are also available.
“What sets gin apart from other spirits is its relaxed regulations – only requiring juniper as a botanical and a minimum alcohol content of 37.5 per cent,” says Mark Brough, co-founder of Ginsanity.
“This allows for endless possibilities of innovation and experimentation with local flavours.”
As well as Ginsanity’s vendor booths – where every gin presented can be bought and will be delivered to the customer’s home free of charge by the following week – there will be a range of gin-based activities, from gin masterclasses to cocktail demonstrations.
To ensure guests are not drinking on an empty stomach, food vendors including BBQ with Friends will also be at the festival.
As single-use plastic cups will not be provided at the event, gin connoisseurs are encouraged to bring their own non-glass tumblers or buy a metal Ginsanity tumbler for HK$30.
The cashless event also requires a pre-loaded RFID card to buy drinks, bottles and food, and there will be mobile staff on-site to assist.
Gin’s popularity in Hong Kong is due to its versatility in mixing with other ingredients that easily fit everyone’s palate
Since the time of Ginsanity’s debut, local makers of the botanical spirit have sprouted across the city, such as NIP Distilling and Two Moons Distillery.
“Gin’s popularity in Hong Kong is due to its versatility in mixing with other ingredients that easily fit everyone’s palate and for mixology creation,” says Jeremy Li of NIP Distilling, which is a tongue-in-cheek acronym for “not important persons”.
“Hong Kong’s hot [and humid] weather has also contributed to the popularity of gin as it is often served in refreshing cocktails,” Li adds, “making it a suitable choice for social drinking in Hong Kong, where drinking culture is heavily focused on socialising and networking.”
Ivan Chang, co-founder and general manager of Two Moons Distillery, agrees.
“Hong Kong is a city with a diverse crowd constantly looking for new ideas and exciting inspiration,” he says. “It makes it a great place for gins to showcase the versatility and creativity needed to whet [people’s] appetite.”
