I used to envy those sophisticated fellow travellers who would breezily order a g&t while I always stuck to white wine or a Diet Coke! Despite trying the drink regularly I found the taste too bitter, until my friend carefully made me a gin drink with a twist of lime that I couldn’t resist. Ever since that night I’ve known that the exact proportions of a gin and tonic are crucial if you want to make a drink that is tasty and refreshing.

And so when a Bombay Sapphire invite pinged into my inbox, I responded instantly with a resounding YES. Eight of us met on a chilly terrace of the London landmark, Harvey Nichols, for an evening of cocktail making with Bombay Sapphire Brand Ambassador Renaud de Bosredon, a charming man who has almost definitely been sipping the perfect g&t since childhood.

Around a table we were taught the basics: one part gin, two part tonic and as much ice as you can fit in the glass. Then we had the chance to try the method for ourselves. It was delicious, especially with a squeeze of lime, but I wondered if the great taste was just thanks to the premium brand of Bombay Sapphire and its vapour infused 10 exotic botanicals, rather than my limited cocktail making talents! Renaud encouraged us to be creative with our drinks and we were sent off into the wonder emporium that is the Harvey Nichols Food Hall, with a £20 voucher each to spend on imaginative ingredients. There were plenty of magical products, but I decided on rhubarb bitters to add a fruity flavour and pink candy floss for decoration. It was a strange but tasty combination, and great fun to learn about how to combine flavours into a classic g&t.

Open from 13th April – 11th July, The Bombay Sapphire Rooftop Retreat offers an oasis in the middle of London for guests to experience the exquisite taste of Bombay Sapphire and discover their perfect gin & tonic. With a menu featuring a range of unusual ingredients inspired by the artful creation of Bombay Sapphire and its vapour infused 10 exotic botanicals, guests can create their own bespoke gin & tonic to suit their taste.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the start of Spring.

More information on the Rooftop Retreat and Bombay Sapphire gi masterclasses here.