As we sit down to enjoy the bank holiday or indeed a tipple this weekend, many of us will be reaching for the gin bottle, a spirit that has seen somewhat of a revolution in recent years.
However, while small batch and artisan liquors have become the drinks of the season, very few of us would think that the popularity of the spirit can be traced back to King William III taking the English throne in 1689.
Upon taking the throne and prior to the infamous Battle of The Boyne, King William, a fan of the Dutch spirit introduced a number of laws to encourage gin production including an import tax which resulted in the spirit being cheaper than a pint of beer.
