Cocktail Trend: Modern Heritage

The rise of Modern Heritage has been impossible to miss. From interiors and fashion to food, design and style, we’re seeing a new appreciation for the stories, craftsmanship and character of the past – reimagined for modern tastes. Now, the trend is making its way into cocktail culture, with heritage spirits being given a fresh, contemporary twist.

Think classic serves with unexpected ingredients, heritage spirits brought back into the spotlight, and cocktails that tell an intricate story as well as delivering on flavour. Trevethan Gin was first created in 1929. The story begins with Norman Trevethan, who created his original “bathtub” gin recipe while working as a chauffeur on the gorgeous Port Eliot Estate in Cornwall, during the golden age of cocktail culture. More than 80 years later, the recipe was rediscovered by chemist-turned master distiller John Hall, who transformed it into an award-winning London Dry Gin, now showcased in deliciously summery cocktails at Cocktails in the City.

London’s biggest cocktail festival returns to Bedford Square Gardens from 6–8 August. Following a sell-out 2025 event, the festival will transform a private Georgian garden into a summer cocktail playground, bringing together some of the world’s best bars, bartenders and drinks brands. Guests can expect exclusive serves they’d usually have to travel across London – or even across the globe – to discover, alongside live music, street food, workshops, tastings and unforgettable summer evenings.

At the heart of this year’s line-up is a new generation of brands proving that heritage doesn’t mean old-fashioned.

A century-old Cornish Gin’s summer refresh

Trevethan Original 1929 Dry Gin hails from Cornwall and is bringing its own take on modern heritage to Cocktails in the City, partnering with The Gin Bar at Holborn Dining Room, Rosewood London, to create a collection of exclusive festival cocktails.

“Cocktails in the City is about celebrating great cocktails,” says Carly Fordy, Brand Manager at Trevethan Distillery. “For us, it’s about showing how a handcrafted, well-balanced London Dry Gin can come to life in the hands of exceptional bartenders. We love taking something with real heritage and seeing how today’s bartenders and at-home mixologists can reinterpret it for a new generation.”

Why modern heritage is taking over cocktail culture

Today’s drinkers are looking for more than just a great serve. They want something with meaning – a story behind the bottle, a connection to place, and an experience they can share. While Trevethan’s roots lie in the golden age of cocktail culture, its flavour profile has been designed for today’s drinking occasions – from a perfectly balanced Martini or G&T to innovative serves created by leading bartenders. Modern heritage combines the best of both worlds: the authenticity of traditional craft with the creativity of modern bartending.

“We’re proud of where we’ve come from, but we’re always looking at how we can create new experiences around the liquid,” says Carly. “Exceptional cocktails start with exceptional spirits. We want to create something that has a sense of place and history, while still feeling exciting and relevant today.”

The must-try modern heritage serves

For Cocktails in the City, The Gin Bar at Holborn Dining Room has created two exclusive serves showcasing how a heritage spirit can be transformed for a new generation of cocktail lovers.

Eden Highball

Light, elegant and made for long afternoons, the Eden Highball pairs Trevethan Original 1929 Dry Gin with delicate elderflower, tropical tea and fresh lime. The result is a silky, sparkling serve with a bright botanical finish and an elderflower jelly garnish.

Zest & Stone

A celebration of seasonal flavours, Zest & Stone combines Trevethan Original 1929 Dry Gin with yuzu sake, juicy peach, zesty lemon and fig leaf soda. Fresh, fragrant and full of character, it’s finished with a peach spray garnish for an extra burst of summer flavour.

Your summer cocktail destination

As cocktail culture continues to evolve, the future isn’t about forgetting the past – it’s about honouring it. From heritage spirits to innovative techniques and unexpected flavours, Modern Heritage is proving that the classics still have plenty of stories left to tell. And this summer, Trevethan’s 1929 recipe is getting its next chapter, served with a fresh twist in the heart of London.

Event Information

Cocktails in the City

Dates: 6–8 August

Opening Times:

Thursday 6 August: 5pm–10pm

Friday 7 August: 4pm–10pm

Saturday 8 August: 12pm–4pm and 5pm–10pm

Location: Bedford Square Gardens, London WC1B 3HH

Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road

ENDS

TREVETHAN GIN INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

IWSC | Gin Producer of the Year, 2021 – Awarded for excellence in production despite industry challenges

IWSC | UK Gin Distillery of the Year

IWSC | Gold Outstanding Medal, 2022

IWSC | Gold Medal, 2021

ABOUT TREVETHAN GIN

A WORLD-CLASS LONDON DRY, CRAFTED WITH HERITAGE, PASSION AND SCIENTIFIC PRECISION

01 STEEPED IN HISTORY

Trevethan began in 1929 with an original family recipe, later rediscovered and reimagined by Master Distiller John Hall. What started as a piece of family heritage has evolved into a modern, award-winning gin, shaped by nearly a century of craft, character, and Cornish tradition.

02 MADE WITH PASSION

John Hall didn’t just revive a recipe; he dedicated over a decade to mastering the art of distillation. Entering the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) every year, he refined batch after batch until achieving Gold Outstanding recognition. Every bottle reflects that dedication, craft, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

03 PERFECTED BY SCIENCE

A trained chemist, John applied scientific precision to elevate a traditional recipe into the refined gin you taste today. From a unique double pot-still configuration to meticulously controlled botanical extraction, Trevethan’s clarity, balance, and consistency come from a method engineered, not improvised. The result: a gin perfected through science, heritage, and passion – a world-class London Dry for discerning palates.

Holborn Dining Room

Located in the heart of Holborn, moments away from Covent Garden, Holborn Dining Room is a grand British brasserie within Rosewood London. Previously the East Banking Hall of Pearl Assurance, Holborn Dining Room serves seasonal, locally sourced British cuisine with a modern twist. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is home to the Gin Bar featuring over 300 gins, The Pie Room and The Terrace. Holborn Dining Room features a selection of carefully curated dishes of the best seasonal produce in the UK. The à la carte lunch and dinner menus are updated seasonally and feature an array of signature British dishes as well as pastry specialities including the Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese & Potato Pie and Welly Wednesday special, beef wellington, served only on Wednesdays (see menus here).

The Gin Bar

Holborn Dining Room is home to The Gin Bar offering one of London’s largest collections of over 300 gins, perfectly paired with a selection of tonics or to be enjoyed within signature cocktails. The expert team of bartenders additionally offer gin tasting masterclasses for those looking to broaden their knowledge of the botanical spirit.