Not just a tasting, it’s time travel…
with drinks!

Browse the themes…

Black and white photo of a lively gathering of people at a social event. A man standing in the center with arms outstretched, holding a bottle and shouting joyfully. Several others around him are smiling, laughing, and holding glasses, with a table in front of them featuring bottles and glasses. The atmosphere appears energetic and celebratory.

Gin

Gin Tasting
A History of Disrepute.

Our most popular theme takes you from the dawn of man up to last Tuesday. Squeezes 3.5 million years into one evening. Chock full of misbehaviour, war, disease, rogues and royalty, this focuses on 400 years with exquisite drinks chosen for each century. More details here.

A black and white photo of a woman holding a bottle up in a warehouse-like setting.

Spirited Women

Cocktail Tasting
A hidden history of women who drank, distilled and defied.

Women have always raised glasses, and often standards, in the world of alcohol. Spirited Women is a deliciously informative tasting experience that uncovers the overlooked role of women in the history of booze, while enjoying exquisite spirits and cocktails crafted by women. More details here.

Black and white painting of three men working in a sugarcane field, with a ship in the background. One man in the foreground is drinking from a metal mug, holding a bottle, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and rolled-up sleeves.

Rum

Rum and Cocktail Tasting
Cane, Chains and Cocktails

This event explains how what started out as the waste left behind in sugar production became one of the most popular drinks in the world. This tasting uses a combination of neat spirits, mixed drinks and cocktails to tell the story of the drink with the dark past. More details here.

A black-and-white photo of a woman with a feathered headdress performing on stage, with a group of men and women sitting around a table, all raising glasses and celebrating in a vintage nightclub setting.

Queer History

Cocktail OR Gin Tasting
A Spirited Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories

Drinking spaces have long been sanctuaries and stages for queer communities. This unique event traces that journey, bringing to life the colourful characters and hidden histories that shaped queer culture, all while sipping on historically relevant cocktails , or selected gins from queer-owned or allied producers.

A globe, a compass, and a glass of water on a map, with a rural house and field in the background.

Sustainable Spirits

Gin Tasting
Drink Like the Planet Depends on it!

Learn about the local, small batch origins of different alcoholic drinks and how industrialisation changed that. Hear the stories of today’s drinks that are genuinely committed to minimising their impact while tasting the delicious fruits of their labour.

A black and white photo of a compass placed on a map, showing north, south, east, and west directions.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Bespoke Themes on Request

We are happy to create a theme to celebrate your brand, occasion or values. Just ask and we’ll see what we can do!

If you’d like to learn more about us click here.

book now

…and choose a format

Social Tastings

Laid-back, generous, room to mingle

A longer format with full-measure serves and natural breaks between each tasting. Ideal for parties or events where the tasting is the heart of the evening.
More space to talk, relax and enjoy.

Duration: approx 2.5 – 3 hrs

Talk-Led Tastings

Faster-paced, story-packed and just the right amount of booze.

A 75 minute hosted experience. I take the floor with guests enjoyed half measures as we explore the drink’s story. Structured but lively, with time for questions and a shared laugh.

Duration: approx 75 minutes

Flexible Format

Something else in mind?

Perhaps you have something else in mind? Or perhaps you’d like some advice? Just let us know what the objective of the event is and we’ll recommend something that leaves your guests delighted!

Virtual Tastings

Socially distanced, with no need for a taxi afterwards.

A hosted tasting via Zoom (or your preferred platform), with kits posted in advance. All the same storytelling and chat.

Duration: approx 60–90 minutes

If you’d like to learn more about us click here.

book now

Testimonials

  • Simon hosted an evening for us and our clients, one word, fantastic ! From the planning stages to the evening it was seamless and he was very knowledgeable and great fun on the evening itself ! Highly recommend!

    Ryan T, Umbrella Furniture

  • Simon hosted a highly engaging tasting for us, and we couldn’t have been more delighted. Full of fun, adventure and of course gin; we discovered the surprising evolution of gin through highly interactive storytelling and tastings. A fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable experience; all hosted by a true expert and enthusiast. A must try adventure!

    Marcus N, Live Group

  • The Captain's nights are just fabulous. His storytelling is so entertaining and he surely has the best moustache countrywide. Highly recommend his evenings.

    Tracy R, Mad Chair Co

  • If you haven't been to a Nautilus Gin Experience then you are definitely missing out. Simon is an amazing host with a wealth of knowledge. He is entertaining and absolutely keeps the customers engaged. Can not recommend enough"

    Owner, Time Coffee

  • I would definitely recommend Simon's services. He hosted a gin tasting for our residents and the event was held to the highest standard. it was very engaging for every resident and everyone felt welcome. At the end of the event each resident left happy.

    Agata S, Affinity Living

  • We had a fab evening and enjoyed tasting a carefully curated range of gins that we may never have had the opportunity to try anywhere else. The Atmosphere was top notch and we would definitely attend again in the future.

    Tasting Guest

Get in touch

If you’re ready to host or you just have a few questions, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

FAQs

  • Our most popular (and boozy) events take place at a relaxed pace over about 3 hrs, but the Captain is happy to host 90 min sessions to fit in or around other events. Head to Experiences to understand the difference.

  • Just get in touch here

  • At the moment, yes. We MIGHT do whiskey, wine or beer in the future but in the meantime we can recommend you independent expert hosts for those drinks.

  • Absolutely! Although drink is a central part of our events, there are often non-drinkers. We take our non-alcoholic options as seriously as we take the alcoholic ones.

  • We host at 3rd party venues - hotels, offices, cafes - wherever you would like us. We are also happy to source a venue on your behalf according to your budget.

  • We start at £45 per person, and can offer discounts for groups over 30. If you’re a charity and your objective is to raise money, we can review our pricing model to assist with that.

  • I can and do travel anywhere in the UK and EU. Location is factored into the hosting fee. I’m UK based.

  • For longer events, we recommend that your guests are fed. If you don’t have caterers, we have a few chefs that we work with as well.

If you’d like to learn more about us click here.