82O Spirits in Boldre to host gin tasting evening in aid of the University of Southampton’s Gift of Sight Appeal

GIN lovers can enjoy a tasting evening at a Boldre distillery in aid of the University of Southampton’s Gift of Sight Appeal.

The event is being hosted by Tom Simpson, of 82O Spirits at Shallowmead Nurseries, and guests can sample the range of gins produced there and enjoy a selection of canapes.

Professor of ophthalmology, Andrew Lotery, will give a talk on the latest updates in vision research, and there will be a raffle with local prizes.

Additional alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks can be purchased from the bar on the night.

The Gift of Sight Appeal is dedicated to funding world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness.

82o Spirits owner Tom, who set up the business with his brother Jonny in 2021, won the Young Person in Business category in the 2023 New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards.

The distillery produces various varieties of gin, including blackberry, chocolate orange and Lymington pink – which is actually lilac in colour but turns blue when tonic is added – alongside a rum.

It currently supplies various bars, restaurants and stores across the New Forest, including The Cave in Milford, The Solent Cellar in Lymington, and Pages of Lyndhurst.

The gin tasting evening will be held between 6pm and 8pm on Friday 7th June.

Tickets are £25 each. To book, visit https://store.southampton.ac.uk/product-catalogue/office-of-development-and-alumni-relations/events/gift-of-sight-gin-tasting-event

For more information about 82o Spirits, go to 820spirits.com