Gin is a drink that I never appreciated fully until I reached my late 20’s, however, I have noticed a movement towards this palatable drink. Whether it’s in the summer with a nice Tonic and strawberries or just for evening cocktails with the ladies. It is the sophisticated drink for the woman in Business. However, what happens when certain senses are stimulated whilst you drink your cocktail. We were lucky enough to attend the Silent Pool Sensory Gin experience and have our taste buds tested.
Sensory tests by Barry Smith using Cambridge Audio Sound Systems
The room was brightly lit and there was the most amazing display of Sensory Gin bottles arced above the bar area. Hosted by Cambridge audio, we were offered a lovely Silent Pool gin Cocktail before entering a sound proof private room to meet Professor Barry Smith. Professor Barry Smith is the Director of the Institute of Philosophy at University of London. He is also the founder of the Centre for the study of senses. Now I have a psychology degree but the concept that our senses affect how something tastes, is not something I had ever thought about. Professor Barry Smith explained
“Your senses prepare you for what you are about to taste, the way it smells or feels can impact your taste”
We were given an array of Silent Pool Gin cocktails to try whilst we were played different genres of music. The Gin definitely tasted better to me with classical music, however, I preferred the sound of the Jazz. It was a bizarre experiment, but effective, let’s just say I will be very careful about my selection of music here on out whilst I am enjoying my Silent Pool Gin. We were then given two different textures to feel, Velcro and Satin. The texture of the fabric had the same effect as the auditory experiment. The Satin texture made the Silent Pool Gin Cocktail taste bitter to me whilst the Velcro made the cocktail taste pleasanter.
It’s time for the tingle test
The final part of the experiment, which was my favourite part was based around Szechuan Pepper mixed with Silent Pool Gin. Szechaun Pepper creates a tingling feeling in your mouth. In technical terms, the compound in the Pepper ‘Hydroxy Alpha Sanshool’ specifically interacts with the mechano receptors in the mouth. Think of it as a tingle test. We were given the compound to place on the inside of our lips and they started to react gradually, Professor Barry Smith then put on a TV where we were played soundwaves and our lips tingled in time with the screen. It was a very peculiar feeling, especially when they sped up the soundwaves and our lips synced with the same vibration.
After the tingling stopped we were escorted back to the main bar area to eat where there was a lovely table platter from …. The event was not over as different groups were taken into the soundproof room so they could all enjoy the Sensory experience with Professor Barry Smith. In between the private group experiences Professor Barry Smith came out to the main room and conducted several other experiments with us. They involved smelling perfumes before you drank the cocktails and another one where we were given two different coloured cocktails to taste.
After singing a Festive Christmas song whilst drinking more cocktails it was time for my guest and I to go home. Although I was a little bit more jolly than usual I loved the fact I felt empowered. I had not only tasted a fabulous Gin but I had also been educated on a topic I never knew existed. I invite you to try it and tell us what genre of music tastes best for you when you’re drinking your Silent Pool Gin Cocktail.