ideas make manifestos
Case study:
A unique tasting experience for
Sweet Gwendoline French Gin
We blindfold guests during our Dominatrix-led tasting experience at Sweet Gwendoline French Gin.
It’s mostly our homage to the fetish artistry of John Willie, who would often illustrate the pages of his publishing project #BizarreMagazine with portraits featuring beautifully tied sashes and blindfolds.
Being deprived of the sense of sight elevates the other senses.
This serves us well when we’re conducting our sampling experiences with bartenders.


Once blindfolded, their sense of taste is heightened and, therefore, the ability to better enjoy our Sweet Gwendoline French Gin with more focus and awareness, free from distraction.
To add to the deprivation, participants wear headphones through which audio explains the details of our gin, from the copper stills used in its production to the maceration of the fig and its botanicals juniper, angelica seed, cardamom, coriander, lime, and sweet orange.
Whilst listening, participants adhere to a strictly instructed set of tasks involving figs, ticklers, and candles.
It’s a sensory experience and nothing like the usual sampling event.

“It’s FANTASTIC! Love love loOOOVE the audio you wrote and performed! The experience in its entirety is nestled in that rare / tough-to-reach sweet spot where art and advertising meet. Really good.”




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15 events in three premium and influential cocktail bars including Violet Hour and Mother's Ruin
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Markets activated: Chicago, Los Angeles and New York
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All participants sampled
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100% positive feedback
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More to come!
Tone of Voice activation: Scriptwriting and narration
Thanks to David Wartnaby, Voiceover London
Want to know more about Sweet Gwendoline French Gin events?
@SweetGwendolineFrenchGin
SweetGwendolineFrenchGin.com
Event photography by Alejandra Guerrer and Natasha Gornnik
Visual assets created by Nick Paparone
Do get in touch if you're interested in finding out what I might be able to do for your brand.