LONDON—Go figure. The Brits are on a tear trying to make their country a global archetype of sexual sterility and along comes a new gin celebrating Paul Raymond, Britain’s first and most-famous porn king, who is often referred to as the King of Soho because of his extensive real estate purchases in the famous West End district. In fact, the new drink is also called The King of Soho.
“Owned by West End Drinks, the gin has been created by Howard Raymond as a nod to his late father and porn entrepreneur Paul Raymond, who opened the UK’s first strip club in 1958 before moving into publishing titles such as Escort, Men Only and Club International,” The Spirits Business reported today.
Created to meet what the company says is a “booming” interest in gin drinks, The King of Soho “is a 42% abv London dry gin with 12 botanicals including grapefruit peel, coriander seeds, angelica root and cassia” that will initially be distributed throughout London to on-trade and specialist drinks outlets.
“My father’s favorite tipple in the 60s was gin, a drink reminiscent of the parties and clubs of that era,” said Raymond. “London is now driving an international renaissance of gin and fittingly The King of Soho Gin is distilled in the heart of London.”
Perhaps the timing of the launch is inspired marketing after all, invoking as it does an allegedly softer and more gentle (gentlemanly?) era of porn production and distribution.
