Some 100 different gins under one roof? What's not to like?

When GinFestival.com announced it was making its first stop in Kent before Christmas, there was plenty of excitement - enough that sessions sold out and more tickets had to be released.

In fact, despite snow materialising at the weekend, some 3,000 people headed to Detling Hill over the three sessions to get a taster of different types of gins, mixed with lots of different types of tonics.

As a lover of the occasional G&T, the idea of so many different types of gin on offer, was almost overwhelming, but luckily there was a handy guide, with clearly marked bars and what they were offering, so you could decide what to try before getting to the bar.

You could try sloe gins, flavoured gins, dry gins and gin liqueurs - all in your special GinFestival.com glass, which visitors also got to take home.

Some of the more unusual concoctions included Orkney Rhubarb Old Tom Gin; Sloemotion Hedgerow; Aduro Pink Passion Gin and PJ Gin Elderflower to Williams Chase Pink Grapefruit and Boe Violet Gin.

There were also options for which Schweppes tonic you might try with the gin, and, having tried ginger ale with one and cucumber tonic with another, I can vouch for the fact that they made quite a difference to the taste.

Held at the Kent Event Centre at the Kent Showground near Maidstone, there was plenty of room for all the gins, the 1,000 people at each session, some food stalls and a great live band. There was also plenty of room for more seating, and it was surprising more was not provided.

There was also a few masterclass sessions where you could hear from the makers themselves - including Marden-based Anno distillery and slightly whacky Brockmans, where you could also taste the gin you were learning about.

The sessions did have a slight classroom feel to them - pointed out in gloriously loud style by one visitor, who stumbled in having tried several gins already, who said: "It's a bit civilised in here, isn't it?"

The arrival of the festival must have also been welcomed by local taxi companies, as they did a particularly roaring trade at the end of the night.

It was the first visit by GinFestival.com to Maidstone, and was timed well, as post Christmas and pre-Easter there are not that many festivals and events to look forward to.

We're yet to find out whether the festival will be making Maidstone an annual stop on its mission to refresh the country, but if they do, I'll drink to that!