Begin the Gin: A Rhubarb Romance, a British Pub Panic, and the Perfect Lemonade

Picture this: a honeymoon in London, World Cup chaos in full swing, and Bob Cutler finds himself at a pub with 45 gins staring him down like the Spice Girls in a stare-off. Overwhelmed and under-informed, he does what we would do—panics and points at a random bottle. Fate, it turns out, had excellent taste. That bottle? A rhubarb gin fit for the Queen (and maybe even made from her garden).

Fast-forward to snowy Maine. Bob’s back, and this time he’s not just sipping—he’s stirring up something special. He sits down with Andrew from Blue Barren Distillery in Camden and says, “Let’s make a rhubarb gin. Maine’s got rhubarb for days.” Andrew agrees—on one condition: Bob has to help. And so a flavor dream team is born.

The result? A vibrant, Maine-made rhubarb gin liqueur created under the Cocktails with Friends brand. It’s not just distilled—it’s designed. They skipped the usual gin-in-the-column route and added the rhubarb after, using a syrup crafted from real Maine rhubarb. 

Now, if this sounds like the perfect summer sipper, you’re not wrong. Bob popped onto the George Hale and Ric Tyler Show on VOM—guest-hosting alongside George was Andy Neff, while Ric was away—to introduce the “Begin the Gin” edition of Cocktails with Friends. A live, on-air masterclass in cocktails followed, complete with elderberry rhubarb lemonade, Negroni variations, and a few philosophical detours into QR codes, date night etiquette, and why menus still matter.

This rhubarb gin liqueur has already flown off the shelves—50 cases sold out fast. But don’t panic: it’s at Damon’s, Stompers, RSVP, and more across Maine. Or stop by Birdie’s at Bangor Municipal Golf Course and sip a strawberry rhubarb lemonade for just eight bucks.

Because when life gives you rhubarb, you don’t make pie, you make gin.

Follow along on the Cocktails with Friends Podcast.  Available wherever you get your podcasts.  Cheers!