With over 40 years of experience distilling gin, he is the world expert and has an office that reflects his passion and years in the field. His ‘lab’ and office between them contain a rich archive of everything from James Burrough’s father’s original royal warrant for supplying tea to the Queen in the 1800’s, original bottles, bottles of alcoholic cloves original recipe cards for every variety of gin you could imagine from 1862 onwards, and a framed print of the iconic ‘Gin Lane’ by William Hogarth from 1751. Rather than the righteous public service temperance work I had assumed it to be, Desmond was happy to explain that it was a blatant piece of pro-beer propaganda commissioned by the major London brewers at the time to draw customers away from Dutch gin.

It was without a doubt an enjoyable, enlightening and educational visit.

We strategically suggested that they collaborated with Patrick Grant of Norton & Sons who boast a long history of polo tailoring for the Royals. Egelnick and Webb Liaised Patrick and the Royal Salute team to oversee the design and production of the jackets. We also created bespoke labelling and crest elements for the jackets.

We art directed a shot showing the jackets being cut on Savile Row. The craftsmanship of the tailoring and the deep heritage of Saville Row echoed perfectly the fine craftmanship of Royal Salute Whisky.

The project was launched to press today.

They are showing a collaboration with Setecento at the 55th International Art Biennale at the Bauers l’Hotel in Venice from the 29th to the 31st of May. It involves interesting sounding 3-D body scanning that takes your measurements in a single scan, transfers the information direct to the factory, which outputs the bespoke cutting patterns and three weeks later you have your perfectly fitted unique piece of Aganovich, cut in Rubelli cloth (Venice’s most prestigious cloth manufacturers, whose headquarters dominate the Grand Canal and have been specialising in Jaquard, damask and brocade for over 150 years).

I would suggest that this is certainly a high of digital technology…

The exhibition entitled ‘The Glory of Water’ will focus on Lagerfield’s images of Rome’s fountains. If you fancy having a peek get yourself down to the Seine where the exhibition will be housed in domes alongside the Seine from 4-14th of July.

He now has his own label and spends his time split between London and China. The pieces are beautiful and its great to hear of Chinese designers making their mark in their homeland.