If you do take part, please drink responsibility.

Today marks this year’s edition of World Gin Day, organised by Emma Stokes of Gin Monkey, and is aimed at simply celebrating the spirit.

You'll be able to catch Dublin's contribution to the event in none other than The Gin Palace this weekend.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, you don’t want to drink gin and ruin your weekend by turning into a crying mess, but this might just be a nasty assumption of the drink.

Rosie Schaap of the New York Times puts forward the argument that gin’s awful reputation is due to its portrayal by 18th century artist William Hogarth.

A 1751 print by the artist entitled Beer Street and Gin Lane depicted a marked difference between those who consumed beer, who appeared rather content, with those who consumed gin, who don’t really look the best for wear.

If this drawing is to be believed, drinking gin can cause babies to fall off bannisters, men to serendipitously wield saws, and even cause the collapse of multistorey Georgian architecture. 

In that same year the Gin Act was introduced, which curtailed how prevalent spirits were in Britain at the time.

Schaap says that the drink’s poor reputation stems from this harsh portrayal.

Cocktails, anyone?

This particular writer avoids gin like the plague itself, and believes it to be the liquid state of the devil incarnate, but here’s a few cocktails to consider over the weekend (recommendations based purely on outlandishness, as opposed to whether or not they're actually any good).

If you prefer something a little bit more traditional, have a look here.

Aqua Pearl (tastelikecrazy.com)

• 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 6 tablespoons gin
• 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 4 teaspoons Simple Syrup
• 1 1/2 teaspoons blue curaçao liqueur
• 4 dashes of angostura bitters
• Ice
• 2 unsprayed purple orchids (for garnish)

Mix first 6 ingredients in cocktail shaker. Fill with ice. Cover and shake well. Strain into 2 Daiquiri or Martini glasses. Garnish each with orchid, if desired, and serve.

The Jolly Green Machine (organicauthority.com)

• 2 parts kale juice
• 3 parts fresh lemonade
• 1 part Farmer's Organic Gin
• 1/2 part St. Germain elderflower liqueur
• 2 parts club soda
• 1/2 part agave syrup (optional)

Add all the above ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake well. Strain the mixture into a martini glass and garnish with a cucumber or lemon slice.

The No-Strain Ramos Gin Fizz (drinkawaytime.com)

NB: This one involves a maths equation

• 1 1/2oz gin
• 1oz lemon
• 1/2oz lime
• 1oz simple syrup
• 1oz heavy cream
• 1oz egg white
• 3 drops orange flower water
• dash vanilla (optional)
• soda water

There’s several complicated steps invovled, have a look here.