Question submitted by Worried of Cheltenham:

Tabitha – you seem like a lady with plenty of experience in such matters. Will you please tell me which gin is best for serving to uninvited (except by themselves), unwanted and probably unappreciative relations? The aim being to a) make them leave, or b) if they don’t make them more acceptable to me.

Tabitha’s Reply:

For heaven’s sake do not waste your gin on callers, madam, drink it yourself. You will not care if your parlour is invaded by half of Napoleon’s army, provided you have imbibed enough beforehand.