“Gintern” (gin + intern) and “ginternship” (gin + internship) became actual things in August 2016 when ILoveGin.com sought a person to “travel, drink gin, get paid.” The terms had been used only infrequently before 2016. “Ginternship” was posted on Twitter on June 5, 2009; “gintern” was posted on Twitter on June 17, 2009.
 
 
Twitter
Distillery No. 209
‏@Distillery209
Ready for Napa Valley Auction Party at Rudd tonight! Basil Beauties and White Ladies with No. 209 Gin coming up- the ginternship continues.
11:40 AM - 5 Jun 2009
 
Twitter
Kate Ravenswood
‏@kravenswood
@fluffypendleton Yes. And if the intern drank a lot of martinis, I’d call her Gintern.
2:56 PM - 17 Jun 2009
 
ILoveGin (August 2016)
WANT TO BE A GINTERN?
Travel, Drink Gin, Get Paid
WORLD’S BEST INTERNSHIP!
We are ILoveGin, a monthly Gin & Tonic club helping people discover their new favourite craft gins as well as the perfect tonic/mixers. We’re looking for an enthusiastic gin-loving intern (‘Gintern’ as we like it call it) who will be happy to spend their days trying new gins, new mixers, finding new brands to work with, visiting distilleries, pairing gins and “ginspiring” us with their new-found knowledge.
   
2paragraphs
Become a Gintern and Get Paid to Drink Gin
by Niall McArdle in Culture | August 19, 2016
Do you like gin? Of course you do. Would you like to get paid to drink it? I’m sorry, I can’t quite hear you over the clamor of people updating their resumes. If you live in the UK and have a driver’s license, you can apply to become a gintern working for ILoveGin (a company that obviously understands the importance of a strong, clear brand identity). ILoveGin is a monthly Gin & Tonic club whose members get to sample four new gins each month. Think of it like a book club, only with a lot less Oprah and a lot more soused people.
     
The Huffington Post UK
Is This The Best Job In The World? You Can Now Get Paid To Travel Europe And Drink Gin
*Rubs eyes in disbelief*
19/08/2016 12:23
Natasha Hinde
Lifestyle Writer at The Huffington Post UK
(...)
ILoveGin is a monthly gin and tonic club which helps subscribers (read: hipsters) discover new craft gins and mixers.
 
The company is looking for a ‘Gintern’ to while away their days trying new gins and mixers. The lucky so-and-so will also be required to find new brands to work with, travel around Europe visiting distilleries, pair gins and just generally inspire the public with their gin-filled wisdom.
 
Travel + Leisure
Get Paid to Travel Around Europe Drinking Gin
by Cailey Rizzo August 27, 2016
(...)
ILoveGin, a monthly British gin and tonic club, is hiring a “gintern” to travel around the world and drink gin.
 
The gintern will work two days per week, traveling to distilleries around the UK and Europe, trying all sorts of gins and tonics. They will then contribute to ILoveGin’s blog and social media accounts with reviews. The gintern will also source new partnerships for the brand. Annual salary is up to £20,000 (about $26,270). Plus, you know, a ton of free G&Ts.