Gin: The Comeback Kid
Until the late 1990s, gin had seemed to all but disappear behind the more exciting and highly marketed vodkas, single malt scotches, and boutique 100% blue agave tequilas that were capturing the hearts and wallets of drinkers nationwide. Gin has a somewhat “black sheep” reputation as a spirit due to its tie to the low-quality “bathtub” spirits of the Prohibition era and totally unique and bracing flavor profile. Fortunately, though, on the shoulders of many avid cocktail drinkers, gin is making a strong comeback with several new and exciting stylings hitting the market all of the time..
Definition and Origins
Gin is essentially an infused vodka. It starts with a neutral spirit that is infused or flavored with a variety of botanicals, most notably juniper(a blueish berry with flavors of pine, camphor, and menthol). It is this dry and unmistakable flavor that most uniquely characterizes the spirit. Other predominant botanicals commonly found in gin are cardamom, coriander, angelica, lemon peel, orris, licorice, almond, cassia bark, and Grains of Paradise (which often gives a seductive hit of lavender).
Gin was originally conceived of in the early 1600’s by dutch professor Francisus de la Boe, while trying to come up with a remedy for kidney disorders and stomach complaints. This original recipe, made by adding junipers oils to grain alcohol, a and was referred to as genever, the French word for juniper. Eventually the British to a strong liking to what they called, “Dutch Courage” and with advent of a Dutchman ascending the throne of England. gin quickly to hold continues to reign as the kingdom’s national spirit
Gin Classifications
Distilled Gin – The world’s finest gins are made by steeping botanticals in neutral and rectified spirit and then redistilling to meld the flavors into the final product.
Compounded Gin – The cheap and easy route in the gin world. Neutral spirit flavored with Juniper and other botantical oils and flavorings
Styles of Gin
London Dry Gin – Gin of the highest quality. This gin can be produced anywhere in the world and it cannot have added colors or sweeteners.
Plymouth Gin - This gin must be made in Plymouth, England at the Black Friar Distillery and tastes earthier and slightly less junipery than London dry gin. The fact that there are no bitter botanicals in the mix is a point of differentiation.
Old Tom Gin – Similar to a London dry gin with the addition of sweeteners, usually sugar or orange flower water. No longer available in the U.S.
Sloe Gin – Not actually a gin, but a liqueur made by steeping wild berries in gin and sweetener.
Classic Style Gins
Tanqueray This is the top-selling gin in the United States. Favored by the hardcore gin drinker due to its rich juniper pop.Tasting Notes: Focused flavors of juniper, orange peel, lemon, angelica root, licorice, and Cassia Bark.
Bombay A top-secret recipe, this gin uses 8 botanicals. Bombay employs its own unique distillation system to insure the highest quality product.Tasting Notes: Spicy with big hits of juniper, coriander, citrus, ginger, and cardamom. This gin is alive .... World renowned Master Mixologist Dale Degroff favors this gin.
Plymouth Founded in 1793, Plymouth gin is still made in its original copper stills at the Black Friar distillery (formerly a monastery). The spirit is made with 7 botanicals and bottled at 41.2%. Rootier, earthier, and slightly less junipery than other gins, it is the only gin in the world with a “Denomination of Origin” (i.e., Plymouth must be made in Plymouth, England).Tasting Notes: Fresh juniper with citrus and notes of deep earth. Smooth, balanced, with a long and intense finish.
Junipero A product of Anchor Distilling in San Francisco, this gin is made with 12 botanicals through small batch distillation.Tasting Notes: Viscous and powerful. Fresh citrus, juniper, and cardamom hit you full on.
Boodles The only gin in the world made with the vacuum-distillation method at a lower temperature to infuse its 9 botanicals.Tasting Notes: A juniper-lover’s dream; ‘nuf said.
Cascade Mountain From Bend Distillery in Oregon, this bad boy is crafted with local hand-picked juniper berries and only fresh and natural ingredients.
Bottled at 95 proof, this gin is ideal for many delicious vintage cocktails like the Pegu Club and the Aviation.Tasting Notes: A true gin-lover’s gin. Spicy and in your face with heavy fresh juniper, citrus, and a variety of botanicals.
Soft Modern
Tanqueray Ten
The only gin in the world distilled with hand-picked whole fruit and fresh botanicals. This gin is made only in the No. 10 still, the smallest in the distillery. Heavy on citrus peel, this gin targets the vodka drinker and is great for a more subtle martini. Voted best new spirit at the SFWSC in 2000 and 2001.Tasting Notes: Highly complex flavors that fall across the full botanical spectrum of citrus, herbs, light spice, and juniper. Finishes soft and clean.
Bombay Sapphire
Made with 10 natural botanicals and twice distilled, Bombay Sapphire uses a “Carterhead” distillation system to infuse its gin. This system infuses the spirit by allowing the vaporized spirit to pass through a basket where the botanicals are carefully packed.Tasting Notes: A very smooth, if somewhat muted, gin. Slight sweetness across the palate: intense lemon and orange peel, brown spice, and light juniper. Smooth, yet short, finish
Magellan
A new product from Michael Roux, inventor of Bombay Sapphire. This unique gin features ten fresh exotic botanicals, most notably clove. Following a triple distillation cycle, fresh botanicals are added to the neutral spirit and it is immediately redistilled a fourth time. The distinct blue tint comes from the infusion of iris petals after the fourth distillation.Tasting Notes: Bottled at 88 proof, this gin is mild and extremely complex. Aromas of juniper and bright citrus are tempered by wonderful touches of cinnamon, clove, and other exotic herbs and botanicals.
Hendricks Yeah, baby!!! Changing vodka drinkers into gin-lovers across the country. This small batch gin is made with coriander, juniper, citrus peel, rose petals, and an infusion of cucumber.Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied and complex. Bold juniper is stroked with intriguing touches of star anise, brown spice, mint, and, of course, light rose and even lighter cucumber.
Beefeater Wet
Known as a soft gin, it is the perfect way to steer even the most hardened vodka drinker toward a gin cocktail. Extracted pear essence is dispersed in each batch.Tasting Notes: Round with flavors falling away from traditional gin. Light apple and pear, with a touch of fresh herbs. Makes an excellent Cosmo.
The Mixologist’s Perspective:
Gin is an exciting and somewhat advanced spirit to work with. Mastering the ability to mix gin in a cocktail is a required trait of the true mixologist. When mixing gin, sip it first neat and try to discern its unique flavors. This will help you understand what flavoring agents and modifiers will work best with it.
Try substituting a Plymouth gin in a Cosmopolitan for a drier and more interesting cocktail.
Tanqueray 10 is another gin that is approachable to the non-gin-drinker due to its light citrus notes. In my experience, most people have only had gin as a martini or a gin and tonic and not as a hand-crafted cocktail. You can really surprise your guest by creating a delicious and approachable cocktail, letting them know only after the first sip that you used gin.
This File was from Edwin, One Of Holland America Line Head Bartender...
Gin is an exciting and somewhat advanced spirit to work with. Mastering the ability to mix gin in a cocktail is a required trait of the true mixologist. When mixing gin, sip it first neat and try to discern its unique flavors. This will help you understand what flavoring agents and modifiers will work best with it.
Try substituting a Plymouth gin in a Cosmopolitan for a drier and more interesting cocktail.
Tanqueray 10 is another gin that is approachable to the non-gin-drinker due to its light citrus notes. In my experience, most people have only had gin as a martini or a gin and tonic and not as a hand-crafted cocktail. You can really surprise your guest by creating a delicious and approachable cocktail, letting them know only after the first sip that you used gin.
This File was from Edwin, One Of Holland America Line Head Bartender...
