Spirit of the Month: Gin
OVERVIEW
Do you love the crispness of gin? Or do you absolutely despise the taste? If you are a fan of gin like myself, check out the Cocktail of the Month and Bar of the Month (and also send me your recommendations/favorites). If you fall in the latter category, then keep reading (so that I can convince you to try something new).
EASE OF USE/FLEXIBILITY
Gin & Tonic. Gin & Juice (and I mean almost any juice). The traditional Martini.
The main ingredient in gin is the juniper berry. In fact, juniper berries are the foundation for any gin. However, the reason why I’m a fan of this spirit is the use of various botanicals to provide distinct flavor profiles for gin brands. Why is this important? When discussing the versatility of a spirit, gin checks the boxes for me. The flavor profiles can be earthy, floral, spicy, fruity, vegetal, etc., and gin lends well to creating both easy (i.e. 2-3 ingredients) or more complex cocktails. Outside of juniper berries and botanicals, there are different styles of gin, each with their own profile and characteristics. Check out the section below for a brief breakdown of the types of gin.
TYPES
As mentioned above, a spirit must be made from a foundation of juniper berries in order to be considered gin. There are a few different variations of gin. Let’s quickly cover each type/variation and what it means for your cocktails.
LONDON DRY – This is the classic gin most people know. London Dry gin is known for its earthy/piney taste and usually does not include any colors or artificial flavors.=
PLYMOUTH– Similar to London Dry, but this gin is usually sweeter. Its name originates from where it is produced (Plymouth, England).
OLD TOM – Another gin on the sweeter side. The name is in reference to the Tom Collins cocktail, and this gin does
AMERICAN/WESTERN – Usually refers to gin brands made in the region.
NAVY STRENGTH – Considered a gin “type” simply because of its designation (i.e. any gin with an ABV higher than 57.15%).
INTERNATIONAL – More and more gins are being produced outside of the traditional areas, including gin brands from Spain, Japan, India, Germany and South Africa. For those who are interested, Olive Magazine has a great list of their top international gins.
FLAVORED GINS – Recently, there are more flavored gins to hit the market, and berries and stone fruit appear to be the most popular choices of infusion. Check out our Cocktail of the Month, where we use Tanqueray Rangpur (a rangpur lime-flavored gin) to create our own variation of the Negroni.
GENEVER – The Dutch-made juniper flavored liquor is a precursor to the traditional gin produced in England.
SLOE GIN – Although not an actual gin type, sloe gin is technically a gin-based liqueur made with sloes (a fruit similar to plums) and sugar (for the extraction process). Plymouth, Sipsmith and Sacred produce solid sloe gins which can be consumed neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail (my preference is the latter).
OPTIONS (BY PRICE)
Similar to other spirits, there are several gins available along the price spectrum. There are specific reasons why the price of gin may vary, and the reasons are similar to other spirits: distillation process, aging (or lack thereof), and availability (i.e. craft or limited release). For less expensive options, try Gordon’s London Dry, Bombay Sapphire (and Sapphire East) and Beefeater. Gin brands such as Aviation, Tanquera and Plymouth are great options if you are willing to shell out a few more dollars. If premium gin is the choice, then options like Monkey 47 (whose unique website includes a detailed breakdown of the botanicals used) and Nolet’s (which also contains an interesting list of botanicals) provide a totally different gin experience, albeit at a higher price.
My three personal favorites: Hendrick’s (and their various limited releases), Boodles (don’t forget to try their Strawberry + Rhubarb gin), and The Botanist (numerous botanicals are used to create this gin, and it is one of my favorites for a variety of cocktails).
If you are a gin collector (or just bored and want to see some expensive liquor), check out The Richest’s list of most expensive gin brands.