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Just last night, my friends called me and made me happy that they were already coming to visit me. Yes, these are my cool friends – why warn in advance, if you can put before the fact. Well, I set the table, but from the alcohol at home there was only a bottle of Scottish gin.
In its pure form, it is too dry and strong. There remains a tart aftertaste of juniper, so this alcohol is not particularly appreciated by many. But I decided to make 6 different cocktails that my friends liked. Now I am sharing them with you.
What is gin and where is it produced
The drink appeared around the XNUMXth century. Used it as a tincture as a medicine. She was bitter, unpleasant in taste. In the XVII century, when the doctor Francis Silvius distilled the tincture to enhance the beneficial properties of juniper. After that, the taste of gin has changed somewhat – it has become more pleasant.
William II of Orange introduced a ban on the import of alcoholic products from other countries, which contributed a lot to the increase in the production of alcoholic beverages in England, including gin.
Gin production volumes increased 10 times, but the alcohol remained of poor quality. Therefore, it was preferred to drink by the poor. After the government began to issue a license for the production of gin, the producers of the alcoholic product began to pay attention to production technology.
If at first gin was used as a medicine, now this drink is sold as an alcoholic drink. Its fortress is 37,5 °.
Now gin is obtained by distillation of grain wort, where various spices are added. Usually it consists of juniper berries, almonds, coriander, angelica root, iris. In addition to spices, lemon zest, anise, cassia bark, violet root and other herbal supplements are added.
Therefore, alcohol has a rich bouquet of flavors. But distilleries prefer to keep the exact proportions of the ingredients that make up gin a secret.
Here are the most famous gin brands:
- Seagram’s. Loved by many Americans. Produced in the USA by Pernod Ricard;
- Gordon’s. The most popular brand made in the UK. The rights belong to Diageo holding.
- Bombay Sapphire. The brand from Bacardi is issued in the town of Laverstock in the UK;
- Beefeater. They make a drink in London. Produced by Pernod Ricard;
- Tanqueray. Diageo makes this drink in the village of Cameron Bridge in Scotland;
- Greenall’s. The drink is produced by G&J Greenall. Manufacturing is in the UK;
- Hendrick’s. Gin is made in the port town of Gervan by William Grant & Sons Ltd;
- Larios. Belongs to the brand of the Japanese company Suntory. The distilleries where the drink is produced are located in Spain;
- Plymouth. Pernod Ricard produces this brand of gin in Plymouth, which gave it its name.
Gin is also made in Russia. For example, a good Barrister drink, which is produced by the Ladoga company. Another Beluga Group company produces a premium segment brand – Green Baboon gin.
Gin and juice cocktails
The first cocktail I recommend is the Grapefruit Splash. It is prepared like this:
- Crushed ice is filled to the top in a rocks glass.
- Take 20 ml Seagram’s gin and pour it in.
- Squeeze 30 ml of grapefruit juice into a glass.
- Stir the drink and add some ice on top.
It turns out a low-alcohol sweet drink. Americans are very fond of ordering such a cocktail.
The next cocktail is made with apple juice. It’s called “Gin Apple”. Prepare it like this:
- The tall glass is chilled.
- 20 ml of London Dry Gin is poured into it.
- Pour into a glass carefully with ice.
- Add apple juice 40 ml without pulp.
Attention! The finished drink does not need to be mixed. This drink is especially good to drink in hot weather.
Cocktails with gin and fizzy drinks
The most famous Gin and Tonic cocktail, in which, in addition to gin, there is a carbonated drink – tonic. Now I’ll tell you how to do it:
- Fill the glass 1/3 full with ice.
- Pour in 30 ml of Plymouth Gin or Hendrick’s.
- Shake the glass, then add 60 ml of Schweppes tonic.
Before serving, decorate the glass with a lime wedge. The combination of 1 to 2 is classic. Everyone can make a drink “for themselves”, simply by changing its proportions. But you can’t take Gordon’s gin for this cocktail, otherwise the drink will turn out bitter.
The second cocktail based on gin and soda is called “Cocktail 001”. Prepare it as follows:
- Fill 1/3 of the glass with ice.
- Pour in 40 ml Beefeater gin.
- Currant syrup (20 ml) is added for sweetness.
- Last pour in 100 ml of Sprite and mix all the ingredients.
You can decorate the glass with a circle of lemon.
On a note! Instead of Beefeater gin, you can use any other brand of gin.
Cocktails with gin and other alcohol
This recipe was invented by Camillo Negroni. It was named after him. Negroni is prepared like this:
- Mix Beefeater gin, Campari bitters, Martini Rosso sweet vermouth 30 ml each with ice in a separate bowl.
- Pour into a glass filled 1/3 with ice.
- Decorate with an orange slice.
The next Martini Dry cocktail was created in 1912 by the bartender of the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York. Here’s how it’s prepared:
- Take 55 ml each of Seagram’s gin and Martini Extra Dry vermouth. Mix alcohol with ice in a shaker.
- Pour into a tall glass.
- Garnish with half a lemon wedge.
In the original version, a little Venezuelan alcohol called Angestura is added to the cocktail.
Here is my selection of 6 cocktails that will be perfect for parties with friends. What gin cocktails do you like? Don’t forget to share your favorite gin mix recipes in the comments below.