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There is an opinion that there are no strict rules for drinking any single alcohol. You just take and drink, right? Yes and no. The expansion of knowledge about the drink gives you the opportunity to understand and fall in love with it, especially if before that it was listed as an outsider. Gin is one of those things that can cause dislike from the first sip because of its harshness or excessive “Christmas tree”. But all this is fixable if you know how, with what and why you need to drink gin.
Without exaggeration, gin is one of the most versatile and captivating alcoholic beverages in the world. Once you get beyond the typical botanicals of classic London dry gin – vibrant juniper, coriander, angelica root and citrus – you’ll find plenty of brand new gins where obsessed distillers have dared to experiment with lemongrass, fir, lavender and hundreds more. -hundreds of ingredients not typical for this drink. It’s safe to say that somewhere out there, far or near, a genie is waiting just for you. The main thing is not to miss the moment and know how to drink it correctly. We’ve put together 6 top tips on how to drink gin the right way to give you a good idea of this truly unique aperitif and #1 cocktail ingredient.
Want to learn more about this drink? Read the gin guide, with history and other tricks.
And you can also try your hand at making it – in this article you will find the most interesting gin recipes.
Council number 1. Drink gin just like that
Don’t be afraid to drink pure gin. Many people think that unlike whiskey, rum (here is a guide on the proper drinking of this drink, also not a frequent guest of tasting glasses) or even tequila, gin is not good for a leisurely sip, they say, its too rough character, which is often blamed on juniper, does not go well with this pleasant pastime. Luckily, there are many more pure gins to drink these days. Some producers have been able to tame the piney aroma of juniper with citrus, familiar spicy and botanical aromas, creating distillates with a rich palette of subtle and complex flavors. Today there are even barrel-aged gins. Is it hard to imagine a drinkable gin? Don’t know where to start? Try one of these 10!
The botanist
An excellent copy from the manufacturers of adhesive tape Bruichladdich. A laconic bottle contains a distillate of 22 aromatic herbs, flowers and other botanicals from the south of Islay, as well as 9 ingredients traditional for gin. Rich and soft, it is a good option for a first acquaintance with this category of drinks.
Hendrick’s
Another great Scot who appeared quite recently, but has already become a cult in his class. Behind juniper and other gin-typical botanicals, Hendrick’s hides aromas of Bulgarian rose and cucumber that shatter the stereotypes of hardened conservatives. Soft, drinkable, exciting.
Aviation
A typical representative of American dry gins, or rather a completely new kind, which was given the name “New Western Dry” (New Western Dry). The distillate is flavored with juniper, orange peel, coriander, cardamom, lavender, Indian sarsaparilla and anise. A classic gin for a classic sip in a rock with ice.
Caorunn
A spicy, crunchy Scotch with a fruity and floral character that can seriously compete with your favorite London Dry. It differs, first of all, in the unique composition of botany, which was soaked in alcohol before distillation – six traditional and five Celtic edible herbs from the Scottish Highlands, collected by hand. Intriguing!
Tanqueray No. Ten
A top product from one of the most famous gin brands in the world. A ten is distilled four times and has a very pronounced citrus character that was created specifically for martinis, but it is also beautiful on its own. Gin has a balanced, fresh taste with notes of grapefruit, lime, orange, juniper, chamomile and a long pleasant aftertaste.
Martin Miller’s
A unique example of a British gin in the traditional London Dry style, which is evident in its dryness and flavor profile. Differs in an innovative approach to its production. The drink is a mixture of two distillates: the first – with juniper and other botany, the second – with citrus. Icelandic spring melt water is used to dilute the distillate.
Monkey 47
An unexpectedly fine German gin from the Black Forest. The composition of the herbal mixture, which is subjected to maceration, includes 47 ingredients. The strength of the distillate also gravitates towards the 47 revolutions, which is apparently significant for the company. The taste is sweetish, quite juniper, with floral and citrus hints and a long peppery aftertaste.
Plymouth
One of the oldest British gins, the recipe of which has not changed since the 18th century. This is the same gin that the sailors of the Royal Navy mixed with lemon to prevent scurvy and Angostura for malaria. Unlike London Dry gins, Plymouth has a softer and more delicate juniper flavor. It shows itself well in classic cocktails, but also in its pure form, with a small handful of ice, it’s a miracle how good it is.
Anchor Old Tom
The third product of the American company Anchor. A classic old tom gin made with juniper and countless botanicals to form a smooth, sweet drink. At the same time, this sweetness is achieved by botany (licorice, star anise and stevia), and not by sugar.
Ford Gin
Enough juniper London Dry, rich in citrus, floral and spicy undertones. The rich and full-bodied taste of Ford Gin begs for cocktails, but don’t rush into it. Try to taste it and you will understand how not even the most expensive gin can sparkle with dozens of flavors on your tongue. An excellent budget gin for the first acquaintance and a reliable companion of an experienced mixologist.
Start trying and see how it goes. If any of the instances described above does not impress you, do not rush to draw conclusions. Perhaps this is the gin you will fall in love with if you dilute it with tonic or grapefruit juice.
Council number 2. Stir gin and tonic or even cola
The classic gin and tonic is still the most popular way to drink juniper distillate, and there is simply no limit to the perfection of this perfect combination. We dedicated a separate, rather extensive material to him, which describes almost all the nuances of making the perfect G & T and the best combinations of its three main ingredients.
But don’t dwell on the obvious. What do they drink gin with besides tonic? Well, for example:
- Dry tonic – many “thin” gins, which is typical for Australians, for example, do not do well in a sweet environment. Try lowering the sugar in your tonic, which some manufacturers like Fever Tree or Capi have already done for you. And sometimes you can limit yourself to a simple soda.
- Juices Grapefruit juice and gin, known as the Greyhound cocktail, is one of the great but forgotten mixed drinks of a bygone era. Mix in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4. Try cranberry juice for a more expressive taste, and orange, pineapple, pomegranate, cherry or grape juice for a milder taste. Also, do not hesitate to make a mix of juices, keeping the proportions (cranberry-grape and orange-grapefruit mixtures show themselves well).
- Ginger ale/beer – a wonderful refreshing combination that helps “genie haters” love this drink as much as those who do not understand them love ginger crafts. Mix in a ratio of 2:3. Of course, ginger ale and ginger beer are best made on their own.
- Car – a strange, but valid combination, especially for those who love controversy (for sure there are a couple of people in your environment who come to condemn you for this). Don’t listen to anyone – gin and cola work great.
By again? Then it’s time to mix the cocktail!
Council number 3. Make interesting cocktails with gin, especially martini
Gin is a versatile cocktail ingredient with a rich juniper-botanical aroma that pairs with a variety of flavors and aromas. There are a lot of gin cocktails, but Martini or Aviation definitely deserves a deeper study. Vermouths and orange liqueurs are true and obvious companions of any gin (we are sure that you will easily find hundreds of recipes where gin is mixed with vermouths and orange liqueurs), but not the only ones. We propose to prepare several demonstrative cocktails with gin, which will allow you to reveal all the essence of this ambiguous drink and at the same time go a little away from the “vermouth-orange” template.
Cocktail Bramble (Blackberry) / The Bramble
- 45 ml of gin
- 20 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 15 ml simple syrup
- 20 ml crème de mour (blackberry liqueur)
Mix the first three ingredients in an old-fashioned glass with plenty of crushed ice. Drizzle blackberry liqueur over the top. Garnish with blackberries.
Cocktail Duke / The Duke
- 100 ml of gin
- 80 ml port wine
- 40 ml of homemade grenadine
- Sicilian orange juice (to taste)
- a sparkling wine
Shake the first four ingredients with ice. Strain in two flute glasses. Top up with sparkling wine.
Cocktail Petruchio / Petruchio
- 30 ml of gin
- 30 ml of Aperol
- 15 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 8 ml sugar syrup (2:1)
- 1 decoction of orange bitter
- 30 ml egg white
Thorough shake without ice. Thorough shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Cocktail Premium / Bee’s Knees
- 50 ml of gin
- 10 ml aromatic honey
- 10 ml warm water
- 15 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice
Dissolve honey in warm water. Shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Cocktail Royal Hawaiian / Royal Hawaiian
- 45 ml of gin
- 30 ml pineapple juice (not sweet)
- 15 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 20 ml orge syrup
Shake with lots of ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Cocktail Alaska / Alaska
- 45 ml of gin
- 15 ml yellow Chartreuse
- 1 decoction of orange bitter
Mix in a mixing glass with plenty of crushed ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Glass of Alaska cocktail on the dark background
Cocktail Opera / Opera
- 60 ml of gin
- 15 ml Dubonnet
- 15 ml maraschino liqueur
Mix in a mixing glass with plenty of ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Squeeze a drop of essential oil from an orange peel.
Council number 4. Pick the perfect side dish
The garnish for a G & T or any other cocktail with gin, as well as for a drink in its pure form, plays an equally important role, because it not only completes the overall picture, but can also emphasize, accentuate or contrast with the main taste and aroma. motif of the selected gin. A slice of lime has become the most understandable and most frequent companion of any gin or gin cocktail, but it is far from always relevant. Ever since the producers of Hendrick’s served their G&T with a slice of cucumber, gin lovers have been seriously studying garnishes as one of the most important parts of the gin ritual.
Here are some recommendations in this regard:
- For citrus gins: sprig of fresh coriander, basil, thyme, mint or even parsley. Fresh herbs enhance the botanical and floral motifs that may be hiding under the intense citrus aroma. However, many citrus gins, especially London Dry, need to build on that citrusiness and offset the excessive dryness that is noticeably more pleasant with a few drops of juice from a lime wedge.
- For flower gins: A slice of fresh cucumber (a perfect match for Hendrick’s gin) or a small piece of citrus peel (grapefruit, orange, lime or lemon). This garnish will work subtly and won’t overpower the delicate floral flavors. You can also try to emphasize this floweriness by adding a sprig of rosemary or lavender to the glass.
- For grassy gins: sprig of rosemary or arugula, apple slice. The intense aroma of herbs enhances the botanical motifs of grassy gins. An apple instead of a lime adds the necessary sourness, but does not contrast with the herbaceousness of the drink.
- For spicy gins: orange slice, clove bud, sweet or hot pepper. These garnishes enhance the perception of spicy flavors in the gin, especially the cinnamon and cloves that dominate in most cases.
- For dry gins: a slice of lime, lemon, grapefruit or even kumquat. Citrus fruits balance dryness and highlight the spicy ingredients of London Dry.
Also, try replacing the ubiquitous olives in your Martini with pickled onions, carrots, or gherkins. Any vegetable marinated in brine (not in oil) looks great in dry gin smoothies or as an appetizer with our subject.
Council number 5. Pick the perfect glass
Martini will be the best choice for drinking not only the cocktail of the same name with a glass, but also pure gin (logically, given that a good Martini is about 99,99% gin). This shape of the glass allows you to fully enjoy the complex aroma of a decently chilled drink without heating it with your hands. In fact, any glass suitable for strong alcohol and even a cup for tea (another trend that was set by Hendrick’s innovators) is suitable for drinking pure gin. But with G & T is much more interesting. It so happened that a tall, even glass, such as a highball or collins, was chosen as the traditional glass for this amazing mix. But not in Spain, where for mixing G & T, the peoples of the south chose the pot-bellied glass “Copa de Balon” (gin and tonic in a glass of “copa” is even called G & T in the Spanish style), in appearance reminiscent of a red wine glass. In the Copa glass, the aromas are revealed more fully, because the spherical shape of the glass contributes to their concentration. It looks strange, but these glasses really help to fully enjoy the combination created by oneself.
Council number 6. Don’t skimp on good ice
Make ice from water that is unflavored, but not distilled, which has no taste at all. The best choice would be water from under the filter jug. Many bartenders suggest making ice for gin and gin cocktails from a good, unsweetened tonic. The effect is interesting. But more importantly, the ice must have the correct shape and size. For pure gin, G&T, and other cocktails that don’t require a crush, use as large square ice cubes as possible in large enough quantities. Large square cubes, with each side longer than 2,5 cm, melt much more slowly. Of course, the more ice in your glass, the less likely it will melt, diluting your favorite gin.
Darling? – you ask. Yes, my love, because now you know how, with what, from what and why you should drink gin, and this greatly increases the chances of finding your perfect juniper distillate. Bring this knowledge to the masses. Good luck!