We're getting older, so let's reach some conclusions about gin

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 3/31/2021 at 11:03 AM, Storm the Field said:

I used to like Gin, but it didn't like me. I would down a double gin and tonic like it was a glass of warter, but water don't make you stumble around the bar slurring at chicks and then wake up the next morning with no memory of getting home. 

Haven't touched the stuff since in close to a decade. 

Gin used to make me insane if I drank too much of it. Completely different drunk than tequila or bourbon.

G&T is my favorite drink though. Always has been. These days if I’m drinking it it’s a Hendricks and topo chico with a lime.

[tantric superman 4667]

On 3/29/2021 at 1:37 PM, squib said:

 

I always have a bottle of this in the liquor cabinet. Botanist is #2. Hendricks #3. A lime and one of the Fever Tree tonics and you're in business. 

Finished a bottle of this off.  Solid, reasonably priced -- I'm thinking well rounded because nothing really shot out and was an overpowering flavor. 

[tantric superman 4667]

On 12/7/2021 at 7:34 PM, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

G&T is my favorite drink though. Always has been. These days if I’m drinking it it’s a Hendricks and topo chico with a lime.

So toppng off with topo or you're moving towards more gin and soda than gin and tonic?

[tantric superman 4667]

On 3/24/2021 at 2:04 PM, Trey3216 said:

I think lemon does so much more for a gin drink than lime does.  The oils in the lemon rind make a perfect summer sipper, and the lack of unnecessary sugar makes for a drink you can consume all day without the massive hangover.  

Same here.  Lime to me is just a dull lemon.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 12/11/2021 at 1:13 PM, tantric superman said:

So toppng off with topo or you're moving towards more gin and soda than gin and tonic?

I always asked for extra lime with my G&Ts…then a buddy made me a Hendricks and topo with lime and that was it for me.

So yeah, I guess I’m not even drinking G&Ts anymore.

[The Original Greaser Bob 2819]

On 3/21/2021 at 8:59 AM, After irth said:

Boodles in the house here. Wife (no pics) is quite proficient with the cocktails, among other things. 

I am a fan.  This may be the perfect all around gin.

[The Original Greaser Bob 2819]

Well, learned something about myself.  Ordered a wet martini with a twist, and it was perfect.  I've been drinking martini's with an olive (sometimes dirty) but this time went with a twist and I really liked it  Ford's  Wet Martini with a Twist, (stirred, straight up).

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

I sometimes enjoy a wet martini as well. For me, a lot depends upon the gin. on of my favorites, Plymouth gin, is less 'dry' and so the ratio isn't quite as noticeable to me then. My husband makes the martinis and he usually puts more vermouth in mine. I pickle cocktail size onions (I know, I know) so sometimes he makes a dirty martini with the brine and whoo boy that is pretty good. Yet, if we have Hayman's London Dry on hand, I like it very stiff and dry because it just has a nice crisp flavor.

We like to have variety so sometimes dry, sometimes wet, sometimes olive or onion, sometimes with a twist or strong citrus (like a Tom Collins)--it just depends.

Last week we harvested some of our last limes from our little tree and made Gin & Tonics. So so very good.

[Ag with kids 581]

 

 

[The Original Greaser Bob 2819]

Those are great, and thanks for the lesson about being flexible with my cocktails, Frau Whiggins.

[huge 3793]

From South Africa with love

[The Ace of Aces 5175]

I’ve had 3 double Hendricks straight. Gin is the best. 

[Texzilla58 4731]

My old man taught me a lot but I never understood his love of gin. I never could get over the Vitalis hair tonic taste. It was what I thought Avon would make if they made liquor. Dad was basic; made a huge G&T every night in his later years. Tanqueray, Canada Dry Tonic, ice, lime. About the only real thing we disagreed about.

[High Plains Drifter 11026]

 

Some friends visited and gave me a bottle of this:

 

 

Although my bottle says 60 proof. Different batches come out with slightly different alcohol content?

I guess its like sloe gin, but with aronia berries instead of sloe berries.

Anyway, any recs or recipes for cocktails?

 

 

[Trey3216 15343]

On 7/17/2022 at 10:49 PM, High Plains Drifter said:

 

Some friends visited and gave me a bottle of this:

 

 

Although my bottle says 60 proof. Different batches come out with slightly different alcohol content?

I guess its like sloe gin, but with aronia berries instead of sloe berries.

Anyway, any recs or recipes for cocktails?

 

 

Aronias! Aronias on both counts! 

[TexPx 2322]

Thought we would give this one a try. I always prefer a London Dry for Gibsons and Martinis, usually Boodles. This does not disappoint.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

On 3/23/2021 at 9:26 PM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

I like a good G&T. Current gins in my bar.

did you ever end up drinking any of these?

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19100]

1 hour ago, DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt said:

did you ever end up drinking any of these?

I have had all of them at one point or another.

[RMac5 1551]

Empress gin is pretty damn good too, has a funky purple color. Gin and tonic with lime is perfect in the summer.

Edited July 25, 2022 by RMac5

[thrillhammer 683]

18 hours ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

I have had all of them at one point or another.

i'm working on a bottle of st george's now.  had a few g&t's over the weekend with a splash of fresh watermelon juice from one that i cut up for salad.  my next two bottles on deck are gray whale and nikka coffey.

[The Ace of Aces 5175]

22 hours ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

I have had all of them at one point or another.

What’s a good gin for a Thanksgiving morning parade watch party? Asking for a friend.

[utee94 15805]

24 minutes ago, The Ace of Aces said:

What’s a good gin for a Thanksgiving morning parade watch party? Asking for a friend.

 

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

@RMac5 yesssss, we've enjoyed many a libation made with Empress. If you have time, visit their website and get the recipe for the Mr. Snowman-it takes a bit of prep, but it was a nice holiday drink. (I think I got the name right, it's been ten months since we made them)

We like to end the summer with an almost empty cabinet (save the absolute fave of my spouse's bourbon) and then as football gets going, restock. We picked up two we had not sampled yet to test:

The two are quite different due to the various flavor emphasis, but we were somewhat disappointed that the citrus in the Sipsmith was not more prominent. The MOM gin has cranberry and provides a nice tart touch to the cocktails. Both of us prefer tart to sweet and don't mind a strong citrus flavor. We have become fond of the Tanqueray with Seville oranges for certain cocktails, and so were going for something similar with these two.

 

[RMac5 1551]

@Mrs Whiggins Empress is good stuff for sure. I love G&T in the summer, actually was going to make the switch last night but they had already made it. Curious on the hubby’s favorite bourbon, I’m sure it’s in the bourbon thread, I’m being lazy

‘Will go to their website and find Mr. Snowman, thanks for the heads up.

[Chewbacca 7766]

Finally found the Botanist and that is some good shit. Any other floral recs to go in the rotation with Hendricks and the Botanist?

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

4 hours ago, RMac5 said:

@Mrs Whiggins Empress is good stuff for sure. I love G&T in the summer, actually was going to make the switch last night but they had already made it. Curious on the hubby’s favorite bourbon, I’m sure it’s in the bourbon thread, I’m being lazy

‘Will go to their website and find Mr. Snowman, thanks for the heads up.

The bourbon thread is gargantuan, he has several faves and since my schedule is more flexible, I'm often the one making the restock run--Four Roses (the small batch I think it's called?), Makers Mark (from the cheapest one to the higher priced ones), Jefferson Reserve, Larceny, and there is a Weller (not the really high one) that I grab if it is in stock. He has had the $$$ ones and likes them just fine, but prefers to not spend that for his evening potent potable. Several others go in the rotation: Bibb & Tucker, Woodford Reserve, Bernheim, and 1792. For the holidays I will usually get one of the more $$$ types if I can find a bottle or two but the bourbon world has gotten a little crazy.

48 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

Finally found the Botanist and that is some good shit. Any other floral recs to go in the rotation with Hendricks and the Botanist?

I think I posted back a page or two ago that we've tried Brockman's and enjoy it as a rotation bottle. It is fruity vs floral but it isn't overpowering. I agree that the Botanist is superb. Hayman's Old Tom is another one we like, they also have a London Dry that is solid.

[huge 3793]

Bought a bottle of this yesterday, I have been enjoying Spanish gin, Nordes is great.  Will report back if necessary. 

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

Been awhile since I've posted in this topic and many martinis, fizzes, and other gin based cocktails later, here are a few other makers we've had that I hadn't yet listed on earlier posts:

In addition to the Empress Indigo Gin mentioned earlier, we've also tried their Elderflower Rose version and it's nice. It's not one I'd buy every stock up trip, but not bad and makes a very pretty glass for sure. I use St. Germaine Elderflower liqueur in quite a few mixed drinks, so it's not an unfamiliar flavor to me. All photos are stock because many of these we've already long emptied.

I swear we don't buy gin based on the color, but the liquor store nearest us stocked more varieties than usual around the holidays, and the McQueen and the Violet Fog Ultraviolet Edition found its way in the cart. It has a lot of botanical flavoring so if that isn't your thing, then skip it.

 

Total Wine marked this one deep discount and it's not my fave. Thomas Dakin would rank lower in my overall gin ratings. It was worth the discount, but beyond that, not one for which I'd reach around the others; that's probably due to it's strong juniper essence-a little works for me but too much and it is overpowering at times. It's the type one has to consider the type of drink being made.

I don't know if I posted about this one earlier, but we tried it on a lark and were very pleasantly surprised. Tanqueray Sevilla Orange gin.

 

Finally, we regularly drink Hayman's; both the Old Tom and London Extra Dry versions, but recently picked the Royal Dock Navy Strength off the shelf. Will report back on how that one goes.

A few of the UK gin distilleries from which we regularly bought have been disappearing from the shelves at our local store and after making some inquiries, it seems there have been various issues related to imports and distributors. Shame because overall the UK does gin quite quite well and it's their products that we buy on the regular.

 

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

On 7/17/2022 at 10:49 PM, High Plains Drifter said:

 

Some friends visited and gave me a bottle of this:

 

 

Although my bottle says 60 proof. Different batches come out with slightly different alcohol content?

I guess its like sloe gin, but with aronia berries instead of sloe berries.

Anyway, any recs or recipes for cocktails?

 

 

This may be why I missed your question--the pic doesn't load for me.

Here's the link to the Drunk thread where I posted a few sloe gin cocktail recipes.

 

[Chewbacca 7766]

The seasonal Hendrick's (Grand Cabaret) is fantastic.  They made up for the Flora Adora that sucked.

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

I almost bought that at Spec's today. Thanks for the rec; I may return to check it out!

[RMac5 1551]

Good to know @Chewbacca, I started to buy a bottle of that but opted out to the Orbium. I haven’t opened it yet but will this weekend.

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

On 4/10/2024 at 4:26 PM, Chewbacca said:

The seasonal Hendrick's (Grand Cabaret) is fantastic. 

We picked this up a while back and I agree, it's pretty good.

In addition to our usual faves, have added a couple of others to the stock.

The Eden Mill Original is a good gin.

Have not yet cracked open The Sassenach nor the Red Door:

I'll be pleasantly surprised if the Red Door works in our house only because it's supposed to have a fairly bitter orange come through and while I'm a fan of the Negroni as well as absinthe based cocktails, spouse is not so much so we'll see what he thinks. Cross fingers.

Speaking of absinthe, we made the Corpse Reviver No. Blue last night as well as a French Blonde (which doesn't have absinthe but does have grapefruit juice and since we prefer white grapefruit juice to ruby red in cocktails, it has that bitter note underneath.

Corpse Reviver No. Blue

French Blonde

Obviously pics aren't mine, I never remember to snap a pic until after we've finished. I can say that the blue curaçao liqueur does indeed turn the drink a very pretty blue. And don't skip the absinthe rinse for the glass either, it adds just enough to give it some flair.

[Mrs Whiggins 13050]

While technically a liqueur and not a gin, per se, we have really enjoyed Plymouth Sloe Gin. It's a little hard to find, but it makes an outstanding *Charlie Chaplin. Made them while cooking supper last night.

1 oz Plymouth sloe gin (there are other brands, but there is absolutely a difference)

1 oz Rothman and Winter Orchard Apricot Liqueur (same as above, I think this brand uses the apricot flesh instead of the pit and it is lovely)

1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Note: we do NOT add the simple syrup that some recipes use; the liqueur is sweet enough for us.

Shake with ice, strain into cocktail glass.

*This is an older cocktail, apparently featured at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in the 1920's. We've found the older cocktails are often less sweet which is our preference.

 

 

[RMac5 1551]

Headed to the likker store now for gin replenishments. The Hendrick’s Orbium mentioned above is fantastic.