Confessions of an ex-gin hater

[Confuzius]

I never used to like gin, not sure why, probably because it reminded me of the juniper bush outside my parents house that I used to hide in as a kid while playing kick the can or capture the flag.

Then I grew up a bit and I loved gin, maybe because it now reminds me of the juniper bush outside my parents house...

 

[Dennis]

Scotto - I was totally in your boat. NOT a gin fan. I got sick on gin once many moons ago and thought I was puking up a Christmas tree. Not pleasant. I can't get over that piney, juniper thing. Probably why I don't like Blenheim Bouquet either.

I have been thinking I need to try a gin of higher quality though. Thoughts on Plymouth gin? I was thinking of picking that up along with some dry Noily Prat.

 

[Obsessed]

Scotto - I was totally in your boat. NOT a gin fan. I got sick on gin once many moons ago and thought I was puking up a Christmas tree. Not pleasant. I can't get over that piney, juniper thing. Probably why I don't like Blenheim Bouquet either.

I have been thinking I need to try a gin of higher quality though. Thoughts on Plymouth gin? I was thinking of picking that up along with some dry Noily Prat.

In my limited experience, I think Plymouth is very nice.

 

[danek]

I have been thinking I need to try a gin of higher quality though. Thoughts on Plymouth gin? I was thinking of picking that up along with some dry Noily Prat.

You mentioned that the juniper/piney notes are off-putting to you; Plymouth is fairly heavy with these flavors. However, there are LOTS of gins that are very subdued in juniper and rosemary type botanicals. Hendricks is probably the most famous, with notes of lavender and tons of cucumber.

There seems to be a real push in the U.S. right now, in making very mildly-flavored gins; I think they are targeting the premium vodka drinkers. A phrase I've heard a lot lately is, "Gin is the newest flavored Vodka." I suggest you experiment with some of these "craft" gins. There is probably a distiller located in your own state turning out their interpretation right now.

 

[Gruder]

You mentioned that the juniper/piney notes are off-putting to you; Plymouth is fairly heavy with these flavors. However, there are LOTS of gins that are very subdued in juniper and rosemary type botanicals. Hendricks is probably the most famous, with notes of lavender and tons of cucumber.

This is quite interesting (I'd assumed all gins to taste strongly of juniper), though your post helpfully leads me to drop Hendrick's due to my dislike of premature pickles. Do any other subdued juniper gins come immediately to mind as recommendation-worthy?

 

[Scotto]

This is quite interesting (I'd assumed all gins to taste strongly of juniper), though your post helpfully leads me to drop Hendrick's due to my dislike of premature pickles. Do any other subdued juniper gins come immediately to mind as recommendation-worthy?

Despite the hype, I don't find Hendrick's strongly redolent of cucumber; I think it is a very well balanced spirit.

 

[danek]

This is quite interesting (I'd assumed all gins to taste strongly of juniper), though your post helpfully leads me to drop Hendrick's due to my dislike of premature pickles. Do any other subdued juniper gins come immediately to mind as recommendation-worthy?

I'm fond of gins produced near me, just as much for supporting local business as I am appreciative of their product. Aviation gin - inpired by genever style, Ransom - almost like traditional sloe gin, Dry Fly - more of a traditional London dry style, Voyager - another dry style. I don't know if you can find these near you.

My suggestion to you is to visit a quality barman, one who really knows their stuff, and pick his/her brain a little over a couple of drinks they suggest. An interesting reference: http://www.distilling.com/PDF/craft.pdf is a list of craft distillers across the U.S.

 

[letterk]

I still hate it. But not as much as Vodka.

 

[Gruder]

I'm fond of gins produced near me, just as much for supporting local business as I am appreciative of their product. Aviation gin - inpired by genever style, Ransom - almost like traditional sloe gin, Dry Fly - more of a traditional London dry style, Voyager - another dry style. I don't know if you can find these near you.

My suggestion to you is to visit a quality barman, one who really knows their stuff, and pick his/her brain a little over a couple of drinks they suggest. An interesting reference: http://www.distilling.com/PDF/craft.pdf is a list of craft distillers across the U.S.

Thanks Dane. I always love a good license to explore

 

[TimmyBoston]

I'm not a gin drinker but I've always understood Bombay Sapphire to be one of the premiums. Have I been incorrect all these years?

It's personal preference. Sapphire is one of the premiums but I can't stand the stuff.

 

[Obsessed]

Whenever I look at reviews of spirits (which is really not all that often outside of B&B), it seems like good old-fashioned Tanqueray is consistently one of the higher-rated gins.

 

[Scotto]

As I said, Sapphire turned me off to gin for decades. Go figure. I find the regular Tanqueray quite nice, but muted. It doesn't have much personality in a martini, I think, but is nice as a G&T, Collins, etc.

 

[Tone deaf]

A dry martini,' he said. 'One. In a deep champagne goblet.'

'Oui, monsieur.'

'Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's [an English gin - Lisa], one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. [this is NOT vermouth - see below!] Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?'

'Certainly, monsieur.' The barman seemed pleasant with the idea.

'Gosh that's certainly a drink,' said Leiter.



Taken from Flemming's Casino Royale...even Bond originally had a Gin based drink.

 

[BullGoose]

We finished off the Tanqueray last week, and I bought a bottle of Hendrick's. In a word - wow. Drinking martinis with this stuff is a revelation. Complex, smooth, and none of the off tastes I often associate with the grain spirit background of a lot of gins.
.

Again with the Hendricks...I have to try this stuff.