Gin, that marvelous mix of botanicals and nuanced flavors, provides the backbone for one of the world’s most popular drinks. You can stick to your usual, but in case you were looking for something off the beaten track, view these six gins to pour with my favorite tonic. It’s the best way to honor Gin and Tonic Day, April 9th. (Mark your calendar!)
You won’t go back to junk tonic once you’ve tried this. QTonic, has a pronounced sophisticated flavor, lots of bubbles, and is less sweet, so you can savor the subtleties of a great gin. Made with nicely sourced ingredients—quinine from the Peruvian Andes—and just a touch of organic agave. What’s fabulous for party purposes are the lovely single serving bottles and cans that give off an attractive vibe and stop waste. So each pour is fresh and bouncy. (See some other nice sodas at this link) qdrinks.com
(in photo at the top of this post) Watershed Distillery, based in Ohio, was one of the first distilleries to age its gin in bourbon barrels. Their original, Four Peel Gin, is now one of three of their offerings. Their technique focuses on layering eight botanicals (including four citrus peels), over juniper berries, resulting in a truly citrus-forward gin. In addition to a gin and tonic, try it with some simple syrup and fresh lemon juice. Summer has arrived! About $32. watersheddistillery.com
For those looking to leap into chromatic splendor, get a bottle of award-winning Empress 1908 Gin. Their product is micro-distilled with eight signature botanicals: tea, juniper, rose, coriander seed, grapefruit peel, ginger root, cinnamon bark, and butterfly pea blossom. The butterfly pea blossom is the distinguishing ingredient that infuses the gin with a startling indigo hue. Since no artificial colors or stabilizers are used in its creation the indigo hue will fade, especially when exposed to sunlight. So make sure to drink it within a year, and store in a cool, dark place. When mixed in a gin and tonic, the drink tones down to a light pink. Aaahhh. About $39. empressgin.com
From India’s biggest spirits company comes a gin with local spices: seven of the eleven botanicals have been sourced from India’s bounty. Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin starts with a mix of coriander, vetiver (a complex spice with peppery notes), sweet orange peel (complements the citrus and floral tones), cubeb berries (lending more peppery elements and intense lavender floral aroma), lemongrass, Darjeeling green tea, and lemon peel. Angelica roots, liquorice and caraway seeds cast a spicy, slightly anise flavor as well. Has an elegant refreshing finish that lingers. The matte black bottle with gold touches exudes elegance and lends an air of sophistication and royalty to the bar. About $60. jaisalmergin.com
From California, Benham’s Gin maxes out with twelve botanicals in its dry-style gin. Locally-grown Meyer lemon and Buddha’s hand are carefully hand-zested to bring out extra vibrant citrus characteristics. Founder D. George Benham didn’t like the muddled flavors in other gins, so he invented a clever vapor distilling method so that each ingredient’s notes could be individually harnessed, allowing the fragrant oils and perfumes of each aromatic to truly sing. The bottle has a sweet vintage feel, and wonderful turquoise color. About $40. benhamsgin.com
GB Gin is potato-based, laced with 10 botanicals: juniper buds and berries, coriander seed, bitter almond, cinnamon bark, ginger, cloves, angelica root, liquorice root, lemon peel kibbles, and cardamon create their GB extra dry gin flavor profile. They even grow the potatoes on their farm based in Herefordshire, UK, a county that boasts some of the richest farmland in the world adding more terroir. The trim green bottle with bow tie says class all the way. About $40. chasedistillery.co.uk
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is slow distilled by hand starting with eight botanicals: juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadow sweet, cardamom, and star anise. Then four additional botanicals (oriental lemon, oriental lime, fresh grapefruit, and gunpowder tea) are vapor infused. Packaged in a smart, blue bottle, it works nicely in a traditional setting. For your amusement, check out this YouTube video showing Irish people tasting the gin. About $36. drumshanbogunpowderirishgin.com
