Whitley Neill Rhubarb And Ginger
- Whiltey Neill Rhubarb and Ginger, £24.49 from Amazon – buy here
Johnny Neill, the founder of Whitley Neill, makes all kinds of flavoured gins. Quince gin. Gooseberry gin. Even parma violet gin. But theres something especially homely and enticing about this most nostalgic of combos, rhubarb and ginger.
The gin smells and tastes exactly like what youd imagine. Its even got a touch of sweetness, which brings to mind those home-baked crumbles and cakes youd have when going round to nans.
The tart fruitiness of the rhubarb is balanced by the heat of real ginger, giving the spirit complexity and body. Just the match for a glass full of ice, a slug of tonic and a garnish of fresh-cut lemon.
Gin Is Meant For Cocktails
As we said before in this article, most people see gin as a spirit that is mainly made to be a perfect addition to cocktails. You can of course drink your gin neat, as some gins are amazing on its own, but most commonly youll see it used as a base in a cocktail.
If you want the full experience of a nice bottle of gin, there are two ways to go about it. Firstly, I do recommend you try at least on glass neat. Experiencing the rawest form of the gin will make you understand the palate and, if the gin is actually good, will make you appreciate it much more.
From there, try it in your favorite gin-based cocktail. A classic such as the gin and tonic will always be great, but you can also play around with the flavor palate. Most gins have been infused by different botanicals, so you can mix and match to your liking.
Elderflower Sloe Gin Cocktail
Got a bottle of sloe gin youre not sure what else to do with? Try this Elderflower & Sloe Gin cocktail! Its sweet tart and perfectly balanced: fresh lemon adds just the right zing. But the best part? St Germain. This trendy elderflower liqueur adds subtle floral notes so that everything is in perfect harmony with the fruity and herbal sloe gin. Youll be sipping it on the porch in no time.
Ingredients: Sloe gin, St Germain, lemon juice, simple syrup
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How Strong Is The Gin Rickey
As with all highballs, you can make the gin rickey as strong or as weak as you like. If you pour the average 80-proof gin and the final volume is 7 ounces, you can expect it to have an alcohol content around 10 percent ABV . This makes it a nice, casual drink, comparable to the average glass of wine.
When You Drink Gin Every Night This Is What Happens To Your Body
Whether you drink gin every night in a martini or mix it with tonic water, you may be wondering what this alcohol does to your body. First, it’s important to know what gin even is. While straight gin may not taste overly flavorful, it is flavored. Sam Carter, senior brand ambassador for gin distillery Bombay Sapphire, explained to Good Housekeeping that gin is made from and flavored by juniper. While gin can contain other natural ingredients, such as wheat and rye, juniper must be the plant predominately used. Otherwise, it’s not gin.
There are different types of gin on the market, but, according to Carter, London Dry Gin is of the highest quality. “It’s kind of gin in its purest form,” he explained. In order to be classified as London Dry Gin, the distillery “can’t add any artificial flavourings or additives after distillation.” You can also buy “distilled” gin. Like London Dry Gin, this gin is, of course, distilled. It differs from it’s superior cousin, though, because flavorings are permitted after it’s distilled.
So, now that you’ve aced Gin 101, let’s move on to the health portion. When you drink gin every night, this is what happens to your body.
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Citadelle Gin & Lemonade
First of all, its a very easy cocktail to make at home with ingredients you can find in any supermarket. You dont even need a shaker, just a glass or a pitcher and some ice. Its everything we need right now with heatwaves and lockdown all around the world. Fresh yet complex with the touch of honey. I recommend wildflower honey for this one. It pairs with the botanicals from Citadelle Gin perfectly. It reminds me when I stayed over at Château de Bonbonnet, where they distill the gin. It was a hot summer too and we were drinking Tom Collins . Nico de Soto, owner of Mace and Danico
Ingredients:
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz. honey
4 oz. sparkling water
Method: In a jug or single serve glass, combine Citadelle, lemon and honey, stirring until honey is completely dissolved. Add ice and fill to top with sparkling water. Garnish with fresh lemon or aromatic herbs.
Prohibition Distillery
You May Reduce Hay Fever Symptoms If You Drink Gin Every Night
Some 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. A pollen allergy, aka “seasonal allergies” or “hay fever,” is among the most common. And, as any pollen-allergy sufferers will attest, allergies suck. To make matters worse, those who have allergy-induced asthma may find that alcohol only exacerbates their symptoms. According to a study by Asthma UK , 64 percent of asthmatics surveyed claimed that drinking alcohol worsened their condition. However, there’s more to the story.
It’s not that all alcohol worsens asthma or allergies. Instead, it’s certain kinds. Fermented beverages, like beer and red wine, contain histamine and sulfites which are essentially kryptonite to people with seasonal allergies.
According to Asthma UK’s study, gin contains both a lower amount of histamine and, thanks to how its distilled, zero sulfites. These two things make gin a superior summertime or, you know, anytime beverage for allergy sufferers. So, if you drink gin every night instead of red wine, at least you’ll be less likely to aggravate your allergies via alcohol.
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And Thats It: How To Make A Gin Fizz
We hope that youll find this Gin Fizz to be your new favorite cocktail. I enjoy tangy cocktails like and I love sour beers, so this tangy sweet fizzy drink was right up my alley. Let us know if you make it in the comments below!
Theres lots more you can do with gin, from classic Gin and Tonic to Watermelon Gin Cocktail, from a Hanky Panky to a Gin Gimlet. Go to our Best Gin Cocktails.
What Is The Best Ratio Of Gin To Tonic
A gin and tonic should be crisp and refreshing, never boozy or heavy. After doing some research, ratios can vary. Some enjoy equal parts gin to tonic, others reduce the gin and double the tonic. For us, we liked it right in the middle, which kept the drink light and crisp, but still aromatic from the gin.
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What Is Gin Made Out Of
Gin in its most basic form is actually pretty straightforward. Its simply a neutral spirit as the base which is then flavored with botanicals.
Botanicals are any plant material used as a way to add flavor they release their flavors upon infusing them into the raw spirit.
You can say its pretty much like special flavored vodka. When you say gin, it means that juniper berries are the most dominant among the botanicals, and it is at least 37.5% alcohol by volume .
Most industrial and commercial gin makers extract the flavors from botanicals via a distillation process.
However, it is possible to make gin simply by steeping plants, herbs, or spices in the base spirit.
Yes, you can very much make your own gin at home using vodka. Its easy! Just like making vodka at home.
Beyond the vodka and the juniper berries, you can feel free to experiment with whatevers in your spice cabinet, fruit you like, plus botanicals from your herb garden.
Some of the most commonly used gin botanicals are coriander seeds, angelica root, citrus peel, and cinnamon. But this is just to list a few! Again, feel free to include any spices and herbs.
Maybe you can try bay leaves, rosemary, licorice powder, lavender, cardamom, cumin, fennel seeds, or lemongrass. If youre not sure where to start, check whats in your favorite commercial gins and use those for inspiration.
You May Experience Some Unpleasant Side Effects If Drink Gin Every Night With Tonic Water
It’s common to mix alcohol with seltzer water, club soda, and tonic water but they’re all very different things. According to Healthline, tonic contains quinine, which is a compound taken from cinchona bark. This is what gives the beverage a bitter taste. It’s safe to consume the compound, but only in small doses. In fact, due to side effects that can result from quinine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates just how much can be added to tonic water.
One gin and tonic isn’t likely to lead to any adverse reactions, but it is possible. Healthline explained that stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting can occur. You may even experience nervousness, confusion, or “ringing in the ears.”
More severe reactions, including kidney damage, from quinine have also been noted when the compound is used in medication but it’s even more unlikely you’ll experience anything so severe from your nightly G and T. “You would have to drink about two liters of tonic water a day to consume a day’s dose of quinine in pill form,” the publication noted. Still, if you drink gin every night, you might want to lay off the tonic.
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How To Make Flavoured Gin
Cant find a gin in your favourite flavour? Try making one yourself its easier than you think. You can easily add extra character to normal gin by soaking it for a few days or weeks with your favourite ingredients.
Its possible to buy DIY gin kits online, but you dont need one. All thats required is a sterilised jar, a bottle of quality gin, a strainer, and whatever botanicals you want to use, whether fruit, spices or even candy. And, of course, some time.
It is a good idea to follow a recipe as different ingredients will require different quantities and soaking times to make the best flavoured gin possible. But, as a general guide, you want to use around 300g of flavouring per 1 litre of spirit. The more you use and the longer you leave it to infuse, the more strongly flavoured your gin will be.
The Trick To The Foam Topping: A Dry Shake
How does it all work? Bartenders have added egg whites to cocktails since the 1860s for two reasons: it adds a frothy texture the surface of the drink, and gives each sip a creamy rich flavor. Most drinks are shaken with together with ice in a cocktail shaker. But in this Gin Fizz youll do whats called a Dry Shake. Heres how it works:
- Shake the drink ingredients without ice first. This lets the protein in the egg begin to form foam, instead of being diluted by the ice.
- Then add ice and shake again. This cools the drink and strengthens the foam. Strain it into the glass and youll get a thick, white frothy layer.
This method is used with many classic cocktails, and results in a lovely white layer of foam on top. See the Boston Sour or Pisco Sour for another foam-topped drink.
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Gin & Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice with gin doesnt need anything else added to it
For a tart, dry mixer for your gin, try cranberry juice! If you have the time and inclination, this could be made by blending and sieving fresh cranberries, but otherwise, shop-bought juice is fine we love Frobishers Cranberry Juice. We like to mix our gin and cranberry juice with a twist and squeeze of fresh lemon or lime to give it added zing, particularly if your juice has added sweeteners.
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Essential And Popular Gin Cocktails For 2021
Gin was originally invented by monks for medicinal purposes, but were eternally grateful that its since been discovered as an excellent and herbaceous base for a variety of cocktails. The botanical flavors inherent to gin give it a peppery sweetness that can be identified in almost any drink.
Despite the spirits signature flavor, gin cocktails are incredibly diverse, from fruity and floral Aviations, to savory and piquant Gibsons. Pairing with garnishes from raspberries to onions, gins range is unmatched.
Here are 14 of the most essential and popular gin cocktails.
drop!
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Villa Ascenti Rosa Gin
- Villa Ascenti Rosa Gin, £29.73 from Amazon – buy here
More and more gin brands are making use of local ingredients to flavour their spirits. And not only in the UK, as Villa Ascenti, produced in Italy, goes to show.
This Rosa edition of the premium gin is distilled not only with Tuscan-grown juniper berries, but also local hazelnuts, Brachetto grapes, peaches and apricots.
That yummy, toasty hazelnut and ripe peach really shows off in the glass this gin smells almost like an Italian baked dessert with warm, nutty notes meeting a fresh, juicy fruitiness. Not synthetic or overwhelming, just nice and natural.
Weve already got this pegged as a summer go-to, where well be serving it with a light tonic and a wedge of fresh peach. If you want to go full Italian, try pairing it with a zippy Sicilian lemon tonic. Saluti!
You Can Improve Your Heart Health If You Drink Gin Every Night
“As with other types of alcohol, there is some evidence to suggest that moderate consumption can help reduce the risk of heart attacks…,” nutritionist Jackie Lynch confirmed to Good to Know. Now, that doesn’t mean you can throw back martini after martini and expect to strengthen your heart. “This relates to one small glass per day, as studies have shown that as you increase your intake to three glasses per day the risk of cardiovascular disease increases dramatically,” the nutritionist continued. She further recommended opting for a “single rather than a double measure” of gin to be safe.
Although a nightly gin martini can improve your heart health, a gin and tonic may not, due to the added sugar. Because an excess consumption of sugar has been linked to heart disease, you’re going to want to avoid adding any sweet mixers to your measure of gin if you choose to drink gin every night.
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Add Limea Wedge Or Measured Juice
Our best tip for making a mixed drink with coke? Add citrus! The acidity of a lemon or a lime cuts through the sweetness of the cola and makes the drink much more interesting. You can add the lime to this gin and coke in two ways:
- Squeeze in a lime wedge: Before you garnish with a lime wedge, squeeze it into the drink. This will add about 1 teaspoon lime juice.
- Add ½ ounce lime juice. Want a more pronounced citrus flavor? Measure out fresh lime juice and add it for an even tastier drink.
Expert Twist On The Gin Martini
Hayley tells us, I am such a sucker for a dirty martini. Interestingly, a drunken night out and a mystery Dirty Martini is actually the only reason I even like olives, couldnt stand them beforehand and I have got to say, for a Tequila Specialist, I sure drink a lot of Martinis.
They are a cocktail that is so often done wrong and not just at home, in bars also.
For this twist, we are going to keep it relatively traditional but we are going to learn how to make them properly. No skipping corners for this one, your taste buds will thank you. If you do not like a dirty martini, trade the Vermouth and brine for 30ml Lillet Blanc and a grapefruit twist, follow the rest of the instructions and you will be equally as satisfied.
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Adding Botanical Mix To Your Still Column
After youve cleaned your still thoroughly, youll need to add your botanical mix to your still column. For this, you will roll up about 20 inches of copper packing and insert it into the bottom section of your stills column. Then wrap your crushed botanical mix into a folded piece of cheesecloth. Be sure to fold the sides of the cheesecloth upward to make a small satchel. Tie a string around the top of your small botanical satchel.
Lower your botanical cheesecloth satchel down the column onto the copper packing using the string. If you are using a still with a site glass section, clamp it below the section of your column with the copper packing.
If your still setup has a condenser, hook up your water input and output.
Next, youre going to add your gin mash water into your still. We highly recommend using a siphon for this process. This method is the best way to reduce the amount of sediment from your fermented gin mash water getting into the still. Leaving particles and sediments in the mash water will cause the distillate to burn and ruin your product, so be diligent during this step.
Best Gin For Gin Gimlet Cocktail
The traditional choice would be Plymouth Gin, and I think that really works well. If youre looking for a more affordable version, you can go with Beefeater Gin. Read here why Beefeater is better in cocktails than Tanqueray Gin.
If youre looking to experiment, you can use all kinds of Gin. There are so many different types on the market. Plymouth Gin and Beefeater are both quite traditional types, so why not be a bit fancy and try a New Western Dry Gin that can work great with lime?
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