Best London Dry: Beefeater London Dry
Region: UK | ABV: 44% | Tasting Notes: Juniper, Lemon, Almond
There are many well-known brands that make the classic London dry-style of gin, but Beefeater is one of the best and most ubiquitous. While London dry gin does not have to actually be made in London , it does need to meet other requirements that govern the distillation process. In short, these gins need to be made from pure grain spirit, with no flavor or artificial additives added after distillation.
Beefeaters nine-botanical recipe includes juniper, Seville orange, orris, and lemon peel, creating an easy-sipping gin that works well in any cocktail.
How Is Gin Made
Gin is made with a neutral grain-based spirit. This is one of the reasons that it is often confused with vodka. However, the next steps are what sets it into its own class.
Although the technique may vary, spirits that are being made into gin are mixed with juniper berries. Traditionally, the berries and other botanicals are steeped in alcohol for a period of time before distillation occurs. This can also be done through a vapour-infusion process. The spirits are boiled and the berries are placed in baskets above the alcohol. The steam condenses after it is infused by the berries. Then it is condensed and mixed with water to the desired strength.
Modern technology combines methods. One of them uses the vapour-infusion technique and a vacuum-distilling process to create craft batches of gin. A benefit of vapour-infusion is that it produces a much milder-tasting gin.
Bombay Sapphire: Best Value Gin
Its ubiquitous blue bottle makes Bombay Sapphire an unmistakable choice behind any bar. Despite being a relative newcomer compared to Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire is another to have made a name for itself in the spirits market globally.
Known as one of the worlds most famous gins, Bombay Sapphire contains ten botanicals sourced from countries covering almost every continent. Alongside juniper, the spirit features lemon peel, coriander, angelica root, orris, grains of paradise, cubeb berries, cassia bark, almonds and liquorice.
The brand also uses a unique distilling process to create its distinctive flavour profile. Instead of boiling the botanicals, Bombay Sapphire uses a Vapour Infusion process to release the aromas. For its price point, Bombay Sapphire is an excellent choice and deserves its title as a staple brand.
Best value gin: Bombay Sapphire
Don’t Miss: Is Member’s Mark Vodka Grey Goose
/05/2020 List Of Munchies That Go Beautifully With A Classic G& t
Sir Winston Churchill once said, The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmens lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire, and we couldnt agree more.
Downing a classic G& T on a hot sunny afternoon sounds like a great plan to spend your day. What doesnt sound great is – deciding what food to have with your drink. It is always the question when you dont want your drink to be the solo star for your summer party. Fear not. Gin and tonics pair well with a bunch of appetizers for you to snack on. The only thing to keep in mind while pairing food with your drink is to balance the flavours.
Let’s Connect
FunFact – The pairing of food with gin is gaining popularity as #ginstronomy as the culinary experts are now matching the complex botanicals of this juniper-based spirit with their favourite food.
Next time you are with your G& T and dont know what to have with it – dont worry. Here are some of the munchies that pair well with gin and tonic.
Plymouth Gin: Best For A Martini
Unlike London Dry Gin, which can be found in plenty of variations across the planet, theres only one brand that sells Plymouth Gin. Its aptly called the same name. Plymouth Gin differs from London Dry Gin in that its slightly less dry likely due to the higher concentration of root ingredients. It has a slightly earthier flavour and comes in two core strengths standard and Navy Strength.
Plymouth is a classic brand and is distilled at the historic Black Friars Distillery the oldest working distillery in England. Its been produced here since 1793, using a combination of seven botanicals and soft Dartmoor water. Little has changed in the production method since then.
The rich and smooth taste of Plymouth gin makes it the perfect accompaniment for a Martini. It has won plenty of awards over time for its rich, fresh aroma and elegant, aromatic finish. Plymouth Gin was named in the first recorded Dry Martini recipe in 1904 and, when combined with Dry Vermouth and a garnish, makes for the perfect drink.
Best Gin for a Martini: Plymouth Gin
Also Check: How Many Carbs Does Vodka Have
Opihr Oriental Spiced London Dry Gin
We’ve been sitting on this one for a while, not quite sure if the taste was for us. It’s usually our rum that we like spiced but then we paired Opihr with a ginger ale and were blown away. This is a bit like the Thomas Dakin on this list, which uses horseradish, it’s not for everyone but if you want a kick with your G& T then Opihr offers that and more, with hints of cardamon and black pepper.
Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin
If you look at the list of botanicals in Bombay Sapphire you will notice a few differences from other London dry gins. Grains of paradise, almond, and cubeb berries are not your average gin ingredients and they help this bottle stand apart from the crowd.
Distilled in Cheshire, England, Bombay Sapphire’s full list of vapor-infused botanicals include juniper, almond, grains of paradise, lemon peel, licorice, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia bark, and cubeb berries. It’s old meets new with this gin. While the brand is relatively young, having launched in 1987, the beautiful array is based on a recipe from 1761.
You cannot miss Bombay Sapphire on the liquor shelf. Its blue bottle has an allure that will catch your eye, though the gin itself is not bluelook to Magellan Gin for that.
This gin is also bottled at 47 percent ABV , so it will stand up to your dry martinis as well as fruity gimlets and the Floradora. It’s a staple that you can rely on and a good premium gin to keep in stock.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Strongest Tequila
You Could Gain Weight If You Drink This Kind Of Gin Every Night
Gin may be the base for some delicious low-calorie cocktail concoctions, but you’re going to want to pay attention to what kind of gin you’re ordering especially if you’re looking to maintain or lose weight. If your go-to drink is a sloe gin fizz, well, you may be in for a surprise.
It’s easy to mistake sloe gin or, as it sounds to the ears, slow gin as a method of preparation, à la James Bond‘s famous “shaken, not stirred” martini. As it happens, though, sloe gin isn’t even technically considered gin. It’s a liqueur, Sam Carter, senior brand ambassador for Bombay Sapphire, explained to Good Housekeeping, and it gets its name because it’s made from gin and sloe berries .
Regular ole gin is 37.5 percent alcohol by volume , whereas sloe gin is anywhere between 20 and 25 percent ABV. “Plus,” Carter explained, “there’s a lot more sugar in it than a regular gin.” And, as we all know, consuming sugar is pretty much the easiest way to pack on the pounds. So, if you want to drink gin every night, at least avoid sloe gin drinks.
If You Drink Gin Every Night Will You Look Younger
The fountain of youth is full of gin, y’all. Well, sort of. Cleverly named brand Anti-aGin promised consumers a younger appearance upon drinking their gin. According to a statement by the U.K. brand , Anti-aGin is distilled with collagen and other “anti-aging botanicals” in order to “help people look younger whilst having fun” .
Anti-aGin continued, “The ingredients were specifically chosen due to their revitalising qualities, including healing sun damage, being rich in minerals, inhibiting scar formation and to help smooth cellulite.” The gin also contains “aromas of chamomile and tea tree, with a spicy hit formed of nettle, witch-hazel and gotu kola complementing a classic base of juniper, coriander and Angelica root” with a “cardamom finish.” Well, it sounds interesting enough.
While this brand does add some look-good, feel-good ingredients to its gin, all gin contains juniper berries and juniper berries have been scientifically proven to have “anti-aging potential.” So maybe deciding to drink gin every night could keep you looking youthful though we wouldn’t base your whole skincare regimen on this and we’d definitely recommend avoiding skincare mistakes that make you look older.
Read Also: What Is The Most Expensive Patron Tequila
Does Gin Go With Coke
The short answer, of course, is yes, you can mix gin and coke . You can mix anything you want. And with the right palate, you might find that you enjoy drink a gin / coke mix . However, a real cocktail scientist might tell you the sweetness in the coke and the bitterness in the gin would be a little
Brockmans: Best Gin For Cocktail
Brockmans is nothing if not a modern gin. With its sleek, black bottle, its a brand thats not afraid to stand out behind the bar with premium branding that gives a taste as to whats inside.
The goal behind the spirit was to create a gin quite unlike anything else available on the market. The distillery combined knowledge and ideas to forge a bottle with an intricate balance of botanicals with a complex flavour.
Brockmans gin is smooth enough to enjoy straight, but the real secret comes from mixing it into a cocktail. The unique flavour profile makes it the perfect base for a huge variety of different long drinks, particularly those emphasising fruity and berry flavours.
It uses Bulgarian coriander, blueberries and blackberries and dry, bittersweet Valencian orange peel alongside Tuscan juniper berries to create a distinctive, smooth gin: perfect for cocktails.
Best Gin for a cocktail: Brockmans Gin
Recommended Reading: What To Mix With Effen Blood Orange Vodka
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.
You May Be Able To Ward Off Certain Diseases If You Drink Gin Every Night
Researchers in Australia studied the relation between and bacteria and found that these powerful berries were able to “block the growth of bacterial triggers” of three major health conditions: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Juniper berries also showed promising signs of being able to help treat certain types of cancer, according to the study.
A 2014 review conducted by researchers in India further revealed that the juniper plant has also been credited with antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant activity, which bodes well for it’s bacteria- and cancer-fighting potential. While gin is the only alcohol that contains a high concentration of this superfood, it is still alcohol a known carcinogen.
Yet and still, moderate consumption is generally considered safe. Theresa Hydes, a researcher at the UK’s University Hospital Southampton, told Discover that a person’s risk of developing most cancers “does not increase significantly until an individual starts drinking heavily.” While you shouldn’t look to gin as a miracle cure, choosing to drink gin every night is likely safe.
Recommended Reading: How Many Carbs Does Flavored Vodka Have
Variations On A Theme
Even the best gin and tonic recipe likes to mix it up every once in a while. Here are a few of our favorite variations:
- Rhubarb has some of the same brightness as lime and some of the same vegetal quality as gin. This makes rhubarb juice or rhubarb syrup a great addition to a G& T, with or without the lime. Plus, you can’t beat that gorgeous pink color.
- A cucumber slice makes a nice garnish, especially with Hendrick’s gin. You can also add a couple of . When using alternate garnishes, squeeze extra lime juice directly into the drink.
- Blood orange is gorgeous in this cocktail. Slide a thin slice into the ice-filled glass before adding the gin. Add a splash of blood orange juice if you like.
- Grapefruit and thyme. Add an ounce of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and garnish with a sprig of thyme.
You May Not Have To Worry About Hypoglycemia If You Drink Gin Every Night
Gin, especially London Dry Gin, is incredibly natural. Sam Carter, senior brand ambassador for gin distillery Bombay Sapphire, explained to Good Housekeeping that this variety of gin contains just 0.01 grams of sugar per liter. And, since no flavorings or additives are allowed to be added to the gin after it’s distilled, it’s very clean. But, even if you don’t opt for London Dry Gin, distilled gin is also quite natural. Yes, gin is a great fit for people looking to eat a clean diet, but it’s arguably an ever greater fit for people with type 1 diabetes.
According to a study published by the Journal of Diabetes Nursing , gin is the best choice for people with this condition as it doesn’t contribute to hypoglycemia the way other kinds of alcohol do. As part of the study, researchers compared the blood levels of participants after drinking alcoholic beverages and found that blood levels remained the highest in participants who drank gin with a no-carb tonic. Choosing to drink gin every night, as opposed to other drinks like whiskey, doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
Recommended Reading: Whiskey With Ginger Ale
What Does Gin Taste Like
Depending on the variety, which are detailed in another guide, gin can actually vary somewhat in flavour. Being a typically non-aged and non-barrelled spirit, gin is usually very strong with a potent alcohol bloom or odour.
The resulting taste is imparted from the botanical herbs and spices used during the distillation process. Traditionally, common London Dry style gins will feature a pronounced juniper note that is often compared to a Christmas tree. Meanwhile, it tends to have a somewhat oily texture.
Master blenders will carefully balance the use of juniper in order to achieve the desired flavour. Indeed, some gins can be remarkably complex and go far beyond a simple pine cone flavour profile.
In fact, many contemporary gins will incorporate a unique selection of herbs and spices in order to engineer a variety of flavours.
The 7 Best Gin Mixers To Have In Your Pantry This 2021
With so much time being spent in our houses, many of us are spending more time indulging in the finer things in life namely, whatever liquor weve stocked up on. If youre like some of us here at The Manual, that includes copious amounts of gin and now, days into quarantine, the fancy cocktail ingredients you may have stocked up on are most likely running out. Instead, its time to switch to basic mixers for your essential gin cocktails.
The joy of gin is that there are so many styles and botanical blends out there that you can find a flavor profile for just about any palate. That wide variety, too, means that you can utilize a number of different mixers for simple, delicious drinks. Listed below are the best mixers weve pulled together so you can stock up on for when you need a gin drink.
You May Like: What Is Good To Mix With Tito’s Vodka
Monkey 4: Best Gin For The Money
Hailing from the Black Forest of Germany, Monkey 47 uses a whopping 47 botanicals in its gin. Its a brand thats very much convinced that bigger is better when it comes to flavour combinations and uses everything from almonds and mint to allspice and honey pomelo in its distillery process. Amongst the botanicals are also six different types of pepper.
Its secret weapon for its unique flavour profile comes from the lingonberries added, taken from the Black Forest. Its a brand that enjoys its cult status, thanks to its complex makeup.
The vast number of botanicals makes this a very interesting gin to sample. It offers tastes that ebb and flow the more you sip, as each of the botanicals comes to light. Citrus is one of the most prominent flavours, followed by a bouquet of fruits and florals.
Its complexity works to its advantage, and Monkey 47 is definitely a crowd pleaser. Try it neat or enjoy it as the perfect companion in a G& T.
Best Gin for the money: Monkey 47 Dry Gin
Does Coke And Gin Taste Good
If youre looking for a gin and coke recipe, then you probably think that theres more to making this odd little drink than dumping two ingredients into a glass. Gin and Coke are not a natural pairing. You can certainly drink them together, but without some subtle touches, its not particularly tasty.
Also Check: Where To Buy Empress 1908 Gin