Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin
Made in the Black Forest of Germany, Monkey 47 utilizes, if you couldnt tell, 47 different botanicals in its gin blend. Balanced across the board, the gin features acacia flowers, lingonberries, angelica root, six types of peppers, and much, much more. No matter what youre looking for in a gin, youre bound to find it here.
The Best Bottles For Your Martinis Negronis And G& ts
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the bestproducts youcan learn more about ourreview process here.We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
Chloe Jeong / Liquor
Best for Gin and Tonics: Bombay Sapphire at Drizly
There are just enough floral notes in this gin to make it shine when combined with tonic water and a slice of lemon or lime.
Best American:Dorothy Parker at Drizly
This is a thoroughly modern gin with hints of classicism, made using a botanical blend that includes elderberries, citrus, cinnamon, and hibiscus, along with the requisite juniper.
Gin can be distilled from almost anything, including grain, fruit, potatoes, or grapes. But what defines this ever-popular spirit is the predominant use of juniper, which must be included in the mix of botanicals that flavor this important cocktail component.
Gin, a descendant of the Dutch spirit genever, has been around for centuries. Once known as mothers ruin, gin has been experiencing a renaissance over the past few years, with large and small distilleries alike producing various styles like London dry, barrel-aged, and New Western.
Whether you are in the mood for classic cocktails like a Martini or Gin and Tonic or looking to make something more adventurous, here are some of the best gins out there to try now.
Maybe You Want To Go With A Gin & Tonic Or Even Gin & Coke
Across the pond in England, gin expert David T. Smith and The Craft of Gin with co-author Aaron Knoll) has spent years studying hundreds of gins and how they pair with different tonics. Yes, a quality tonic makes a difference. But he also says, The tonic should always be chilled. … If the tonic is warm, the whole mix will taste sweeter and will be less fizzy.
He also vouches for mixing it up: Read tonic labels and look for the flavor profile. For example, if theres rosemary tonic, you can look for gins that might work with rosemary. Or choose a classic London dry gin that mixes well with a range of tonics. There are a lot of other sodas that work well with gin, like soda water and San Pellegrino citrus sodas, or if you want to be bit controversial, cola works well with gin. Smith goes on to quote The Whos song Substitute: Substitute me for him / Substitute my coke for gin. So if its good enough for The Who …
Recommended Reading: What Proof Is Patron Tequila
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.
The History Of Sloe Gin
Sloes are native to Europe and have long been used by the British to create shooting Gins .Youd be forgiven for thinking that shooting Gins are for doing shots in bars, but actually, they were favoured by the British aristocracy for sipping from a hip flask in the countryside when shooting birds and game.Sloes grow in hedgerows – historically used to divide land in England – and are abundant in the British countryside, making Sloe Gin production easy. Consider how nuts about Gin the English are it was an obvious pairing and a match made in heaven.For a long time, though, Sloe Gin didnt have the best reputation. At the height of the 18th century was the Gin Craze a time where consumption of Gin grew rapidly in Britain, and particularly in London, when its said that the average Brit was drinking 14 gallons of the stuff each year.The quality of the Gin was poor – made with turpentine and all sorts – so adding sloes to it masked the flavour, but was dubbed the poor mans Port.Fast forward to today, and Sloe Gin is having a revival. No longer considered only something your granny liked, the big Gin producers have put lots of care and attention into creating Sloe Gins that are deliciously sweet, tart and balanced.Read on for our pick of the best, or learn how to make your own.
Also Check: Who Makes Member’s Mark Vodka
When Making Gin Cocktails Complement And Contrast
The possibilities with gin cocktails are endless. For example, if you go with St. George Terroir gin with its herbaceous Douglas fir and coastal sage botanicals or Oakland Spirits Sea-Gin, you will want to show off those briny or green notes appropriately. While some bartenders might mix like with like , Rivers encourages complementing and contrasting. A citrus-forward gin doesnt need more citrus, so think about what would highlight the citrus and compliment it? The same goes if a gin is floral. Everybody loves to mix patterns in clothes. Why not in drinks?
The cocktail menu at Whitechapel is extensive with drinks like the Narc Angel painting on the canvas of a more classic London dry profilein this case, Fords gin, which plays nicely with maraschino liqueur, orange curaçao, the bitter-sweet of Campari and bright tones of ginger, mint and lemon.
Top 10 Easy Gin Cocktails
Use up a bottle of dry gin with our easiest ever cocktail ideas. This versatile spirit can be used in everything from classic G& Ts to martinis and more.
Gin is more popular than ever, so its a good time to learn some simple serving options to take it to another dimension. You dont need any fancy equipment for these speedy gin cocktails even a jam jar will do as a shaker. Its all about the love you put into the preparation.
For more inspiration, see our top 10 fruity gin cocktails and best pink gin cocktails.
To get you started, here are a few tips to boost your cocktail-making confidence:
- The key to making drinks is the balance between sweet and sour/bitter. Try not to let one element overpower the other
- Taste your drinks before you serve
- If serving over ice, fill your glass to the top with it
- Ensure your garnish is fresh and stacked close to the straws
- Remember that we drink in three steps: with our eyes first, then with our nose and finally with our mouth
As a general rule, we recommend using 50ml gin for each cocktail unless otherwise stated. If using a liqueur, reduce this to 40ml gin and use 10ml liqueur. Balance 20ml fresh citrus juice with 15ml sugar syrup thats been made from equal parts sugar and water .
Recommended Reading: What To Mix Pinnacle Whipped Vodka With
How To Drink Gin According To A British Bartender
Proclaim a disliking for gin and any bartender worth their bitters will likely respond with the following: Is it gin that you dont like or tonic?
Its a strange position that gin finds itself in. The G& T is easily the worlds most recognizable gin cocktail helped by the spirit featuring in the name yet the complex combo is perhaps not the best place to begin a gin exploration.
A gin and tonic is not where I would someone start because tonic is so challenging, says Nate Brown. Were hardwired to dislike bitter flavors.
drop!
Based in London, Brown has spent a decade running cocktail bars in the British capital, and consulting for brands and hospitality groups. An avid drinker, Brown is passionate about gin and has extensive experience mixing the juniper-laced spirit in cocktails. In 2016, while under his co-ownership, Londons Merchant House bar took home the title of the U.K.s Best Gin Bar.
To fall for gin is to embark upon a lengthy journey. Unlike, say, whiskey or even mezcal, its also a path thats exclusively paved with cocktails, and the G& T will definitely appear along that way. But Brown points to another first port of call and views another classic gin drink as the ultimate destination in this pursuit.
With brief stops at hero botanicals and fruity, shaken concoctions, and a scenic detour into the land of vermouth, this is an experts guide to drinking gin.
How To Make Your Own Sloe Gin
The good thing about making your own Sloe Gin at home, is that the hard part is done for you. Theres no distillation involved. As this is a Gin-based Liqueur, start with the base.Find a good quality Gin – just because youre adding flavours to it, doesnt mean you should start with something cheap and nasty you otherwise wouldnt want to drink.
Don’t Miss: Empress Gin Michigan
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.
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.
Read Also: Is Jim Beam Good Whiskey
You May Experience Some Pain Relief If You Eat Gin
In your grandparents’ kitchen, you may have noticed raisins soaking in a jar on the counter. Maybe you chalked it up to your nanna’s eccentricities, but there is actually some science behind this antiquated home remedy.
As medicine researcher and author Chris Kilham explained in an article for Fox News, the remedy which calls for a box of golden raisins, a glass jar, and gin is meant to alleviate arthritis pain. The raisins are to be covered and soaked in the gin at room temperature for one week, after which they should be consumed, ten per day. As Kilham explained, golden raisins are capable of anti-inflammatory activity and, since arthritis is an inflammatory disease, the raisins could help. Gin is made with similarly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich juniper berries, which is why it’s the preferred booze to use.
“When you soak the golden raisins in the juniper berry gin, the gin extracts many of the compounds in the raisins, making them more readily absorbed when you consume the raisins,” Kilham added. Although this remedy may not be foolproof, the expert said it’s safe for most people to give it a go.
Five Ways To Gin Without Tonic
Whether youve run out of tonic or just want to mix-up your mixers, theres plenty of ways to drink gin beyond the standard G& T. But before you go splashing some Fanta in there, Whitley Neill Gins global ambassador, Devin Tomlinson has shared his favourite combos. Why not give one a try this World Gin Day.
Read Also: Low Carb Flavored Vodka
Best For Gin And Tonics: Bombay Sapphire
Region: UK | ABV: 47% | Tasting Notes: Juniper, White Pepper, Citrus
Another example of a widely available London dry-style gin is Bombay Sapphire, instantly recognizable in its light blue bottle. Along with the upfront juniper notes, youll find hints of almond, lemon peel, and licorice, making this a fantastic choice for the simple but refreshing Gin and Tonic. There are just enough floral notes in this gin to make it shine when combined with tonic water and a slice of lemon or lime.
Region: UK | ABV: 47.3% | Tasting Notes: Juniper, Coriander, Licorice
A classic can be tailor-made to your specific preferencesand every great Martini has to start with a good gin. Tanqueray is another well-known London dry style.
Obviously, the company isn’t going to give away their secret recipe, but the main botanicals in Tanqueray are thought to be juniper, angelica, coriander, and licorice, giving this gin a crisp, dry flavor that works perfectly in a Martini with a twist, a couple of olives, or any way you choose to make it. It’s a very juniper-forward gin, which may taste familiar to you if you’ve tried other classic London dry gins before.
Region: Germany | ABV: 47% | Tasting Notes: Berry, Juniper, Cinnamon
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.
Read Also: Who Is The Owner Of Don Julio Tequila
Mcqueen And The Violet Fog
This small-batch gin tastes like a cocktail straight out of the bottle. With 21 botanicals from across the world, each sip of McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin has a vibrant story to tell. From sweetness to heat to herbaceous notes that veer towards culinary savoriness , this flavor profile will turn you into a gin lover.
These Are The 8 Best Gins To Drink Straight In 2021
When it comes to the major spirit categories whiskey, rum, vodka, tequila, brandy, gin gin more often than not receives the least amount of praise as a sipping spirit. And while whiskey and brandy usually come out on top, aged rums and tequilas are now getting recognition for their sippability.
Despite the craft cocktail revolution getting more people to dip their toes in the gin pool, many still cant handle certain gin-forward drinks. Make no mistake, no ones telling you to drink a cocktail gin by itself leave that to the professionals and Ernest Hemingway. But the world of gin is just so much more than cool, cutting juniper and you owe it to your taste buds to do some exploring. In hopes of appreciating gin in its full glory, we have compiled the best ones you can drink straight.
Recommended Reading: What Is Kirkland American Vodka Made From