There was once a time when you had two choices; Cork Dry Gin, or Gordons Dry Gin. If you were lucky you might get served a small slice of lemon and some room temperature tonic to accompany it in your G&T. This is how I remember my first experience of what is one of the world’s greatest mixed drinks. Fortunately it did not put me off. Later when I started working in the drinks trade I was introduced to Bombay Sapphire served with a slice of lime and some slightly better quality tonic.
My own experience probably mirrors that of many G&T buffs. Like many I have gone on to harder, more exotic choices, but it was the Bombay Sapphire that first made me realise what the possibilities were.
Gin has now taken over from Premium Vodkas as the buzz category in the drinks trade, and is enjoying a real surge in popularity. Where the vodka revolution was literally about style over substance, the gin renaissance is more about diversity of flavours and about innovation and experimentation.
As I type we have gins in stock that are flavoured with some highly unusual botanicals including Saffron, Coconut, Heather, Elderflower, and vine flowers. All come with their own unique serving suggestions and some are better suited to cocktails than for a Gin and Tonic.
It is worth mentioning that there are more than a few styles of gin.
The most popular by far is London Dry. Surprisingly this style does not have to be made in London, but should be flavoured predominantly with juniper and dry, without any added sweetness. Most of the commonly found brands come under this description.
Plymouth gin is a similar style (but less dry) that has its own geographical designation much the same way that many French wines do.
Similarly Genever Gin from Holland and Belgium has its own designation and is one of the few gins that is sometimes aged in wood.
Old Tom is a seldom seen style that was once more popular and tends to be quite sweet.
In addition to these classic styles there are some new emerging gin styles. The USA has recently produced some more pungent and full flavoured that suits cocktails very well, these are commonly referred to as New Western Style gins.
Whatever way you prefer your gin, there is sure to be one that will satisfy your taste buds.
Here are some of our favourites:
Dingle Gin, 700ml, 42.5%- €33.99
This is hopefully the first amongst a new wave of craft distilled Irish gins. The addition of local Kerry botanicals make this a uniquely herbal and fresh tasting gin. Ingredients include Fuscia, Bogmyrtle, Rowan Berry, Heather, Chervil and Hawthorn.
Colombian Treasure Aged Gin, 700ml, 43%- €43.99
This highly unusual gin comes from a Colombian distillery that is more famed for its rums. This have a lot of lemon and other citrus flavours and has been aged briefly in rum barrels giving a smooth and creamy taste.
Monkey 47 Black Forrest Gin, 500ml, 47%- €61.99
This German-made gin was formulated by the son of an English diplomat and contains a complex mix of flavouring botanicals, one third of which have been sourced in the Black Forrest. Monkey 47 could possibly be the best gin in the world. I could easily drink this straight and it is as smooth as it is complex. Outstanding!
