Keeping a gin and tonic fizzy.

[don4l]

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



Fever tree is a vastly support tonic to Schweppes - no nasty chemical taste to it. Fentimans is also good.

Regarding the lack of fizz - contaminated glassware I'd say.

I tried Fever Tree a few months ago. I wasn't impressed.

I completely agree about trying different gins. Up until a couple of years ago I always kept a bottle of Gordons for visitors. I couldn't stand the stuff myself.

About a year ago I tried a Hendrick's, and I was very impressed. Since then, I have tried a few others, and they have been very good.

Here is a money saving tip. Waitrose "Essentials" tonic water is indistinguishable from Schweppes. In fact, I am sure that it is Schweppes, but it is half the price.

[NordicCrankShaft]

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



Fever tree is a vastly support tonic to Schweppes - no nasty chemical taste to it. Fentimans is also good.

Regarding the lack of fizz - contaminated glassware I'd say.

That is a mighty fine collection!!

How is the Bulldog? I have a bottle myself that I've yet to open!

[NordicCrankShaft]

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



Fever tree is a vastly support tonic to Schweppes - no nasty chemical taste to it. Fentimans is also good.

Regarding the lack of fizz - contaminated glassware I'd say.

That is a mighty fine collection!!

How is the Bulldog? I have a bottle myself that I've yet to open!

[yellowtang]

Bulldog is very nice, quite tropical tasting though and not really juniper led - which Gin should technically be!

[Mobile Chicane]

The answer to keeping tonic fizzy is lots and lots of ice. Most people are far too mean with it.

Decent quality tonic too, as previously suggested.

[fat80b]

Mobile Chicane said:

The answer to keeping tonic fizzy is lots and lots of ice. Most people are far too mean with it.

Decent quality tonic too, as previously suggested.

Agreed.

Fevertree is good, I find Waitrose own is the best of the rest. Personally, I don't think this tastes like Schweppes at all (but that is a good thing as Schweppes is horrible).

The other thing is temperature - lots of ice definitely, but the key one for me is keep your Gin in the freezer.

We have 2 bottles in the freezer at all times for G&Ts.

Frozen Gin, Cold tonic, Ice

Bob

[5potTurbo]

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



....

[Zod]

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



Fever tree is a vastly support tonic to Schweppes - no nasty chemical taste to it. Fentimans is also good.

Regarding the lack of fizz - contaminated glassware I'd say.

Fentimans is very strong. It works better with certain gins, I think - those that are more liquoricey, like Yorkshire.

[Jezzerh]

I'll tell you what else is nice - Tesco Finest Tonic. Comes in little cans. Much cheaper than FT but still quite good.

[Bit of a Unit]

NordicCrankShaft said:

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



Fever tree is a vastly support tonic to Schweppes - no nasty chemical taste to it. Fentimans is also good.

Regarding the lack of fizz - contaminated glassware I'd say.

That is a mighty fine collection!!

How is the Bulldog? I have a bottle myself that I've yet to open!

Where does The Millers rank in your collection? It's my favourite by a long way.

[yellowtang]

5potTurbo said:

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



....

From the left:

No3
Geranium
The Botanist
Tanquaray 10
Six O'clock Gin
Sacred
Martin Millers
Bloom
Williams Chase
Portabelo Road
Beefeater 24
Berkeley Square
Silent Pool
Langtons
Bath Gin
Cold River Gin

Williams Extra Dry
Whitley Neil
Sipsmith
Adnams First Rate
Tarquins
Rock Rose
Haymans Old Tom
Bombay Extra Dry
Tanquaray
Tanquaray Rangpur
Plymouth
Gin Mare
Spirit of London
Blackwoods

Monkey 47
Tailored Gin (bespoke to me, by Cambridge Distillery)
Caorunn
Opihr
Pink 47
Hendricks
Edinburgh Gin
Bulldog
Boe

Japanese Gin (Cambridge Distillery)
Autumn/winter 2013 (Cambridge Distillery)

There would be a lot more, only I keep emptying the bottles! There are probably 300 or so gins being produced in this country at present, plus many many more imported ones available. My collection is constantly changing but even I have probably tried no more than half of the gins currently available in the UK.

It's a challenge that's for sure

[yellowtang]

Zod said:

Fentimans is very strong. It works better with certain gins, I think - those that are more liquoricey, like Yorkshire.

Yes, because Fentimans is brewed, it's quite a strong and complex drink on its own. I therefore tend to have it with a punchy but simple Gin such as Sipsmith. Floral or complex Gins such as The Botanist or Monkey 47 will be totally lost with Fentimans.

[yellowtang]

Bit of a Unit said:

Where does The Millers rank in your collection? It's my favourite by a long way.

Millers is a quality product which makes a great G&T, long with lots of ice and lime peel. Please!

[NDA]

calibrax said:

I'd use the individual cans of tonic instead of the bottles. Stays much fizzier. Also... properly chilled tonic, put in last.

This is what I do.... I buy trays of 24 of the small tins. Very fizzy.

[Murph7355]

calibrax said:

I'd use the individual cans of tonic instead of the bottles. Stays much fizzier. Also... properly chilled tonic, put in last.

This.

deano12345 said:

you're drinking too slow

And this (with grammar nailed),

And bin the slimline.

(I also agree about Fever Tree - all subjective but IMO overrated).

[Dr Interceptor]

Plymouth Navy Strength, poured over lots of ice and a single slice of lemon, topped up with Fever Tree.

Works for me.

[5potTurbo]

yellowtang said:

5potTurbo said:

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



....

From the left:

....long list....

There would be a lot more, only I keep emptying the bottles! There are probably 300 or so gins being produced in this country at present, plus many many more imported ones available. My collection is constantly changing but even I have probably tried no more than half of the gins currently available in the UK.

It's a challenge that's for sure

I went to the largest supermarket in the country yesterday: they've 16 different types available on their shelves.
Your collection's VERY impressive, sir!

[JungleJim]

re: the little cans. I think the schweppes ones are too small. Sainsbury's (maybe other supermarkets also) do slightly longer cans which are a better size for making a long G&T.

[Coneyhurst Blue]

yellowtang said:

Gordon's is fine. But, you really should follow my example and expand your Gin horizons!



Fever tree is a vastly support tonic to Schweppes - no nasty chemical taste to it. Fentimans is also good.

Regarding the lack of fizz - contaminated glassware I'd say.

Great collection !
I have picked up a bottle of 'Silent Pool' - what's your view ?
I haven't opened it yet - maybe at the weekend ?
Also I love a good Martini - and recommendations for this ?

[yellowtang]

5potTurbo said:

I went to the largest supermarket in the country yesterday: they've 16 different types available on their shelves.
Your collection's VERY impressive, sir!

Thanks

Over the past year or so I've been really impressed with the range offered by the larger supermarkets. Waitrose is good because different stores stock different Gins. The major online spirits retailers are brilliant in terms of range but I generally prefer to buy from small independent shops where I can actually chat to the owners about their Gins, they also stock Gins from the really tiny producers whereas supermarkets generally do not.