Gin

[LooneyTunes]

There doesn't seem to be a gin thread already so, inspired by a purchase of a bottle of "The Botanist" (first Islay gin from Bruichladdich) and the "what are you drinking" thread I thought it would be interesting to see what people on here rate.

For me, gins I like:
Bombay Saph (export)
Hendrick's
Blackwoods 60
Tanqueray 10

Gins I want to bag a bottle of to try:
Beefeater Crown Jewel (had a little taste in a bar but haven't got round to buying a bottle yet)
Sipsmith
Martin Miller's Westbourne

Gin I don't really "get":
Gordons

What about the rest of you?

[chris.mapey]

Now were talking - love gin, in fact we stock over 70 gins in our pub!

I'd recommend Death's Door, No 209, and Adnams First Rate as good ones to try

Sipsmith is great, as is Fifty Pounds gin (don't worry it doesn't cost that)

Should get you started...

[alfa pint]

Try Plymouth Gin - it's much much thicker than something like gordons or even bombay sapphire. It's the bartenders' choice of gin for cocktail making too. If you go to the distillery in the barbican in Plymouth, you can even buy a red label version which is about 50% abv.

[Wadeski]

Ooh whats the name of this pub with 70 gins?

And do you make a good martini? I could see some damage happening there

I usually keep Hendrick's and Sipsmith in stock.

Plymouth is nice but its quite a sweet gin.

[Shaw Tarse]

Wadeski said:

Ooh whats the name of this pub with 70 gins?

from his profile http://www.theangelwoodbridge.co.uk/The_Angel/Welc...

[Zod]

Sacred Gin is my favourite and I get it hand delivered from the distillery just down the road.

[XJSsometimeSoon]

I do like gin very much but I'm not very knowledgeable. I do prefer Bombay Sapphire from the few I have tired.
Our hedges are full of sloes, any reccomendations on what gin to use? And any secret ingredients I should be using?

[Lefty]

I love Gin too. The Botanist is very fine indeed, Tanqueray (and No. 10) is another.

My limited understanding is that it's made in much the same way as the spirit that eventually becomes whisky but some botanicals are on a tray inside the still to infuse flavours.

One thing I've never really understood though...what sort of grain is used? Barley? Or something else? How manytimes is it distilled? I seem to remember that it's usually distilled in column stills but I assume that the stuff from bruichladdich is distilled in one of their pot stills?

[poprock]

I’ve been a fan of Plymouth Gin for many years, but have recently been introduced to SW4, which I’m really, really enjoying with a spot of tonic and lime. Highly recommended (though it has a terrible website: http://sw4gin.com/Welcome.html)

[Shaw Tarse]

Lefty said:

I love Gin too. The Botanist is very fine indeed, Tanqueray (and No. 10) is another.

My limited understanding is that it's made in much the same way as the spirit that eventually becomes whisky but some botanicals are on a tray inside the still to infuse flavours.

One thing I've never really understood though...what sort of grain is used? Barley? Or something else? How manytimes is it distilled? I seem to remember that it's usually distilled in column stills but I assume that the stuff from bruichladdich is distilled in one of their pot stills?

James May & Oz Clarke did a feature on gin, but it's not on iplayer.

Ps, don't you go getting any ideas about a PH gin!!!

[Lefty]

Shaw Tarse said:

Lefty said:

I love Gin too. The Botanist is very fine indeed, Tanqueray (and No. 10) is another.

My limited understanding is that it's made in much the same way as the spirit that eventually becomes whisky but some botanicals are on a tray inside the still to infuse flavours.

One thing I've never really understood though...what sort of grain is used? Barley? Or something else? How manytimes is it distilled? I seem to remember that it's usually distilled in column stills but I assume that the stuff from bruichladdich is distilled in one of their pot stills?

James May & Oz Clarke did a feature on gin, but it's not on iplayer.

Ps, don't you go getting any ideas about a PH gin!!!

hey, I just found out that a mate of mine has a cask at Kilchoman... That's got me thinking.

[RDMcG]

Tanq 10 is the one for me.

[m8rky]

I do enjoy a G&T but have not tried many of the more obscure ones.I stick to Gordons,Bombay Sapphire or Plymouth.I find Bombay Sapphire is better with lemon rather than lime as i have with Gordons.I usually have Plymouth with bitters out and neat.I have found as well that Tesco finest is a surprisingly nice Gin.

[autofocus]

Hi there,

Gin is the number one drink for me, used to think it tasted like aftershave but after a few years selling it and sampling a fair few bottles I really get it now.

As mentioned in one of the other threads I am currently drinking Sloanes Dry Gin which was recently voted the 'best gin in the world' at the San Fransisco World Spirits Awards.
Like some of the others I don't really get Gordons, I suppose its alright as mass produced spirits go but I would rather pay a bit extra and have something far superior.

Recommendations from me are: -
Darnleys View (great gin that is often overlooked, and quite hard to find)
Tanqueray Rangpur (arrived in the UK by accident late last year, but looks like its here to stay)
Williams Gin (from the famous and multi award winning Chase Distillery)
Edgerton Pink Gin (yes its pink, and has 14 botanicals inc pomegranate which is where the colour comes from)
Bulldog Gin (funky bottle and some far our botanicals inc poppy and dragon eye)
Gin Mare (Mediterranean Gin, very nice in cocktails)

Please make sure you take your gins with a good tonic though, you will ruin the drink if you use happy shopper tonic. Something like Fever Tree Indian Tonic Water can take the drink to a whole new level.

Regards

Tim

[Stu R]

Hendricks, Leopold's, William Chase are among my favourites, I've a few more 'trendy' ones I've yet to try but Hendricks has replaced Bombay Saph as my regular gin. I actually find Tesco's finest one rather nice too, better than most normal gins.

[autofocus]

Hi there,

Forgot this one: -

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/product_range/produc...

Aldi, 1599 Gin. Its a great Gin, has won a few awards, and relatively well priced at £8.99.

Regards

Tim

[LooneyTunes]

Some interesting one mentioned! All good...

Lefty said:

My limited understanding is that it's made in much the same way as the spirit that eventually becomes whisky but some botanicals are on a tray inside the still to infuse flavours.

One thing I've never really understood though...what sort of grain is used? Barley? Or something else? How manytimes is it distilled? I seem to remember that it's usually distilled in column stills but I assume that the stuff from bruichladdich is distilled in one of their pot stills?

You're right - usually column still, anything up to 5 times distilled IIRC. But The Botanist actually comes from the Laddies recently installed Lomond still (my suspicion is that being able to offer a non-aged spirit must be quite appealing for a distiller).

It is usually a grain base spirit (don't think it has to be though, or that the type of grain is limited) with the botanicals added on later fermentations.

PS - pub with 70 gins sounds great. Any chance you want to open a NW branch office?

[motco]

I bought a couple of bottles of Cork Dry Gin at Dublin Duty Free (when such a thing existed intra-EU). It was horrible - tasted of cardboard! Don't suppose it's changed though; the only upside was it was 80 degrees proof when 70 was the norm.

[m8rky]

Stu R said:

Hendricks, Leopold's, William Chase are among my favourites, I've a few more 'trendy' ones I've yet to try but Hendricks has replaced Bombay Saph as my regular gin. I actually find Tesco's finest one rather nice too, better than most normal gins.

I am glad it is not just me that was pleasantly surprised by the Tesco finest gin.

[HereBeMonsters]

Oh yes.