New Generation Gins

[Rafa]

It does work well with honey, but it tends to have a very powerful flavor of its own. Maybe cut the ratio of gin to honey and lemon? Edit: You could also cut the gin with vodka.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Rafa (log)

[Hassouni]

Yeah, considering bringing vodka back into my life...

 

I have a bottle of the Bols, and yes it has a distinctive flavor, but that's more the maltiness, which is sweet in its own way, and might just work.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Hassouni (log)

[Czequershuus]

Dry Fly might also be a good option, if you can get it.

[haresfur]

Does anyone have any advice on a somewhat floral, lightly flavored, easy on the juniper gin? I tried making a Bee's Knees variant with Beefeater and sweet lemons (citrus limetta), and the gin just overpowered the juice - which is very delicate, totally unlike lemon juice. To get the flavor the sweet lemon juice to be expressed in the cocktail, I had to use a generous 3/4 oz of it, to a scant 1.5 oz of gin, and even then it wasn't as harmonious as I'd like.

 

Perhaps Bombay Sapphire? Or is there something even lighter?

 

I like Senica Drums Not too much juniper IMO

[EvergreenDan]

Really? I found Seneca Drums to be very pine/juniper forward. I haven't tried the McKenzie gin that I just saw on their site. Their rye is very, very spicy.

[brinza]

Does anyone have any advice on a somewhat floral, lightly flavored, easy on the juniper gin? I tried making a Bee's Knees variant with Beefeater and sweet lemons (citrus limetta), and the gin just overpowered the juice - which is very delicate, totally unlike lemon juice. To get the flavor the sweet lemon juice to be expressed in the cocktail, I had to use a generous 3/4 oz of it, to a scant 1.5 oz of gin, and even then it wasn't as harmonious as I'd like.

 

Perhaps Bombay Sapphire? Or is there something even lighter?

One possibility is New Amsterdam which is very low on juniper and very citrusy, but not really floral.  It's almost closer to a lemon vodka than a gin, but it might work in your drink.  I might also suggest Bombay Sapphire East which adds lemongrass and peppercorns to the ten botanicals of the Bombay Sapphire.  Magellan is somewhat floral (being flavored with iris pedals), but I don't know if you'd call it "lightly flavored."  Quintessential might work, too.

[Hassouni]

Gah, if only there were sample-sized bottlings of these...

[brinza]

Gah, if only there were sample-sized bottlings of these...

Heh, yeah, I know what you mean. I live in Pennsylvania which has a crap selection of miniatures.

[Hassouni]

I mean I think even in the best-stocked areas, boutique distilleries don't bottle minis.

[Yojimbo]

God help me if every new gin introduction out there starts selling minis -- I'd have to try them all, and my liver would go up in flames.

 

A year or so ago there was a lot of hype about the reintroduction of Tanqueray Malacca, it was "the gin to mix with."  The fact that the only place I see it is on the shelf at Astor Spirits suggests you can't always trust the hype, but it hits the profile of, "tastes a little floral, less juniper."  Anyone tried it recently?

[EvergreenDan]

Re Malacca. Unimpressed. I suppose you could use it in a Martini if you like it's profile, but it gets lots easily in a cocktail.

[FrogPrincesse]

See this thread about Malacca.

I tried it and it is pretty nice, but I haven't felt compelled to run and buy a bottle.

Edited April 9, 2014 by FrogPrincesse (log)

[lesliec]

I've been having Malacca in Perfect Martinis (50ml/10ml/10ml) a bit lately at my favourite bar and greatly enjoying it.  But yes, I can see it getting lost in anything more complex.  Nice stuff in a gin-dominant drink, though.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

There are too many threads on gin.  What would be a good gin suggestion for someone who does not like gin?  To the best of my remembrance I have not tried gin for fifty years, and I know tastes can change with time.

 

I have a liter of Malacca on order.  Let's assume cost is no object, but of course it is.

[ChrisTaylor]

What didn't you like about gin? And what spirits do you like? Gin is diverse enough a category that the answers to those questions are critical.

[haresfur]

There are too many threads on gin.  What would be a good gin suggestion for someone who does not like gin?  To the best of my remembrance I have not tried gin for fifty years, and I know tastes can change with time.

 

I have a liter of Malacca on order.  Let's assume cost is no object, but of course it is.

 

Everyone likes gin.  Some people just don't know it yet.

 

I would recommend starting with something not too in-your-face juniper.  I would start with Beefeater over Tanqueray. Bombay Sapphire may be an ok entry.  and then try several cocktails in different categories before you decide if you like it or not.  I would suggest a French 75, Tom Colins, Negroni, Gin gin mule. Then splurge on a lime and good tonic for a gin and tonic - sipping it outside as a sundowner.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Well, I like rum, preferably lots of rum.  I like rye, cognac, slivovitz, tequila, and absinthe.  I'm OK with bourbon, and I don't dislike vodka but it does not do much for me.  I do not care for Scotch, Irish, or Canadian.

 

What I didn't like about gin was probably the juniper, citrus, or the alcohol.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Then splurge on a lime and good tonic for a gin and tonic - sipping it outside as a sundowner.

 

Thanks, but nope, I hate the taste of quinine.  It is a medical necessity and the only thing worse than quinine is no quinine.

[nickrey]

Why post in a gin thread if you don't like it? Can't see the sense myself.

[haresfur]

Thanks, but nope, I hate the taste of quinine.  It is a medical necessity and the only thing worse than quinine is no quinine.

 

Thus, the gin. 

[EvergreenDan]

Personally I'd go to a good bar and try some juniper-backward (??) gins. If you like floral flavors, Hendrick's might be a good place to start. Or Plymouth. A fresh Gimlet might be a simple cocktail where the gin would be present but balance with sweet/sour and citrus. Personally I don't care for an authentic gimlet with Rose's lime cordial. If you're brave, you might try a flight of gins neat to sample them side-by-side.

 

I applaud the experimentation with flavors that you used to dislike. Acquiring new tastes is a pleasure of maturity.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Why post in a gin thread if you don't like it? Can't see the sense myself.

 

Should I have asked about gin in the mai tai thread?  A gin thread seemed a reasonable place to inquire about gin.  I've never tried gin as an adult that I can recall.  I am quite fond of asparagus but I never liked it till I was over twenty one.

[tanstaafl2]

Should I have asked about gin in the mai tai thread?  A gin thread seemed a reasonable place to inquire about gin.  I've never tried gin as an adult that I can recall.  I am quite fond of asparagus but I never liked it till I was over twenty one.

 

Maybe try a nice genever that is not very juniper forward or has a bit of age to mellow the juniper a bit.

 

I don't think of Ransom Old Tom gin as particularly juniper forward.

[nickrey]

Should I have asked about gin in the mai tai thread?  A gin thread seemed a reasonable place to inquire about gin.  I've never tried gin as an adult that I can recall.  I am quite fond of asparagus but I never liked it till I was over twenty one.

Good point. Do you have access to a well stocked bar where you could try a couple out rather than buying a bottle of something you mightn't like? Given what you said you like and didn't in spirits your taste preferences seem to be the opposite of mine. I don't particularly like Hendricks gin which is infused with rose and cucumber so that may be a possibility. You could also try chewing on a dried juniper berry; you will know quickly if the taste is for you or not. If it isn't perhaps gin may be a drink you will not like as although we talk about juniper being more or less forward, it is still a central component of the flavour elements in gin.

[Plantes Vertes]

Bloom gin is (obviously) floral rather than juniperry or citrussy, with honeysuckle, chamomile and pomelo as the botanicals, and it has distribution in Canada through Good Spirits.

 

Spirit of Hven from Sweden has flavours of licorice, vanilla and spices with low juniper - not sure if that's available where you are, JNW.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Plantes Vertes (log)