Summer 06 Gin Reviews

3/16/07.... Updated For Winter 07.

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I promised in January a mid-year review of various gins, so here you go.

The only new gin I've tried in the last 6 months is Hendrick's. Hendrick's has an odd taste. Looking at their website, it turns out that it's infused with rose and cucumber. I am not terribly fond of it in a martini, but it is very good in a gin and tonic or other mixed drinks. It's really too expensive for what it is, and if you look at their website, they're trying to appeal to the gimmicky/trendy crowd as a result. "Passionately loved by a tiny but growing crowd"... yeah that sounds like marketing at work.

I'm going to split this review up by uses, rather than ranking all gins together as I did in january...

Gin and Tonic

• #1... Bombay Sapphire. I've stopped loving this gin as much as I once did, but it is still excellent in a gin and tonic. No bartender can mess this one up.
• Runner up: Hendrick's. I'm drinking a gin, tonic and limeade (i was out of limes) right now with Hendrick's and it's pretty darn good. The cucumber taste adds something to a G&T that typical gins do not. I am not fond of this gin in a martini, but it's good with tonic. On the other hand, it's expensive to be putting into G&Ts.
  

Martini

• #1... Tanqueray No. 10. Smooth. Still the best. The fruity flavor is very distincitive, perfect in a martini with a reasonable amount of dry vermouth. This gin has such a distinctive taste that I am well aware if I was cheated by a bartender. As you know, I despise plain old Tanqueray, but they have hit the jackpot with this gin. For the love of god, do not make this martini by shaking it. Stir, stir, stir it!! You don't want this to be watered down.
• Runner up: Right now I'm going to say Boodles and Anchor Junipero. I have not strayed from T #10 since falling in love with it.
  

In the next 6 months I'd like to try some of

• Blackwood -- another Scottish gin like Hendrick's. Distilled on Shetland.
  
• Broker's
  
• Damrak -- Dutch gin
• Doornkaat -- German!
• Magellan -- this gets high ratings on Bevmo
• Martin Miller's -- ridiculously high ratings
• Old Raj -- very expensive, but very highly rated.
  
• Wet by Beefeater -- Tanqueray did so well, why not try the competition?
• And just plain old Beefeater and/or Gordon's. Haven't tried these since I had no money.