Gin Lessons for a Beginner 1. Ratio I often find bar staff have little clue how to mix a decent Gin & Tonic. They drown the gin in far too much tonic. You might want to practice mixing at home, to find your perfect ratio. I find one measure of gin to 2,0-2,3 measures of tonic to work very well. For me, a good G&T is firstly about the ratio, and the choice of ingredients second. Lesson learned: If you want a good G&T, mix it yourself. 2. Ingredients I've previously held Tanqueray in high esteem, but we recently did a blind taste test between Tanq and "Silver Gin" (a relatively cheap domestically-made gin available in our state-run alcohol monopoly shops https://www.alko.fi/en/products/000278/Silver-Dry-Gin ). Silver Gin won. Lesson learned: Blind-taste everything before choosing a favourite. 3. Marketing Spin A few years ago I remember visiting friends in the UK who were simply bubbling with enthusiasm for me to test something called Hendrick's Gin. It was something new and exciting, apparently a "flavour revolution" in the world of gins. I had one, and was surprised that it was served with cucumber. Yes it tasted different and not bad at all. When I returned home, I mixed a non-Hendricks gin and added cucumber. It tasted pretty much the same. Lesson learned: Don't get swept away by marketing "theatre". A good G&T doesn't need any fancy extras.
Hehe, I love how this conversation has turned to gin I agree with most of what Snowy has said. You need to find out what sort of gin (and tonic) you prefer, rather than what is "sold" to you. I like a smooth gin. My favourite premium is Martin Miller's, but Beefeater is half the price and a very close second. For something a bit different, Fifth make a soft and earthy blue gin, and Ophir is lovely, with hints of Indian spices. Yummy. Because of the smooth character of gin I like, I do prefer it served with cucumber. Martin Miller's is one that is traditionally a cuc gin. But matching the garnish can make a big difference. I wouldn't put cucumber with something like a Bombay Sapphire (ick) because it wouldn't match. Bombay really needs something very citrussy, like pared lemon zest. I think even lime is too smooth. Some places do go completely overboard and add all sorts of forestry that doesn't add anything except theatre. If I want to pay for the theatre, I'll head to the West End. Most people seem to just chuck Schweppes tonic over their lovely gin without a second thought. That's sacrilege in my opinion. Of course, if you like Schweppes then go for it, but it is bitter. My favourite tonic is Nordic Mist, which is fruity and smooth. You get the idea - I like my G&T smooth! Schweppes premium isn't too bad, but it's pricy, as is Fever Tree, which I think is over-priced. And I absolutely agree that the ratio is all important. If all you can taste is tonic and garnish, just drink the tonic with a slice. This cocktail should be about enjoying the flavour of the gin, it's not just there to add an alcohol hit. If you want that, stick to vodka. *braces self for onslaught from vodka fans*
You can keep your gin and your vodka. I'm a wine girl. Doesn't matter if it's white, red, rose or sparkling
+1 Hups, me again Now for me there is nothing worse than a vodka cocktail where you can't taste the vodka. If you want an alcohol hit here, you make friends with a doctor or dentist who can get hold of this stuff: https://www.berner.fi/pro/tuote/spiritus-fortis-ethanolum-96-ph-eur-94-p/ Pure, clean and highly effective.
I'm not a big vodka drinker - does it show? Although I did have a delightful few hours with my dad many moons ago, sat on a Russian ship having a vodka tasting session. I still remember being blown away how different they all were, and how silky smooth. It's not an experience I've ever repeated, sadly.
I like vodka it's one of the few things I can taste. I have a few different ones for the occasional little drinky. I don't mix it with anything well maybe a bit if ice, it's nice cold. I have a special glass to drink it out of. It's got labradors on it
My boy dogs like booze to they think it's very interesting but Moo hates the smell. The boys don't drink it it's the smell they like.
Oooo. Seeing as the thread has derailed from the original subject(whatever that was? ), can I ask which you like. For me, Russian Standard, Sobieski and Stoli are all quite "clean" for unmixed drinking. Thanks for the idea! Mrs Snowy is going to be thrilled with her Christmas present!
A favourite garnish of ours for a G&T is a slice of green mandarin. Unfortunately we've never found them in the UK, just when we've been on holiday in Turkey and certain parts of Greece. Having said that, perhaps that's why we like it so much, it speaks of that lovely first drink of a holiday evening moment whilst deciding where to eat later. Maybe it's one of those things that just wouldn't be the same at home......
This made me smile it made me think of a friend of my dad's who passed a while ago. He was a plumber who had made his own still to make his own special vodka. He was such a nice man and really funny. He told that because he was polish it was fine for him to distill his own vodka he also told me that vodka could cure anything. It was nice but not exactly smooth, you certainly forgot all your ills after a bottle or two. I haven't thought about Jim for ages, oh my he used to make me laugh.
I was given a bottle of Eden Mill Botanicals - Winter Warmer Old Tom Gin at Christmas, and drunk with a clementine tonic (a Fever Tree I think) it was just lush. Eden Mill is a local distillery to us and you can often pick it up at a very fair price in our local Lidl stores. The Old Tom was a seasonal limited edition. I kind of fancy one right now actually......
I do love a G&T but I have a lot to learn from the experts! Now I am going to feel guilty when I pour my....wait for it.....Coles Home brand tonic over it! I am going to have to do some research as I have never seen any other tonic other than Schweppes and home brand in the local shops. But mostly I love wine. Maxx is still too small but I have pictures in my head of us sitting outside on a lovely spring evening with Maxx quietly (HA HA HA HA) sitting at my feet while hubby and I sip a nice Hunter Valley Shiraz or New Zealand Pinot Grigio...or Sauv Blanc or Pinot Noir or Clare Valley Riesling.... The list goes on. The Aussies and Kiwis make spectacular wine (but I may be a tad biased)
Thanks @snowbunny and @Snowy for the lessons in drinking gin. It was a Tanqueray (flavoured ) gin with a fever tree mixer, but as I could mostly taste tonic I think the measures were all wrong, plus loads of ice in too probably didn't help. But I think I'm with @Emily and @Maxx's Mum, I'm a wine girl at heart... but I'll try the gin again in the interests of keeping an open mind
