Building the Home Bar: Gin
Ziga Plahutar
Vodka’s flavorless profile makes it perfect for straightforward cocktails as well as experimentation. Gin, on the other hand, is botanical and fruitful at its core. It can be dressed up or simplified to perfection. The gin and tonic, the martini, the Negroni; it’s the gin conducting the orchestra no matter what symphony you play.
While the origin of gin dates all the way back to the very first century, the juniper-driven spirit was not first seen in writing until 16th century Holland. The Dutch began producing what they called “genever”, a malt-wine combined with copious juniper berry flavoring for medicinal purposes. It was not until its adoption in England, however, that gin reached the mainstream of drinking culture. However, as public health and unrest became a concern during the “Gin Craze” in the middle part of the second millennium, the spirit finally became what we know and enjoy today with the help of the British Royal Navy in the 19th century. Because many destinations of naval voyages were set in corners of the globe where malaria was prevalent, sailors brought with them rations of quinine to help prevent and fight the disease. Due to its awful taste, Schweppe’s introduced “Indian Tonic Water” to make the quinine more palatable. Because beer is so quick to turn over in warm conditions, the navy brought with them their London Dry gin as their most precious cargo because it can withstand the heat of the ships’ underbelly. Naturally, gin was added to Schweppe’s new product, along with limes, which also carry anti-scurvy properties, and the gin and tonic were born. Meanwhile, cordials were used to preserve the lifespan of the limes onboard, gin was added to that as well, of course, and the Gimlet followed suit.
These cocktail staples were only the beginning. Gin has broken free of its English origin and becomes the powerhouse of mixology, as iconic cocktails have cemented the spirit across the globe. Florence gave us the Negroni, Paris the French 75, and New York, NY the Tom Collins, to name a few. Gin is essential for yourself and any company you may be hosting, and although you may find yourself to be keen on mixers or garnishes, the cocktail you craft is only as nourishing as its base. Whether you’re crafting your preferred G&T or a straight-up martini fit for 007 himself, it’s best you know the best starting point from which to build your libation up.
Tanqueray London Dry Gin
Tanqueray London Dry Gin is one of the most awarded gins in the world, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s been the standard since the 1830s when Charles Tanqueray first began distilling the spirit. It’s perfectly balanced and pleasantly simple. Juniper berry is what makes gin and Tanqueray welcomes the chief ingredient to take the steering wheel and not look back. In a poll taken for Drink International’s the World’s 50 Best Bars Annual Report in 2016, Tanqueray London Dry Gin ranked number one best selling and overall favorite spirit. It’s voted the number one gin by bartenders and the number one gin for a gin and tonic. Despite its impeccable quality and well-deserved accolades, a 750 mL bottle of Tanqueray London Dry Gin is available for just $22.
The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
The Isle of Islay lies off the western coastline of Scotland. The isolated landmass is home to The Botanist, a dry gin distillery striving to pay homage to the botanical heritage of the isle and the natural abundance its soil springs to life. The Botanist gin is distilled with 22 sustainably and locally hand-picked botanicals and nine different core berries, barks, peels, and seeds. Once the nine cores are loaded into the still in a secret, particular order, they steep in the heated alcohol and natural spring water for 12 hours to extract the natural oils from the cores. From there, the botanical bag is placed in the neck of the still and the gin is distilled for seven hours, a process elongated in order to enhance flavor and improve texture. Then, The Botanist eventually makes its way to your home bar, where you can taste and indulge in the natural bounty of the Scottish Isles. The Botanist is a bouquet of flowers wrapped in citrus peel and will ease your palate with a satin smoothness both exciting and mellow. The Botanist’s slow, unhurried distillation makes for a spirit so aromatic its consumption goes beyond the sense of taste alone. Its variety and depth of flavor notes make it the perfect gin for cocktails all year round. Fresh herbs make for the perfect spring bramble, its bright citrus peels for the most refreshing Tom Collins in the summer. Its coriander and cinnamon will uplift a seasonal Negroni to fill you and your guests with a cozy warmth once the airdrops are cold. The Botanist is delicate like the botanicals distilled, yet as rich as the soil they grow from. A 750 mL bottle of The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is available for $45.
Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut 2021
Every year, German distillery Schwarzwald Dry Gin releases a distiller’s cut of their original Monkey 47, named after the 47 botanicals used for distillation. Each distiller’s cut sets out to find the perfect 48th. This year, it was the Monarda didyma, also known as bee balm or Oswego tea. The aromatic herb can only be found growing in its native form in a handful of regions. Now, Schwarzwald Dry Gin gets its Monarda didyma from a farm in the Swabian region operating at the foot of the Swabian Jura mountain range, cultivating the Monarda didyma exclusively for 47 Monkey’s latest Distiller’s Cut. The location is semi-shady and has nutrient, ever moist soil, the perfect environment for springing forth this aromatic launching 47 Monkey into another level of luxury. Once the Monarda didyma is harvested, it is added to the already distilled 47 Monkey dry gin and then distilled a second time in an additional extraction process. The resulting macerate is left to mature for three months in earthenware vessels until it is finally combined with spring water of the Black Forest. The result is a smooth and elegant dry gin, full of spice and hints of citrus. Its impeccable palatability is a testament to the careful eye watching over its botanical harvest, distillation, and maturation. It is true that you reap what you sow. The distribution of the annual distiller’s cut is extremely limited. Luckily, A 350 mL bottle of 47 Monkey’s 2021 Distiller’s Cut is available for $80.
