Gin

For all the none biking stuff. Say hello, chew the fat or flame the forum.
Post Reply
DaytonAndy
Posts: 1387
Joined: 07 Apr 2014, 16:38
Your Bike: Daytona 675R
Has thanked: 271 times
Been thanked: 388 times

Gin

Post by DaytonAndy »

My Mrs wants to try gin so I'm after a couple of recommendations from the connoisseurs we have in the house! It seems to be a mine field with all the different mixers and producers available so suggestions welcomed. Being a peasant I drink beer then if I get pissed I move onto vodka so haven't got a clue. She likes Rose and white wine if that helps?
User avatar
duke63
Posts: 15493
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:34
Your Bike: Ducati 748/853 & Triumph Street Triple 765RS
Location: Staffordshire
Has thanked: 4170 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: Gin

Post by duke63 »

Bombay Sapphire is a good start.
User avatar
TonyB
Posts: 1220
Joined: 20 Apr 2015, 11:48
Your Bike: Tiger 800XC, Honda CB500
Has thanked: 541 times
Been thanked: 417 times

Re: Gin

Post by TonyB »

I wouldn't spend a lot on a bottle if you both don't really drink it. I like Hendricks with a slice of cucumber and Tanqueray with a slice of lime, they're both available in supermarkets too. If you enjoy them then start looking at small batch brands. I'd get a nice branded tonic water too: fentimans, fever tree, Schweppes etc. I'll be having a few tonight. Enjoy!
User avatar
D41
Posts: 12923
Joined: 22 Sep 2014, 11:36
Your Bike: Triumph Daytona 650.
Has thanked: 4283 times
Been thanked: 1129 times

Re: Gin

Post by D41 »

I'd say go to a bar and have the bartender set her up with two or three and then she can pick her favourite???
User avatar
kiwikrasher
Posts: 8862
Joined: 17 Mar 2014, 04:32
Your Bike: ‘16 Thruxton R. '10 Multistrada 1200 S.
Location: Kurrajong Heights, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 4577 times
Been thanked: 4647 times

Re: Gin

Post by kiwikrasher »

I'm with Tony, start on a Hendricks. I drank cheap nasty gin for far too many years. Hendricks is my base gin now and I only drink Bombay if that's all a bar has. And as Tony says if you (or your wife in this case) enjoy it try some small batch

D is also on the money, rather than spend small fortunes on a small batch bottle try a good gin bar and explain to the bartender what you are up too and try a few back to back. There is such a range in the new generation gins with different botanicals and personal tastes.

And as Tony mentioned, use cucumber rather than lemon or lime. Much more refreshing and compliments Hendricks very well. Also some gins are good with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Happiness is not a destination. It is a way of life.
User avatar
TonyB
Posts: 1220
Joined: 20 Apr 2015, 11:48
Your Bike: Tiger 800XC, Honda CB500
Has thanked: 541 times
Been thanked: 417 times

Re: Gin

Post by TonyB »

I had a stunner a few weeks ago in a gin bar in Warwick with a slice of fresh ginger. I can't remember the name of it so will have to go back soon...
User avatar
Deegee
Posts: 4206
Joined: 02 Apr 2014, 11:20
Your Bike: Daytona 675 & Tiger 900
Location: Côte d'Essex
Has thanked: 1046 times
Been thanked: 967 times

Re: Gin

Post by Deegee »

Kiwi, Tony and Daz have pretty much summed up most advice I could offer regarding gins/tonics, however I would add a few pointers of my own.

1, Price is no guide to quality - I've had £40 bottles that tasted of nothing.

2, Tonic is a primarily bitter flavour, Schweppes is quite sweet, but fancy tonics tend to be more bitter due to a higher quinine level and work best with big flavour gins like Hendricks and Adnams Copper House, however brands like Fever Tree can and will overpower subtle flavoured gins, hence the need for a minimum of 2 tonics in the fridge.

3, Gins vary in flavour - "London" style is slightly dryer than say a traditional gin like Haymans Old Tom - which is almost sweet. Genever (Dutch Gin) is horribly sweet btw.

4, Consider a tasting night with miniatures, £2-4 each easily bought online, a great way to whittle down her likes/dislikes (get her to make notes btw, she'll be too pissed to remember what she liked or otherwise the next day) use Schweppes as a control tonic for a fair tasting.

5, I know I'll get shot for this by the rest of the Gin-Crowd, but if she doesn't like tonic with gin, try another mixer, lemonade, ginger ale etc, all work and can taste great for the right palate.

6, Test different glasses - it'll taste slightly different in different styles of glass - my favourite is an Old Fashioned, a friend of ours favourite is Highball, it's fun testing btw.

7, Given your Missus preferences, I'd recommend an Old Tom and schweppes tonic with a slice of lime. Also worth trying that with some Roses lime cordial instead of tonic as a sweet Gimlet. Look online for amounts etc.
Hth, Cheers, DG
User avatar
D41
Posts: 12923
Joined: 22 Sep 2014, 11:36
Your Bike: Triumph Daytona 650.
Has thanked: 4283 times
Been thanked: 1129 times

Re: Gin

Post by D41 »

TonyB wrote:I had a stunner a few weeks ago in a gin bar in Warwick with a slice of fresh ginger. I can't remember the name of it so will have to go back soon...
The thought of a ginger in a gin bar asking for ginger is too much....

Lolz.!!
User avatar
D41
Posts: 12923
Joined: 22 Sep 2014, 11:36
Your Bike: Triumph Daytona 650.
Has thanked: 4283 times
Been thanked: 1129 times

Re: Gin

Post by D41 »

When you asked did the bartender just hand you a pair of scissors??
DaytonAndy
Posts: 1387
Joined: 07 Apr 2014, 16:38
Your Bike: Daytona 675R
Has thanked: 271 times
Been thanked: 388 times

Re: Gin

Post by DaytonAndy »

I found an old bottle of London dry gin in the drinks cabinet. "Expertly distilled in a 100 year old copper pot still" so it must be good! Nipped out and got a bottle of Schweppes slimline tonic and some cucumber for a tasting session and... dear God that stuff tastes like feet! What's wrong with you people lol? We rather enjoyed gin with lemonade and the classic gin'n'juice so we'll definitely be trying a few more gins anyway. Thanks for the advice all.
User avatar
D41
Posts: 12923
Joined: 22 Sep 2014, 11:36
Your Bike: Triumph Daytona 650.
Has thanked: 4283 times
Been thanked: 1129 times

Re: Gin

Post by D41 »

LOL @ "tastes like feet"!!
DaytonAndy
Posts: 1387
Joined: 07 Apr 2014, 16:38
Your Bike: Daytona 675R
Has thanked: 271 times
Been thanked: 388 times

Re: Gin

Post by DaytonAndy »

So a little update after trying copious amounts of gin we are now converts! One we've tried and really liked that you've probably never heard of is Wirral gin. It's a small batch gin made locally to me on a copper still called Thumbelina using bog myrtle and juniper.
20170608_192145.jpg
Mmmmm bog myrtle :D
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: Gin

Post by Kwacky »

Gin from the Wirral? Whatever next?

I take it gin making doesn't need much room?
DaytonAndy
Posts: 1387
Joined: 07 Apr 2014, 16:38
Your Bike: Daytona 675R
Has thanked: 271 times
Been thanked: 388 times

Re: Gin

Post by DaytonAndy »

No idea to be honest! Just done a little googling and the farm it's made at is 1.3 miles from me so I might pop down and have a look.
User avatar
kiwikrasher
Posts: 8862
Joined: 17 Mar 2014, 04:32
Your Bike: ‘16 Thruxton R. '10 Multistrada 1200 S.
Location: Kurrajong Heights, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 4577 times
Been thanked: 4647 times

Re: Gin

Post by kiwikrasher »

Small batch doesn't need much room at all, my mates distillery including three stills and cooling water system and storage is all in a 10m x 8m unit.

Glad you are converted Andy, welcome to the fold
Last edited by kiwikrasher on 14 Jun 2017, 13:21, edited 1 time in total.
Happiness is not a destination. It is a way of life.
User avatar
Deegee
Posts: 4206
Joined: 02 Apr 2014, 11:20
Your Bike: Daytona 675 & Tiger 900
Location: Côte d'Essex
Has thanked: 1046 times
Been thanked: 967 times

Re: Gin

Post by Deegee »

Wot he said! ^^^^
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: Gin

Post by Kwacky »

Post Reply