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The Intoxicating History of Gin
- sandGorgon 7y ago>From the outset, it was laced with memories, or myths, of imperial rule; what Schweppes first sold in 1870 was not just tonic water but “Indian Tonic Water,” and today, though besieged by an army of Fever-Tree tonics, it still holds considerable sway. The water is tonic because it contains quinine, which is anti-malarial—a lifesaver, if you happen to be invading or infesting a marshy foreign land. Oh yes - gin and tonic should be rightfully considered India's national drink. Its what the British had to invent to not die.
- onion2k 7y agoIts what the British had to invent to not die. Exactly. G&T is essentially an important preventative medicine, and I should drink it more often so I won't get malaria here in the North East of the UK.
- arethuza 7y agoG&T was the most disgusting thing I had ever tasted until I acquired a taste for it and now it is one of the nicest. Mind you for some reason my recollection of how I acquired a near-constant craving for G&T is somewhat blurry. Edit: Note that I don't drink that often but even thinking about a G&T literally makes my mouth water.
- SmellyGeekBoy 7y agoI also assumed it was one of those "acquired taste" things - like as a teenager I really couldn't stand the taste of beer but I drank it because all my peers did. Now I love the stuff. Unfortunately the same can't be said for G&T, much as I want to like it.
- onion2k 7y agoGiven the proliferation of different flavored gins[1] I think it's possible no one actually likes the taste of gin. There are hundreds of flavors on Amazon.co.uk[2]. [1] https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=gin&rh=n%3A340834031%2Cn%3A359896031&dc&qid=1575468496&rnid=1642204031&ref=sr_nr_n_2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=gin&rh=n%3A340834031%2Cn%3A3598... [2] Amazon.com doesn't sell beer or spirits. Weird.
- alfromspace 7y agoI promise I actually like the taste of gin.
- noarchy 7y ago>Amazon.com doesn't sell beer or spirits. Weird. It isn't weird if you know how strange the alcohol laws can be across North America, including Canada. Shipping alcohol from one state (or province, in my case) to another isn't always possible.
- blackearl 7y agoSome classic Beefeater is great. I like gin quite a bit, perhaps more than rum
- fennecfoxen 7y agoIf you do actually want to like it, be sure that you have tried a place that offers Fever Tree tonic and Hendrick's gin and ask for them by name. Do not simply ask for a generic "gin and tonic" made with their cheapest gin and tonic syrup mixed up in their soda dispenser — either of which are quite liable to render the concoction entirely undrinkable. A good gin and tonic also includes a lime wedge. Even a little of this in the drink makes a big difference. (Yes, there are definitely other gins that would work, and indeed, other tonics — but these are the more popular big names which you will have more luck finding at bars.)
- sandGorgon 7y agoThe best gin and tonic recipe is again Indian flavors . Mango slices and pepper . They have a certain chemical that binds with the stuff inside gin and makes it better.
- mstade 7y ago> Mind you for some reason my recollection of how I acquired a near-constant craving for G&T is somewhat blurry. I believe this is a strong indication that you were doing it right. ;o)
- orev 7y agoYou might notice how much corn syrup/sugar is now added to store-bought tonic water. I have no doubt (but no proof) that this has increased over time. So that could be why you find them more palatable now.
- klyrs 7y agoWent the other way, for me. I used to love tonic water, neat, but it's gotten to be so sweet that it's unenjoyable.
- sharadov 7y agoFor years I almost exclusively drank Sapphire and tonic.
- jerrysievert 7y agoa great recipe for your own tonic can be found here: https://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/how-to-make-your-own-tonic-water/ https://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/how-to-make-your-own-ton... it's quite a good tonic when prepared correctly.
- tptacek 7y agoThere's an entire chapter in Arnold's Liquid Intelligence dedicated to his quest to perfect the G&T. It's an amazing book, highly, highly recommended. Spoiler for the mere-mortal version: store your gin in the freezer, use a fresh bottle of tonic water stored on ice, serve in a highball glass (you're not well equipped enough to do his champagne flute version), 1 3/4 oz gin to 3 1/4 tonic --- measure the tonic by first measuring 5 oz of plain water into the glass, noting the water level, and free-pouring the tonic to that same level (jiggering the tonic loses too much carbonation).
- mauvehaus 7y agoWhile we're on the subject of gin: A martini is comprised of gin, vermouth and between 0 and 3 olives. If there is no vermouth it isn't a "bone dry martini". It's just "a glass of cold gin". The modifiers "perfect" and "dirty" are also permissible when applied to to a martini. If it's made with vodka, not gin, it's a vodka martini. Other concoctions served in a cocktail glass are just cocktails. Which are fine, but please don't co-opt the name "martini" because it sounds cosmopolitan. Wait. Shit.
- arethuza 7y agoI have watched a barman prepare an oyster martini - which was about as odd to watch as it presumably was to drink.
- wholepointofcc 7y agoThis actually sounds delicious, I'll get some oysters next Friday by the street market, thanks
- jghn 7y agoIf it has vodka instead of gin it’s not a vodka martini, it’s a kangaroo
- namdnay 7y agoTo be pedantic, a martini is comprised of gin, vermouth, and the water from the ice. If you try making one without ice (e.g. with a freezer) it's too strong
- tempguy9999 7y ago"a drink that spoke more unfathomably to the deeps of the British soul than to that of other races" Quite fathomable, we're a bunch of alcoholics (only partly joking). #6 in this list of 33 countries (2015) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_consumption_per_capita#2015_WHO_data_for_OECD_%28Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Development%29_countries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_c... #25 in this list of 191 (2010 figures) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_consumption_per_capita#2010_WHO_data https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_alcohol_c... Nothing against booze (certainly not allergic to a G&T either) but we can go a bit OTT with it.
- ukoki 7y agoThe Dollop podcast did a hilarious episode on the British Gin Craze recently: https://dollopengland.libsyn.com/10-the-gin-craze https://dollopengland.libsyn.com/10-the-gin-craze
- Jedd 7y agoRegrettably I only properly discovered gin - via a Negroni - about 8 years ago. Curiously TFA didn't dwell on advances & experiments in Australia, particularly the southern states, such as Tasmania, where there's been a some tremendous examples of the art. Shene Poltergeist gin would bring into the fold even the most vehemently anti-g&t drinker. (Though mixing that with tonic would be a ghastly waste.) Ophir (UK), St George Terroir (US), or Gin Mare (ES) are great places to start if you've historically just spurned the idea of gin.
- mauvehaus 7y agoDo you have a preferred recipe for a Negroni? My partner and I have been having a hard time getting over the flavor of Campari. We usually have Tanqueray in the house for G&Ts and Carpano in the house for Manhattans, but we've had no luck getting a drinkable Negroni. To the uninitiated, I would describe Campari as having the flavor of burning tires. I don't mean that perjoratively, I just don't have a better description. Or please feel free to inform me that our palates lack sufficient refinement :-D
- mason55 7y agoStandard Negroni is 1:1:1 and by far the best. Occasionally I’ll get one at a bar that I can tell is a different ratio and it’s so much worse.
- moonbug 7y agoTry Aperol instead.
- jsmith99 7y agoDilute with extra gin.
- buckhx 7y agoA negroni is equal parts Campari, Vermouth and Gin. Varying the brand of Vermouth or Gin has the biggest impact. Subbing out Campari makes it another cocktail. Should be swapped out for another Amaro (Herbally Bitter Liquer) such as Cynar, Gran Clasico or Brut Americano (never Aperol, too sweet). I'm partial to using Cynar (pronounced chee-nahr) which I've heard be called a Sin-Cyn (sin-chin). You can also try swapping the gin for whiskey to make a boulvadier and see if that more to your liking as well.
- TheGallopedHigh 7y agoBBC’s In our time podcast has a fascinating show on the Gin Crazy, paneled by 3 experts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084zk6z https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084zk6z
- slowhand09 7y agoLove the article. Were I reading it last last night, it would be while sipping a Sapphire and tonic for sure. Learned much I did.
- davidw 7y agoWhere I live in Bend, Oregon there are tons of western junipers to the east of town in the "high desert". I chatted with a local distiller and apparently they don't use them for their gin, though. They import them from Italy of all places.
- blahyawnblah 7y agoAre western junipers not suited for making gin?
- davidw 7y agoGuess that distillery doesn't prefer it. Other articles on line show people trying to use it with some success...
- HeyLaughingBoy 7y agoThe taste must vary a lot. A few years back a friend of mine was experimenting with making his own liquors. I, having a bunch of juniper trees, got him some juniper berries. The resulting "gin" smelled amazing but tasted absolutely disgusting. My guess was that there are specific types of juniper berries that should be used.
- bytematic 7y agoGin and bourbon are my desert island spirits. I love how they are surging into the cocktail space and you can find both gin and whiskey exclusive bars all over (in wisconsin at least!). Lots are starting to barrel rest their gins which give it an oaky flavor reminiscent of whiskey. Monkey 47 is a favorite of mine which I drink straight, maybe with an ice cube. But some local gins here in Madison, WI do a really great job as well. Look out for "bartenders" edition gins from england, which generally are kicked up versions.