The Lemon Fool

Hi all

I don't really get this craft gin thing.
Surely you mostly mix it with x3 of tonic, lemon and (probably 10%water from the ice) so all those delicate botanist just get lost.
Do people drink them neat like single malt whiskey ( or with just a splash of tonic)?

Some of the bottles are as expensive as a single malt.

Chris

Not really a gin drinker but Hendricks 50/50 with tonic and a slice of lemon, or cucumber is rather nice. No ice but gin, tonic and glass in the fridge.

chrissyr wrote:Hi all

I don't really get this craft gin thing.
Surely you mostly mix it with x3 of tonic, lemon and (probably 10%water from the ice) so all those delicate botanist just get lost.
Do people drink them neat like single malt whiskey ( or with just a splash of tonic)?

Some of the bottles are as expensive as a single malt.

Chris

I have not got into the craft gin bit, but yes I have enjoyed gin with nothing in it. I have also had the odd pink gin. For those who don't know, swill bitters around the glass then drain. Next put gin in the glass and drink, no ice.

BTW some bulk gins are as expensive as a cheep single malt, ie tanqueray is £20 a litre. I understand that they also do more expensive gin's as well.

TBH I think that the entire thing is a reaction to poor gin. There is a significant tax point at 37.5 proof, and real gin should be 40 or more to carry the botanicals, that are not water soluble.

FWIW, would you drown a single malt wiskey in tonic water or "canada dry"?

Imbiber wrote:Not really a gin drinker but Hendricks 50/50 with tonic and a slice of lemon, or cucumber is rather nice. No ice but gin, tonic and glass in the fridge.

Hendricks with Fevertree and cucumber is the best in my opinion. The tonic is important too, and cucumber sets off the Hendricks in a way that even lime doesn't.

Full disclosure - i own shares in Fevertree.

chrissyr wrote:Hi all

I don't really get this craft gin thing.
Surely you mostly mix it with x3 of tonic, lemon and (probably 10%water from the ice) so all those delicate botanist just get lost.
Do people drink them neat like single malt whiskey ( or with just a splash of tonic)?

I think people are getting more sophisticated about these things although it can be hard to shake off old habits. But a good gin can shine through and compliment the tonic. I'm not a great fan of standard Fevertree though, it tends to swamp all but the most junipery gins - the Mediterranean is a much better match for most gin. And it explains the huge popularity of the flavoured gins - rhubarb, violet etc, people have worked out that they need more flavour to balance the tonic. But people do seem to be using less tonic, and I see increasing numbers of people either sipping straight gin or having pink gins.

Another vote for the FeverTree Med Tonic. I love gin and will happily drink some of the better examples neat. This is a by-product of having to do so when my other half was doing her WSET Diploma - all in the name of tasting of course! Whatever you do, don't buy Brockmans gin - I find the berry flavours so more'ish it is almost impossible to stop drinking it

Best "straight" gin I've tried recently was acquired from Salcombe whilst on holiday a few months ago. Bottle is almost empty...

All the best, Si

Thanks for the replies.
Seems Hendrick with ft med tonic and cucumber seems a popular mix so might try that.

The people I know who are into gins like Sibling (Cheltenham), Robin of Loxley (Sheffield) and Forest (Cheshire - quite heavy, "mossy") as "normal" gins, and Slingsby Rhubarb and Zymorgorium (all of them, particularly the violet) for flavoured gins.

Well finally got round to tasting Hendricks with cucumber (but used Schweppes tonic as that was what we had) and is a really nice drink - will have to get the fv med to see if better still
Thanks for the advice

I'm a Tanqueray 10 and tonic with lemon man, but Mrs BD who drinks gin far more frequently than me is a massive fan of Hendricks, cucumber and Fevertree Mediterranean tonic.

More recently she had Slingsby Rhubarb gin and Fevertree Ginger Beer and found it most refreshing!