Gin Quest
Gin has become something of a ‘thing’ recently. It is one the most, if not the most popular drink currently.
As we travel our quest is to attempt to find local gins from around the world, and around the corner.
There are now thousands of varieties to choose from, all with their own special combination of botanicals to make it unique.
But first lets start with, what exactly is gin?
Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries (Juniperus communis). Gin is one of the broadest categories of spirits, all of various origins, styles, and flavour profiles, that revolve around juniper as a common ingredient.
From its earliest origins in the Middle Ages, the drink has evolved from a herbal medicine to an object of commerce in the spirits industry. Gin was developed based on the older Dutch liquor, jenever, and became popular in Great Britain (particularly in London) when William of Orange became King William III of England.
Gin today is produced in subtly different ways, from a wide range of herbal ingredients, giving rise to a number of distinct styles and brands. After juniper, gin tends to be flavoured with botanical/herbal, spice, floral or fruit-flavours or often a combination. It is most commonly consumed mixed with tonic water. Gin is also often used as a base spirit to produce flavoured gin-based liqueurs such as, for example, Sloe gin, traditionally by the addition of fruit, flavourings and sugar.
Do you drink it neat over ice or with a tonic. Choosing the best tonic can be a task in itself.
Once you’ve take the time to choose one of the thousands of different varieties of gin, you need to carefully choose the best way to drink it.
Tonic water (or Indian tonic water) is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctive bitter flavor, though it is nowadays often sweetened as well. It is often used in mixed drinks, particularly in gin and tonic.
What about garnish, what will you decide on?
The garnish that you traditionally think of with a Gin & Tonic, is Lemon. But each different gin benefits from different garnishes. There are loads of suggestions out there each different one, or you can experiment with your own combinations.