The palate is where I think Plymouth Gin shines. The early palate is softly earthy and gentle piney simultaneously brings together angelica, cardamom, lemon zest, sweet orange and juniper. I get intimations of botanicals which are not even here, such as nutmeg. The palate is soft, oily and gently warming.
Recipe. The Plymouth Original Strength brand of gin is 41.2% ABV. It is different and slightly less dry than the much more common London style of gin, purportedly due to a higher than usual proportion of root ingredients, which bring a more 'earthy' feel to the gin as well as a softened juniper flavour.
The best gin in the world is considered to be Dingle Distillery's Original Gin. It's recognised for its interesting notes, balanced flavour profile and fresh, floral notes. It's a London Dry Gin with a juniper-heavy kick.
I had already noticed that the Hendrick's had a noticeably more citrus-y flavor, and was less floral than Bombay Sapphire. When paired with the vermouth, it made for an palatable martini. I could actually drink and enjoy this, even as it warmed up.
It was called “dry gin” because it was clear and unsweetened and it was flavoured with more subtle aromatic botanicals like coriander, cassia, angelica and orris root. Because most of the distillers making this type of gin were based in London they bottled their products as “London Dry Gin” and the name stuck.
- Beefeater. Beefeater is a classic London dry gin, with a juniper- and citrus-forward recipe that dates back to the 1860s when James Burrough began to distill gin in London.
- Plymouth. Plymouth Gin has been produced at the historic Black Friars Distillery since the late 18th century.
- Bombay Sapphire.
- Gordon's.
- The Botanist.
Gin Styles. London: Also known as London dry. Plymouth gin may be made only in Plymouth, England, by law. As a style, Plymouth is slightly less dry than London and contains more root ingredients in the botanical base, resulting in an earthier flavor than London.
Common Plymouth Gin Price Guide
| Type | Size | Price |
|---|
| Plymouth Gin Original | 750ml | $26.99 - $34.99 |
| Plymouth Gin Navy Strength | 750ml | $34.99 - $37.99 |
| Plymouth Gin Sloe gin | 750ml | $36.99 - $38.99 |
To drink gin, have it on the rocks with some ice or try it neat with no ice. If you'd prefer a gin cocktail, try a gin and tonic, which is just gin, tonic water, and fresh lime juice. You can also drink gin with a splash of soda water or ginger ale. If you enjoy martinis, mix gin and vermouth make a gin martini.
If you're looking for a gin and coke recipe, then you probably think that there's more to making this odd little drink than dumping two ingredients into a glass. Gin and Coke are not a natural pairing. You can certainly drink them together, but without some subtle touches, it's not particularly tasty.
Easy to make, a Gin & Juice cocktail is refreshing and tasty in equal measure. Try orange, mango, pineapple and apple juices if you have a sweet tooth, or cranberry and grapefruit if you prefer a bitter twist. Try: 50ml any dry gin with 125ml fruit juice of your choice served over ice.
Drinking Gin Straight. Of course, you can always drink your gin straight. Just pour the gin over a few ice cubes and drop in a lime wedge if you fancy. Naturally, to enjoy a spirit neat it must be of good quality – there's nothing worse than nasty, bitter, cheap gin.
It turns out that gin and lemonade is a great drink after a long day, even in cold, rainy weather. It should be served on the rocks, two parts lemonade to one part gin. Some people add mint or basil and garnish with lemon.
Gin & Tonic: 3 – 4 drinks
Assuming it's made with 2 ounces London Dry gin to four or five ounces tonic, three or four of these is the average amount a bartender suggests for an enjoyable night out. “Any more than two definitely means you'll be a bit drunk, which is fine.Pour the gin and juice into a shaker.
- For a milder taste, consider using pineapple juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, cherry juice, or grape juice.
- For a slightly stronger taste, consider grapefruit juice or cranberry juice.
- You can also combine juices as long as the ratio of gin to juice remains the same.
One study found that 'moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks seems to reduce the risks of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cataracts', and it's said that the ingredients in gin (yes, juniper again) can help strengthen the connective tissue in your veins, and contain flavonoids, which help to prevent
8 of the Best Rum Mixers
- Lemons/Limes.
- Club Soda.
- Tonic Water.
- Pineapple Juice.
- Coconut Water.
- Coca-Cola.
- Flavored Seltzer.
- Ginger Beer.
While all spirits are carb-, sugar-, and fat-free, some shots are still more caloric than are others. For instance, a 1.5-ounce shot of an 86-proof whiskey contains 105 calories, while an 80-proof vodka or gin contains 97. It's not much of a difference, but you get the idea.
The best flavoured gins taste tested
- Warner Edwards Victoria's Rhubarb Gin.
- Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin.
- What's not to like here?
- Malfy Gin Con Limone.
- Eden Mill Love Gin.
- Sipsmith Strawberries and Cream Syrup.
- Buy from Sipsmith (£37)
- Edinburgh Gin Plum and Vanilla Liqueur.
5 of the Best Brands of Affordable Gin
- 01 of 05. Gordon's London Dry Gin. Diageo. Gordon's is a go-to value gin.
- 02 of 05. Seagram's Extra Dry Gin. ismaellabrador / Pixabay.
- 03 of 05. Burnett's London Dry Gin. Heaven Hill Brands.
- 04 of 05. New Amsterdam Gin. New Amsterdam Spirits.
- 05 of 05. Booth's London Dry Gin. Sazerac Company.
Hendrick's Gin is adored for its rose, cucumber, floral and botanicals flavor notes. This Gin is carefully distilled at Hendrick's distillery. Based on 628 votes, the average rating for Hendrick's Gin is 8.4/10.
Bombay Sapphire tastes of juniper, and the other botanicals make it dry and astringent. Tanqueray is stronger with the juniper, but more full-bodied and smooth. I didn't know juniper could taste that good.
Bombay Sapphire Gin is one of the more popular premium gins on the market for a very good reason. This London dry gin is one of those that is distinctly gin but not overwhelming on any of the botanicals, which makes it ideal for mixing into any gin cocktail.
However Canada and the USA recognize only 3 types of gin (Genever, Gin, London or Dry gin), while the European Union recognizes 4 types (Juniper-flavoured spirit drinks, Gin, Distilled gin and London gin).
Produced in Scotland by William Grant & Sons, Hendrick's is not a London Dry Gin; two of its botanical flavours are added after the distillation process, and as such, can only legally be called a “distilled gin”. These two botanicals are rose and cucumber.
Gin is made from juniper berries. And juniper berries are not actually berries, but female seed cone (read pinecones). THIS IS WHY IT TASTES LIKE CHRISTMAS TREES, which (in our opinion) is a very good thing.
5 of the Best Brands of Affordable Gin
- 01 of 05. Gordon's London Dry Gin. Diageo. Gordon's is a go-to value gin.
- 02 of 05. Seagram's Extra Dry Gin. ismaellabrador / Pixabay.
- 03 of 05. Burnett's London Dry Gin. Heaven Hill Brands.
- 04 of 05. New Amsterdam Gin. New Amsterdam Spirits.
- 05 of 05. Booth's London Dry Gin. Sazerac Company.
The 5 best gins to drink neat
- Tanqueray Dry London Gin.
- Eden Mill Love Gin.
- The Botanist Islay Dry Gin.
- Death's Door American Gin.
- Brockmans Gin.
Why you should always keep gin in the fridge. "If you don't have any ice about, keeping your gin in the fridge, or putting it in the fridge before serving, will keep it nice and chilled," she said. "Gin won't freeze, given that it's ABV (alcohol by volume) is 37.5%. So storing it in the freezer is absolutely fine."
The best gins to buy
- Ramsbury Single Estate Gin: Our favourite classic gin.
- Bloom Gin: The ideal easy-drinking gin.
- LoneWolf Cloudy Lemon Gin: Best lemon gin.
- Gin Mare: Best Mediterranean-style gin.
- Penrhos Apple and Elderflower Gin: A beautifully sweet and summery gin.
There's a New Strongest Gin in the World, and It's 165 Proof
There's a new strongest gin in the world, and it will melt your face. Smögen, a Swedish distillery, now has a London Dry gin that's 165 proof called Strane Ultra Uncut. That's 82.5 percent ABV, or 12.5 percent higher than many rubbing alcohols.Plymouth is ideal served with tonic over ice and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Alternatively savour its smooth taste in, amongst other wonderful cocktails, the Fraise Sauvage cocktail featured in the Detroit News newspaper - a more terrific variation of champagne with fresh strawberries.
Bombay Sapphire is a London Dry gin, but that's not a regional designation (like Bordeaux or Scotch whisky). It's a style — specifically, a dry style of gin that doesn't use any artificial ingredients. Instead, distillers balance piney juniper notes with a dealer's choice of botanicals and spices.
The 10 Best Gins for Your Gin & Tonic
- For a Classic Gin and Tonic: Tanqueray ($26)
- For a Powerful Gin and Tonic: Sipsmith V.J.O.P.
- For a Light Gin and Tonic: Plymouth ($32)
- For a Budget-Friendly Gin and Tonic: Gordon's ($19)
- For a Complex Gin and Tonic: Hendrick's ($33)
- For an All-American Gin and Tonic: FEW ($37)
The oldest British gin distillery still operating in its original location, Plymouth Gin is a titan in the drinks world and worthy of the continued affection held by many gin fans. If you haven't ever tried it, we'd urge you to pick a bottle or two up.
