Favorite Gin
 

On the "favorite vodka" thread I (only half tongue in cheek) listed mine as: GIN.

I was surprised that no one ran with it and started posting their favorite gins, so let's see if the gin fans come out of the woodwork with a thread of their own.

Sadly, once it's no longer current, this thread may be buried forever, because GIN is too short a word to search for! We'll just have to keep it alive by adding new discoveries on a regular basis. I, for one, volunteer to do the research.;)

Here, then, are my current faves:

In a G&T: Hendricks, with a splash of fresh grapefruit juice (Hendricks is also great in cucumber cocktails I've had at A Cote in Oakland, CA).

In a Martini w/ a twist: Old Raj (Cesar in Oakland and Berkeley calls this a Cortoni)

In a Martini w/ olives at a bar you don't trust (AKA: airport or hotel bar): Sapphire

Icky in many circumstances because it's so damned floral, but GREAT in an Elderflower Martini (girly drink warning): Tanqueray 10

It's only made in small quantities and hard to find even in its supposed distribution area, but my first choice would be Dogfish Head Jin, (that's a deliberate misspelling by the folks at Dogfish Head) made at a small distillery in Delaware.

Of the readily available gins, I'd probably make Bombay Sapphire my first choice.

Tanqueray Malacca. Loved the whole concept--the very old recipe, the sense of adventure, the charming bottle, and most of all, the gin. Very refreshing with club soda and lime--the perfect summer drink. Made a great martini, too. Very floral. Thanks for the thread, and the memories.

Probably Sapphire, but Sir Robert Burnett's, synthesized in the
Baltimore area and likely the cheapest gin you will ever buy,
is pleasant. Carol prefers Plymouth, though I've turned her on
to Burnett's as well.

I like Tangueray Ten

That was my father's favorite. He kept it in the freezer for drinking straight (I still have a half bottle in my freezer!). After it was discontinued, I found a case at Corti Bros. in Sacramento and had it UPS'd to him as a birthday present.

I have a vague memory of a mention of a possible reissue. Think it was in a press release announcing plans for new styles, including Tanqueray Rangpur. Cross your fingers!

Anchor Distillery Junipero

Boodles has always been my gin of choice.

fduvall

Me too ^

Without doubt it has to be Gordon's.
However,I'm partial to a Cork Dry Gin too.

It was a big shock when they discontinued Malacca, which made an extra-refreshing G&T. Was that only in the US or everywhere? I'll have to ask at my former source if they have any word of a reintroduction.

I enjoy North Shore Gin, made in the Chicago area, but its tough to find.

For an always available gin, it would have to be Bombay Sapphire, or Plymouth.

Have both Hendricks and Sapphire in the house right now.

Hendricks is my preferred choice - but I dont always have a cucumber around the house, so I end up drinking the sapphire more frequently.

Gordons and Schwepps. ^

bombay

Burnett is in a green plastic bottle right? If it is the one I am thinking of, one day in the liquor store I asked the fellow there what he bought..

He said he liked all the name brands; sapphire, tagueray, etc. He then reached over and told me to try this one. I was hesitant as it was in a plastic green bottle , however I bought it and I have been buying it every since. Great taste for the money

What qualities do you like in your favourite gin? I'm interested in whether you use the same gin in all drinks or sometimes prefer one for particular cocktails.

Have you tried a couple of your favourite drinks back-to-back with different gin? (All in the name of food science ;)).

I'd buy Gordon's or similar but don't understand the differences at the moment.

Beefeater is still my favorite with Hendrick's as a runner-up.

Bobette

People in the mixologist trade are probably better-positioned to advise on different gins and drinks. Anyone care to comment on gins in cocktails, rather than G&Ts?

I'm in the SK lounge in OSL finding this timely thread as I'm sipping a Beefeater G&T with a slice of lemon on my way to DUB :)

I normally buy Tanqueray, and I guess I'm one of the few people that don't favour Bombay Sapphire...

Another vote for Schwepps.

I agree with the Dogfish. It's a Deleware micro brew pub with two or three locations in DE and one in Maryland about 3 miles from my house. They have some awesome beers (the Midas Touch and 90 minute IPA are great). They also distill their own Gin & Vodka. A bold move for a beer maker. The Gin is suprisingly good. They fall short on their Vodka but hey, as Meatloaf said "Baby two outta three ain't bad".

Bombay (regular) is very good.
Hendricks is very good
Sapphire is what I like over a few rocks, with a twist - I prefer regular Bombay in a mixed drink
Tanqueray (regular) reminds me of what jet fuel would taste like if I had tasted jet fuel
Tanqueray Ten isn't awful, but I've had better bar well gin.

Tanqueray

Plymouth is a great all-purpose gin - works great in just about everything. We keep in in the house for mixed drinks and traditional martinis. We also keep a bottle of my personal favorite - Hendricks - but as others have mentioned, it's a million times better if you have some fresh cucumber to use as garnish, etc. My Friday night drink is a Hendricks martini with a couple of thin slices of cucumber rather than olive or twist.

I'll vote Tanqueray for now but will try to come up with a good alternative, in the next few weeks, purely by taste rather than marketing placement. ^

Hendricks in a G+T, with Q tonic, and a slice of lemon or lime (depending on the mood).

Sapphire in a martini, straight up, nice and dry.

I don't sip gin or most any white spirit (except for the finest American tax-free whiskey), so no comment there.

Cheers,

-Andrew

Citadel Gin, made in France, very herbal, outstanding and not expensive.

After 15 months, you beat me to my answer by less than 15 minutes! Citadel makes an excellent martini with a twist.

Tanqueray Ten is an indulgent, but delicious, G&T, so I usually just use the regular stuff (been enjoying a lot of those this month...just been in the mood).

I've heard a lot about Hendrick's recently, so maybe I'll try that next time I'm up for experimenting.

Beefeater Crown Jewel!

Tried this for the first time yesterday at the beautiful Coburg Bar at the Connaught. I'm normally a tall G&T guy but this was so good, I drank most of both of mine on the rocks! ^

Tanqueray 10 followed by Sapphire.

#1 Sapphire
#2 Van Gough

Hendrick's
Tanq 10

that's all i need :)

I would like to have now a Sapphire + Gin or a Bombay Crushed Cocktail :D

Went to a shop that had a blind gin tasting and my preferences turned out to be Plymouth and Tanqueray.

Plymouth.

Plymouth is my favorite as well. I try to stay away from Tanqueray.

I am surprised that no one mentioned Boodles, which is quite good.

Lastly, gin on the rocks is underrated.

my vote is for Plymouth, it makes a great Martini, it seems to be light on the botanicals

Since Plymouth is on a roll..... me too!

Just a shame that WLG duty free stopped stocking it a while back

Jeff

Gordon's is very good for cocktails since it is inexpanisive and has a mild taste.

Still my favorite is Beefeater.

I don't get the Bombay Sapphire hype. I think it has a too strong flavour.