Gin has become a hugely popular spirit in recent years – it’s no longer the exclusive preserve of ladies of a certain age! But what’s the best way to drink it? If you’re trying gin for the first time, or you want to experiment with something new, today’s blog post features suggestions for the best combinations for enjoying your gin.
Gin lends itself well to co*cktails due to its dry, herbal, refreshing taste. It’s not too sugary, so when mixed with sweet fruit juices it creates a co*cktail which is balanced rather than overwhelmingly sickly. This is particularly true nowadays as most gin drunk is London style – that’s a drier, more citrusy style of gin which came back into fashion during the 1960s. As co*cktail tastes have changed over recent years, away from very sweet, fruity flavours and towards more dry, subtle flavours, gin has become a favourite ingredient among both bartenders and drinkers.
1. Gin & Tonic
The legendary combination of gin and tonic water has been delighting drinkers since the 1700s, when it was invented by British colonialists in India. Malaria posed a major health threat in this region, so doctors often prescribed quinine – a liquid that acts as an antimalarial. But quinine had a bitter, unpleasant taste, so people took to mixing it with gin, sugar, lime, and water to improve its flavour. And thus tonic water (made of water, quinine, and sugar) was born, paired with delicious gin.
Over 300 years later, G&T is still a hugely popular drink. It has remained largely unchanged since its inception, other than the use of pre-mixed tonic water which was first manufactured in the 1850s. One big debate exists among G&T fans, however, regarding the best garnish for the drink. Some drinkers prefer a lemon slice to a lime slice, or, as we are about to discuss, you can use cucumber. On rare occasions you might even find an orange slice garnish in your G&T.
2. Gin & Cucumber
Gin and cucumber is one of the all-time classic drinks combinations. But why does it work so well? The matching of a botanical spirit to a watery vegetable might seem counter-intuitive, but it makes for a delicious combination.
Cucumber is uniquely well suited to combining with gin, as it highlights the botanical flavours of juniper, pepper, or citrus. You can even find brands of Gin like Hendrick’s which add cucumber after their distillation to strengthen the unique flavour. So naturally, you can spice up your G&T by garnishing it with a slice of two of cucumber instead of the traditional lemon or lime slice.
But you’re not limited to just G&Ts! Gin and cucumber can be combined in all sorts of ways. For a refreshing summer treat, try out these cucumber ginger gin popsicles.
3. A Fruit Cup
A fruit cup is an absolute British classic; typically a gin-based fruit concoction which is intended to be made into a long drink by the addition of a mixer like lemonade or ginger ale. The most common brand of fruit cup is Pimms, you can’t get more iconic than Pimms and lemonade. Made from gin and fruit, Pimms is prepared with chopped oranges, cucumber, borage flowers, and mint, for a light, refreshing summer drink. The gin gives it a sharp, botanical note which matches well with the sweet fruit.
4. Gin Martini
As we recently discussed in our James Bond drinks post, a martini made of gin, vermouth, and an olive or lemon garnish is a truly classic co*cktail. There are variations on the form – a traditional dry martini is made with dry white vermouth for less sweetness, while for those who prefer a hint more sweetness, a perfect martini uses equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth. Finally, a dirty martini includes a splash of olive brine for a saltier, more savoury taste.
5. Drinking Gin Straight
Of course, you can always drink your gin straight. Some people will even tell you that it’s the best way to enjoy gin. 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. A good quality gin like Tanqueray has a sweet, floral flavour which is delicious just as it is. Or there’s Gin Mare which is herby and smooth with notes of olive oil, which makes for the perfect sipping experience.
We hope this helps you to go out and enjoy your gin!
