Wired Gin

Review: Junipero Gin

20 July 2010 – 9:41 am
Writing a review of Junipero Gin is like writing a review of the sun. There's not much to say.  Junipero Gin is the ultimate gin, illuminating the cocktail scene with a brilliant touchstone that all modern gins must be measured against. Drink it, and you'll know what gin is.  And what vodka isn't. Let's start with the basics: this gin is not subtle. It has been described by some as a punch in the gut. But, it is far more than that. It is no less than the American attack on London Dry Gin, combining the foundation of juniper with the enthusiasm and creativity of the New World. Yum.  The nose is subtle, hinting at juniper but mixing botanicals into a spicy blur that is simply enchanting. This gin brings you back to the days of Winston Churchill, who made his martinis by simply pouring gin into a glass and glancing ...

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Licorice: For Gin and a Million Other Things

9 June 2010 – 11:19 pm
Most of the botanicals used in flavoring gin are also used in herbal medicines, teas and even cosmetics. Licorice root is used for a variety of products and processes that range from curing a wide variety of ailments to enhancing tobacco. Cough medicine is one of the first everyday products that comes to mind, right after jellybeans, of course. Licorice is also used in cooking, soft drink production and the making of spirits and liqueurs. The pulp leftover after the liquid is extracted can even been used to make boxes. The licorice plant is a member of the legume family, meaning it is closer to lima beans than jellybeans as most candies that taste like licorice these days are flavored with anise rather than licorice. It is the root of the plant that is used; the liquid is extracted from the pulpy root and boiled down to a thick, syrupy consistency or ...

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The Best Tonic Water Recipe

4 June 2010 – 9:46 pm
It's nearly summer - and Gin & Tonic season! So, why not make your own tonic water? The Gin & Tonic has probably has the richest history of any gin beverage. Tonic water's history in Europe dates back to the 1600's, but it has been in use far longer by the Quechua Indians of Peru. The unique flavor of tonic water comes from quinine, which the Indians derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, or "quina".  It has been used as medicinal "tonic" to relieve the symptoms of malaria and alleviate shivering in cold temperatures. Some believe it can help restless leg syndrome, leg cramps and other problems because it acts as a muscle relaxant. Today's commercial tonic water is only a distant, sweet "lite" version of the original. In the United States, this quinine-less flavor arises from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits for tonic water content to be less than ...

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CapRock Organic Gin Review

17 April 2010 – 2:43 am
CapRock Organic Dry Gin is described by Peak Spirits as "a unique blend of fruits, buds, seeds, and spices infused and distilled in a base spirit made with organic Jonathon and Braeburn apples."  It sounds like the perfect gin for cool autumn nights. And it is. Their tagline, "Not your grandmother's gin" is an understatement to say the least. Some describe the aroma as "watermelon Jolly Ranchers", but far more depth comes from CapRock's fruity aroma. It would be candy if it wasn't so luscious - and, of course, alchoholic. Peak Spirits doesn't use common shortcuts like concentrates and flavor oils, but rather integrates ingredients like fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice for components like citrus flavor. The result is richer than the average gin, but somewhat lacking in juniper for my tastes. Nevertheless, the bracing distilled fruit flavor makes up for it. As we head into summer, that means CapRock is a great ...

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Let’s Face It, Gin Contains Juniper

9 April 2010 – 1:27 am
In the recent article Gin Time, Cheers Magazine reports on the increasing popularity of gin, attributing it to a combination of classic cocktails and the rise of New Western gins like Bluecoat, Beefeater 24 and Aviation.  They have it half right. Classic cocktails are the foundation of gin's rise in popularity. Interest in all the classics like the Negroni, Pimms Cup and, of course the martini, have all contributed to gin's recent popularity. However, excellent cocktails demand a flavorful gin, and the focus on New Western gins is misguided. A martini without the woodsy elegance of juniper is disappointing at the least, and evolves into flavored vodka at the worst. Juniper defines gin. Distillers can play with the botanicals around the juniper to create innovative new gins. However, the less juniper you have, the less gin you have. New Western gins can function as "starter gins" for the fearful. However, gin needs juniper and, as ...

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Juniper, Gin’s Namesake

30 March 2010 – 9:13 am
That distinctive smell that permeates the air when a fresh bottle of gin is opened is the signature scent of juniper. Some gins like Junipero are flavored with only juniper and a lot of it, others balance it with as many as 18 or 20 other botanicals and some add so much of another flavor the juniper has to fight for its rightful place as the star of the show. It is a battle juniper must win, or else the spirit cannot rightfully be called gin. Gin even gets its name from the juniper berry; it is the shortened version of the French “genievre.” Juniper is not a cultivated crop. The plants grow wild and the people who harvest the berries pick by hand and throw the berries in a sack. It takes berries from more than one supplier to make up the amount a big distillery needs. Luckily, a little ...

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Gin Quotes

12 September 2009 – 9:05 am
The proper union of gin and vermouth is a great and sudden glory; it is one of the happiest marriages on earth, and one of the shortest lived. -DeVoto, Bernard In Harper's Magazine, Dec. Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. -Epstein,JuliusJ Humphrey Bogart as Rick in Casablanca (with Philip G Epstein and Howard Koch). And the sooner the tea's out of the way, the sooner we can get out the gin, eh? -Reed, Henry The Private Life of HildaTablet, radio play. Gin by pailfuls, wine in rivers, Dash the window-glass to shivers! For three wild lads were we, brave boys, And three wild lads were we; Thou on the land, and I on the sand, And Jack on the gallows-tree! -Scott, Sir Walter Guy Mannering, ch.34. Gin was mother's milk to her. -Shaw, George Bernard Eliza, speaking of herAunt. Pygmalion, act 3. Gin's rich history and cultural impact has graced us with many memorable ...

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Upside-Down Martini

10 September 2009 – 3:43 am
Two big events last month bring the Upside-Down martini (aka Reverse Martini) front and center these days. First, the last month's release of the movie Julie and Julia showcases the cocktail's creator and advocate, Julia Child.  I've always appreciated the fact that she attributed her longevity to "red meat and gin".  Despite her perceived benefits of gin, vermouth was a far more popular ingredient in her recipes. The Upside Down Martini - with far more vermouth than gin - is naturally her cocktail of choice. As the New York Times recently noted, the other big event is that Julia's favorite vermouth, Noilly Prat, are returned to selling its original European recipe in the United States. The availability of this arguably richer vermouth means that we can now easily enjoy an Upside-Down Martini in the original form that Julia enjoyed. The recipe is quite simply: 5 parts dry vermouth (Noilly Prat is ideal) 1 part ...

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Review: Greylock Gin

18 July 2009 – 10:56 am
Gin may have been invented in Holland (well, jenever or genever at least), but England created the sensation across its empire. So, it's only natural that botique gins have emerged in Massachusetts, USA. It may be the home of the American Revolution and the "cradle of liberty", but the names of towns and cities bear the mark of the British Empire: Boston, Harwich, Gloucester, Hingham, Cheshire, Acton, Cambridge, Chatham, Chesterfield, Waltham and so on. Massachusetts is also one of the few places in the United States where sales of imported gins exceed those of domestic gins. With this sophisticated palate and deep British foundations, it's no surprise that Greylock Gin balances tradition with rebellion. Coming from the heart of the Berkshire Mountains, the stylish bottle belies the rural upbringing of this gin. A glance at the bottle evokes a martini at the Ritz, but a look at the map for Berkshire Mountain ...

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Review: Broker’s Gin

7 April 2009 – 4:04 am
Broker’s Gin comes to you with personality. It stands out on your local retailer’s shelf with a clever little black hat on top. The hat screams out “try me – I’m not like all those bare-headed gins!” What other gin takes such fashion risk? Nevertheless, Broker’s Gin is a vintage gin in every way. Made at a distillery near London in a copper still, it is everything a gin needs to be. The time-honored juniper basis has been skillfully blended with traditional botanicals of coriander, orris root, nutmeg, cassia bark, cinnamon, licorice, orange & lemon peel and angelica root to produce a quality product from classic ingredients. They even claim that the water comes from an underground stream beneath the distillery. As for cocktails, this gin is perfect for traditional fare. The mouth feel is heavy - some describe it as oily.  The juniper-forward yet friendly flavor makes for a great martini and ...

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