Rant/Rave: Bourbon

[thrill]

I'd rather drink gin than whiskey.

I'd rather drink a gin cocktail than whiskey, but I'd rather drink whiskey than gin neat.

Considering the only cocktail I drink is a martini, I agree with this whole-heartedly.


While I've tried many gins, I really don't think there's much of a reason to drink anything other than Plymouth. Which I say very much knowing that I'm probably wrong but don't care.

[JackofDiamonds]

How do you like your martinis? Do you have a particular vermouth preference?

[thrill]

How do you like your martinis? Do you have a particular vermouth preference?

Brand? No. My only preference is very little. I like a gin that has been stirred in a [expletive] load of ice with the smallest dash of vermouth possible and a sparked twist. The lemon preferably stolen from my neighbor's tree under cover of darkness. Very fresh and oily. I have a big bottle of Noilly Prat that i've been using for like 6 months now.

[JackofDiamonds]

If you're drinking a dry martini, you have some room to play around with some interesting gins. I don't know the distribution in the midwest that well, thirds can cover that, but I would venture beyond Plymouth. Their quality has tapered significantly since selling to the Absolut Vodka group in 2005 and then to Pernod Ricard in 2008.

If it's available, I think you'd Mayfair's London Dry gin (3oz for a martini) with a 1/4oz of dolin blanc. Also, Uncle Val's gin would go great with that sparked twist, no vermouth.

[thrill]

I don't know the distribution in the midwest

I live in Phoenix. I'll try some out.

[JackofDiamonds]

I don't know the distribution in the midwest

I live in Phoenix.

Ha, I knew that. I don't know Phoenix either, so there's that.

[33anda3rd]

Any gins you'd recommend?

I love gin. Depends on what you're looking for in a gin, though I think of gin as the quintessential cocktail spirit. While there are great cocktails that include whiskeys & tequilas, I wouldn't bat an eye drinking those straight either. Gin is best expressed with other ingredients, as the botanicals (herbs/spices) come alive when mixed. All gins use juniper, but after that, they can go in all kinds of directions: sloe gin, old tom gin, dry gin, particularly botanical gins, etc. etc.

So if I'm recommending a gin (even for something as simple as a G&T), I want to get an idea of what kind of gin you usually like.

For me:

Best G&T gin- St. George's Terroir (Super piney/botanical)
Best Martini/Vesper- Big Gin/Voyager (Balanced dry gins)
Best Martinez Gin - Hayman's or Ransom's Old Tom (Not too sweet, blends well with the vermouth)
Best Negroni - Uncle Val's (very citrusy)

I typically stay away from Bombay & Tanqueray and try to use smaller distilleries. I have 6 gins in my house and 14 at the bar, and each of them are unique enough to be easily distinguishable.

I endorse this in full, and I love that you've mentioned Captive's Big Gin, one that I always have on my back bar and not a lot of people outside bartenders use--but when bartenders come in, they go, 'oh, and can you make it with Big?'

The Martinez is probably my favorite cocktail. I like mine with Hayman's for the gin (2oz), Antica (.5oz), Luxardo Maraschino (a heavy 1/2oz) and equal parts Regan's #6 and Fee Bros Orange (a dash each.) I also like, sometimes, to reverse it and go 2oz Antica/0.5oz Old Tom, but then I'm a sucker for Antica.

PM me when you're in Chicago and we can meet up at my pal Danny's place. Frankly, if you're a gin lover, it's worth booking a trip here just to drink there for a few nights, and it alone is reason enough for the slideshow that link takes you to.

While I've tried many gins, I really don't think there's much of a reason to drink anything other than Plymouth. Which I say very much knowing that I'm probably wrong but don't care.

You might like Ford's. It has a similar citrus/juniper-y thing going on.

-----

I've been digging Death's Door a lot lately. I really like their liberal use of fennel in the grain bill, and the cooling effect it has on the end.

Two James from Detroit is a freaking amazing new entry. They're not doing the whole "we don't make dry gin" thing that most craft brands are doing, they're going after a classic London dry and they are absolutely NAILING it. Big juniper nose and flavor, just brought into balance by the rest of the botanicals. Of all the American craft gins out there, this could be my favorite.

[jim]

Will Bourbon make me feel any better about Yadi?

[Secret Weapon]

[hoerr]

This is a call to any and all TRUE Cards fans and bourbon fans. I grew up in Central Illinois...

I grew up with a grandfather who lived with us listening to Cards games on AM radio in the 80s. He would set up his folding chair and tv tray with the AM radio antennae extended every game. Even though I could watch the game on TV. Motion picture made it uninteresting for grandad. I was privileged enough to go to a few games at old Busch with my family, but once my grandfather got really sick and passed away baseball all but died in my family.

A few years later (mid-80s) I made more and more friends, one of whom was was Ryan and his dad was a huge Cards fan, Jerry, my buddy Ryan's dad drank Beam and Coke like a religion. He suddenly and unexpectedly passed in 2009. Since then we drink Beam and Coke EVERY meaningful Cards game.

Jerry's drink was Beam and Coke. We literally drink Beam and Coke every Cards Post Season game just because. Ive had 4 tonight. The 3rd was the end of the game and the 4th is my celebratory beverage with Jerry!