Let’s go with the “ingredients” for a good Gin Tonic

Glass

A balloon cup is essential. We must discard the tube glasses! In a balloon glass, the gin aromas stand out with the tonic and are perceived much better. The thinner the glass, the more it will highlight the palate and the view.

Tonic

Premium tonic waters are usually the ones that best complement gin. Of course, they’re usually more expensive too. The point of these tonic waters is that they do not “kill” the gin, but that they are able to enhance the best attributes of each one. Obviously, there are some tonics that combine better with certain gins, but that will require another post to talk exclusively about it.

Some of the premium tonics: Indian Fever Tree, Fentimans Tonic Water, Q Tonic, Boylan Tonic.

Gin

There is a wide range of Gins, but let’s highlight some of different countries:

• Citadelle from France, with 4 distillations that take up the formula of the oldest gin in France, made in 1771 in the city of Dunkirk.
• Hendrick’s from England, which is made with a subtle infusion of high quality wheat alcohol and 8 botanical plants. Many say it’s the Rolls of gin.
• Imagin from Sweden, bluish blue in colour, flavoured with 13 botanical plants and stylish packaging.
• Blackwood’s Strong from Scotland, whose ingredients are harvested by handcrafted farmers from a sustainable agriculture program designed by the prestigious Orkney Agronomy College.
• Gin Mare from Spain, created with selected botanical ingredients in Mediterranean areas of the highest quality.
• Topfergeist Peket from Belgium, of great freshness and finesse and that has the peculiarity that the bottle is of mud.
• Doornkaat from Germany, which reflects the German style of making gin with delicate and subtle flavors.
• Zuidam from Holland, the country that invented gin. It is an exceptionally pure gin, with 5 distillations for the basic brandy and then each of the aromatics is distilled separately before final blending.
• Blue Vintage from Austria, little known but of good quality.
• Junipero from the United States, which owes its name to the fact that the predominant flavor and aroma of a modern gin always comes from juniper (Juniperus communis).

Citrus and botanicals

Careful! Add only the citrus peel that you will use (preferably lime, although lemon can be used). Besides, this should be as fresh as it gets.

Botanicals are optional, and will not always go well with all the gins and their tonics. As a general rule, each gin will have its favorite botanicals that will enhance the flavor of it. But this topic requires an individual post for each gin that we deal with.

Elaboration

• Serve 5 or 6 ice cubes very cold (seems redundant!) in the glass and move them to cool it.
• Then serve the gin, about 1/4 part, at a certain distance from the glass to oxygenate ir.
• Then cut a large slice of the citrus peel and squeeze gently over the ice. Discard this piece and cut another to add it in the glass.
• Stir gently so that the gin is impregnated with the perfume and with the peel we have added.
• Next, serve the tonic water very slowly on the ice to avoid losing the bubble, that is, you have to tilt the glass a little when the tonic is served.
• And we already have our Gin & Tonic perfectly prepared!

Tips

• It is essential that both gin and tonic are very cold, so the tonic should be in the fridge, and most experts recommend that the gin be stored in the freezer, so that when it is taken, the ice does not melt so easily and gin-tonic retains its qualities.
• Never add squeezed lemon as it kills the carbonic gas in the tonic water and, of course, never wear out the tonic before serving it.

Don’t forget that you can buy all these gins and many more at INVINIC.

La entrada How to prepare the perfect Gin Tonic? se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

What is Gin Mare?

OK, let’s establish a few basics. Gin Mare is a premium Spanish gin, produced in Vilanova, a little fishing village not far from Barcelona. It is the creation of the Ribot family, whose ancestors had been in the booze business since 1835. It is produced in a custom-made pot still from premium barley, infused with botanicals ranging from the tradition to the esoteric.

Gin Mare is very much a product of its environment. The botanicals used here include many regional specialities, some grown on the Ribot family’s own land. The key ingredient is the Arbequina olive, and it’s supported by a range of citrus including sweet Seville oranges, bitter Valencia oranges and Lleida lemons. This is Mediterranean through and through.

Botanicals grown by the Ribots include basil, thyme, rosemary and juniper.

Tasting Gin Mare

Neutral, this is not. Far from it, in fact. Gin Mare is a highly distinctive gin, full of local character and proudly representing the lands from whence it has come.

Aromatically, Gin Mare shows some olive character, though perhaps slightly less than you might expect. The Arbequina olive is exceptionally low-yielding when juiced, so even when large quantities are used, other botanicals can become more prominent. In this case, the nose is predominantly herbal, with juniper, thyme and basil coming to the fore.

On the palate, Gin Mare shows that herbaceousness, a little Mediterranean olive and a largely savoury character.

How to drink Gin Mare

Gin Mare Gin & Tonic

A classic, and with good reason. There really is nothing quite like a good G&T, and it all comes down to the ingredients. Get yourself a quality tonic water, like Fever Tree Indian, and you really can’t go wrong.

Ingredients:

• One part Gin Mare
• Two parts tonic water
• Lime or cucumber
• Ice cubes

What to do:

• Fill a glass with ice cubes
• Add one part Gin Mare to two parts tonic water
• Garnish with a wedge of lime or cucumber
• Enjoy

Gin Mare & Honey

Sounds simple, because it is. This one is all about contrasts. Gin Mare has that savoury thing going on, and this one plays to that with a counterbalance of natural sweetness from the honey. Source yourself the best honey you can and thank yourself later.

Ingredients:

• 10 parts Gin Mare
• 2 parts honey
• 1 part water
• Ice cubes

What to do:

• Stir the honey and water together to make a syrup
• Pour this into a cocktail shaker and add the gin and ice cubes
• Shake well and pour through a strainer into a cocktail glass
• Enjoy that sweet and savoury contrast!

[cta_generico id=2598]

La entrada Why you’ve got to try Gin Mare…and how! se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

That’s where Xoriguer gin comes in!

What is Xoriguer gin?

This Spanish gin is not new, and makes no claim to be a craft gin or artisanal gin. No, this is comes from Mahon in Menorca, and it has something of a cult following. Known for its distinctively old-fashioned bottle, Xoriguer is a firm favourite amongst gin lovers throughout the world. What makes Xoriguer gin so special? Let’s take a look.

The history of Xoriguer gin

Understanding the appeal of Xoriguer gin involves a little history lesson. Back in the 18th century, the island of Menorca was owned by Great Britain. British sailors would routinely land in Menorca and visit local taverns. As gin was their drink of choice back home, they looked for gin in Menorca. Invariably, there was none to be found. 

The enterprising locals decided to answer this new demand by producing gin in Menorca, and Xoriguer was one of the original brands to emerge.

Making Xoriguer gin

Xoriguer gin is today produced to the same secret recipe as it has been since the beginning. It’s seriously old-fashioned stuff, and makes for a quality gin. It belongs to the Gin de Mahón geographical indication (GI). This is a legally protected designation of origin, which represents the unique place from which it comes and must follow strict protocols to ensure quality and tradition are respected. Geographical indications of this kind are more often found in the world of wine than spirits.

The base spirit is wine distilled in traditional copper stills, fuelled by burning wood. Its botanicals include juniper berries and herbs, sourced from the rich mountains nearby. The botanicals give the gin a distinctive aroma, though precisely which herbs are used is a closely-guarded secret.

Tasting Xoriguer gin: What to expect?

The aromatics are complex, but juniper is undoubtedly the star of the show. There is a lot of strong juniper action on the nose, but behind it you’ve also got some citrus fruits, herbal notes and pine resin. On the palate, Xoriguer is a thick, dense and smooth gin with an almost creamy mouthfeel, and some notes of pine and herb. It’s very dry and has a nice, lingering finish.

How to drink Xoriguer gin?

Its smooth flavour mean that you can easily drink Xoriguer gin by itself, no problem. Its distinctive aromatics make it an ideal addition to many cocktails, and most self-respecting mixologists will have Xoriguer or another Gin de Mahón in their toolkit.

The simplest and most enjoyable cocktail is an old fashioned gin and tonic. Grab your favourite tonic water, a healthy amount of Xoriguer gin, and enjoy!

Buy Xoriguer gin here.

[cta_generico id=2598]

La entrada Why you’ve got to try Xoriguer gin se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

What is Six O’Clock Gin?

Six O’Clock Gin is an award-winning English gin produced by Bramley & Gage in Gloucestershire. The gin hit the market in 2010, though its origins go further back. The Six O’Clock Gin recipe is in fact adapted from an old recipe developed by the company’s Master Distiller, Edward Kain. Since 2010, Six O’Clock Gin has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the UK’s top gins.

How is Six O’Clock Gin made?

Naturally, exact recipes and methods are kept under wraps in the competitive craft gin industry. We do know that Six O’Clock Gin is produced using a customised copper still with a double sphere head. The gin uses a mixture of botanicals, with juniper the most prominent. Besides juniper, you’ve also got coriander, orange peel and elderflower, among others.

What does Six O’Clock Gin taste like?

In a word: Smooth! This is a seriously smooth and elegant gin, with a very clean flavour profile. The botanicals contribute to the flavour, with juniper coming to the forefront, though it in a very subtle and refined way. Neither the botanicals nor the 43% alcohol overpower the tasting experience. Gin lovers will find a lot to like here, and even Gin newbies will appreciate the accessible, easy-drinking style.

How should you drink Six O’Clock Gin?

As with anything when it comes to booze, that’s up to you. If you want to drink your Six O’Clock Gin straight, go right ahead. If ice is your thing, throw a few cubes in there. Make whatever cocktails you like. We won’t stop you.

If you’re looking for a recommendation, though…

The Six O’Clock Gin & Tonic

There’s nothing quite like a G&T. It’s a classic, simple and timeless drink, but it all comes down to the quality of your ingredients. Six O’Clock Gin is a great gin, so there’s no sense in serving with any old tonic water. Luckily, you don’t have to. The team at Bramley & Gage are just as enthusiastic about tonic as they are about gin, so they’ve got us covered.

• Six O’Clock Tonic Water is made from natural ingredients including quinine and lemon and lime extracts. You won’t find any artificial ingredients or sweeteners in here. It’s all natural.

It should be no surprise that Six O’Clock Tonic Water is the perfect match with Six O’Clock Gin – they’re quite literally made for each other! For a perfect G&T, these are the only two ingredients you’ll need. Cheers!

Buy Six O’Clock Gin here.

Buy Six O’Clock Tonic Water here.

Want to find out more about gin? Download our free ebook, The Gin Guide!

[cta_generico id=2598]

La entrada What the bloody hell is Six O’Clock Gin? se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

The Botanicals in Mombasa Gin:

All gins are flavoured with a mixture of herbs, spices and fruit. What makes each gin different is its particular blend, and Mombasa Gin contains:

• Juniper berries
• Clove
• Cassia bark
• Cumin
• Coriander seeds
• Angelica root

Of course, the dominant flavour is juniper berries, as with all gin. Yet this is a spicy blend, with some citrus aromas and a peppery taste. Like all the best gins, this bottle bears the legend ‘Distilled in London’. That means that it is not ‘cold compressed’, but instead the botanicals are well infused into the base spirit. The drink has length.

The History of the Mombasa Club

Zanzibar had been ruled by the Portuguese, Arabians and later, the British. As a sign of growing influence in the area, the Mombasa Club was founded in 1885. That means gin invaded Eastern Africa a full five years before the British officially turned up with their warships and declared Zanzibar a Protectorate.
The city was a trading post. That meant the East India Company was inevitably involved in the area, and its agents had to live there. With so much money flowing around, the club members were able to have their own gin blended for their taste. It was distilled in London, and diluted to drinking strength in Spain, as the ships sailed round the world to the colony.

How to Make a Good G&T with Mombasa Gin

There’s a good formula for making the perfect G&T. The greater the alcohol, the more tonic you need to add. As Mombasa Gin is 41.5% ABV, 50ml of the stuff needs 98ml of tonic. Remember to serve with lots of ice and a slice of lemon, with the tonic refrigerated . Keeping the drink cool means the bubbles last longer, and the bubbles are what delivers so much of the aroma, with is actually where most of a gin’s flavour comes from. For an expert’s guide on making a really great G&T, read ‘The 5 Most Common Mistakes When Making a Gin and Tonic’.

What Else to Serve at Cocktail o’Clock:

While the classic cocktail for gin is the G&T, there are several others you might want to try with this blend. Remember that most cocktails were developed in the 1920s to hide the foul taste of strong, badly made alcohol, and while that doesn’t apply to Mombasa Gin, not everyone in your circle will appreciate its bitter taste. Here’s a few ideas for changing the flavour profile if you’re entertaining guests with a different palette:

• Gimlet. The classic Gimlet is half gin and half sweetened lime juice, with a slice of lime to garnish. Sweet and fruity, it hits the spot every time.
• Singapore Sling. Not only is this refreshingly sweet, it’s also the perfect name for slurring. The Singapore Sling is a seriously strong drink, which is very hard to say after you’ve had one, but it is fruity. Just don’t tell your doctor that this is how you get your ‘5 a Day’ of fruit and veg.
• Pink Gin. Allegedly, the United Kingdom’s Queen Mother loved a pink gin. It’s very simple to make, with a just a dash of Angostura bitters, this is for bitter flavour lovers who want something a little more out of the ordinary.

Further Drinking:

The great thing about gin is that it feels like a really tasty home science project. You can endlessly experiment with different tonics, botanicals, base spirits, garnishes and even glasses. Learn how different botanicals result in differently flavoured gin in ‘Botanicals Complete Our Gin and Tonic’. Or you can check out the exciting developments in the world of premium tonics in ‘Premium Tonic Water Touches the Spots Other Brands Cannot’.

[cta_generico id=2598]

La entrada They’ve Snuck Mombasa Gin Out of the Gentleman’s Club se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

For some years now, the Gin plays a wildcard role to balance the income statement. Due to the current crisis, numerous wineries, if not most, have suffered decreasing sales volumes. This has resulted in many of them seeing the Gin as a solution to alaviate the present economic setbacks.

A few years ago Gonzalez Byass (Tio Pepe) was already ahead of current events and began to import one of the most appreciated Premium gins, The London no. 1.
Meanwhile, Caballero Group became importer of Bloom, Berkey Square and Geenall’s. And of course, Torres Group could not stay behind and has bet strong importing Sloane’s Gin.
On the other hand, other wineries have decided to develop their own Gins, as in the case of Winery Williams & Humbert (Duque de Alba) producers of Botanic Gin. Bodegas Utiel also produces the VLC Gin and Rioja Alta markets Raffles Gin.

Seen as it is, the Gin and the Wine sectors, we can safely say that they overlap each other.

Long live the Gin!

La entrada Time to reGINvent yourself! se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

This premium Gin undergoes 4 distillations -in tradictional stills- and has a relative scant production. It is heir to the tradition of “Premium London Gin”. We will have the chance to appreciate the harmony of the botanicals, together with Jane Moore’s high sensitivity and expertise. It contains seven botanicals, it is floral, soft and silky on the palate. Defined by Juniper with fresh and natural aromas of Chamomile, honeysuckle and grapefruit, the subtle angelica, the strength of cilantro and a spicy touch, provided by pepper.

However, let us make no mistake, Bloom is not made to satisfy exclusively the female audience… we may only notice it has a different profile from other gins and a strong personality.

Below are two recipes for preparing a perfect gin and tonic with BLOOM:

• In a cold snifter with ice, run a strawberry around the rim to enhance the aroma and freshness of the gin. Mix with a cold Fentimans tonic and three or four pieces of strawberry.
• Another combination would be: a cold balloon glass with ice, a lime twist, a tonka bean (botanical) and finished with 1724 tonic water.

These mixers will certainly enhance the drink and provide a touch of character.

Enjoy!

La entrada Bloom Gin: the Feminine character se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

A good idea, that can help us make the perfect combination at home, is looking at the herbalist. Indeed, these small, vintage shops, unforgettably scented and profusely visited by past generations, can help us reach perfection when preparing a gin and tonic.

Our proposal is to use the same Botanicals used in the distillation process, add some fruit and thus obtain a quality drink, worthy of the best, fanciest cocktail bars.

These are 10 of the most commonly used spices:

• Juniper: the genuine all-rounder, combines with all gins.
• Licorice: ideal for the Bulldog Gin.
• Tonka Beans: Bloom (accompanied with cucumber and strawberry), Brookman, Mombasa, Seagram’s, G’Vine, London N º 1.
• Jamaica Pepper: Nº 209, Martin Miller’s, Mombasa, Seagram’s.
• Paprika: Gin Mare, G’Vine, Fifty pounds, Martin Miller’s.
• Clove: Martin Miller’s, Nº 209, Mombasa, Bloom, Bulldog.
• Nutmeg: Ish, Citadelle, Goa, Bloom, Mombasa, Bluecoast.
• Cardamom: Goa, Nº 209.
• Madagascar Vainilla: Mombasa, London N º 1.

These are the most common examples, now we just need a bit of imagination and desire to find and experience your ideal gin and tonic.

At INVINIC, we would like to invite you to visit our selection of gin, we are sure you will find the one that best suits your taste!

Image property: Max_7000

La entrada The Botanicals complete our Gin and Tonic se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

Frédéric Gilbert, specialist in Cognac aging, is the one who had this great idea and carried out this project of aging the Citadelle gin during 6 months in Cognac barrels belonging to the Pierre Ferrand Group. He first test with 21 barrels and the result was amazing.

The result is then a pale gold gin, very complex, slightly sweet and with marked notes of wood, vanilla and cinnamon.

In order to maintain a high quality production, this gin is elaborated in very limited quantities, and as a result it can only be found in a limited number of stores and it often becomes difficult to get it.

Finally, and as note of interest, we would like to add that each bottle is numbered, thus identifying the number of bottle and the barrel in which it has been elaborated.

La entrada Citadelle Gin Reserve: an aged gin se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.

This gin is crafted following the traditional distillation methods. After the distillation process an infusion is made during 48 hours with the ingredient after which this gin gets its name. Saffron provides this gin not only of a different colour but also of special aroma and flavour. Seven botanicals also did their part: juniper, lemon and orange peel, angelica, coriander, fennel and iris root.

At very first sight we are surprised by its orange colour but later on we are also amazed by the juniper and citrus aromas in nose and by the spicy and fennel hints we perceive in the palate.

We can certainly get a unique and colourful Gin & Tonic.

La entrada Saffron Gin, the orange gin se publicó primero en Blog INVINIC.