Category Archives: Gin

One final look at the product line from Triple Eight Distillery — we’ve covered their vodkas and rum already. Surprise: Gale Force Gin may very well be the best thing the company makes. Then again, maybe that’s not such a shock. Nantucket bluebloods consume all the gin in this country already, so they’re probably just swell at making it, too.

If overpowering juniper isn’t your thing, you’ll love Gale Force. Yes, juniper is there. In fact it’s the predominant flavor in the gin. But the citrus notes are lush without being too tart. The finish is quite dry and crisp, but the mouthfeel is creamy and rich. The bite is very mild. Overall it’s a winner, working well in cocktails and even on its own. (At 88.8 proof, I was surprised how easygoing it was, even without water.)

The price may be a bit high for a spirit this simplistic, but there’s all kinds of gin drinkers out there, and those looking for a milder version of the classic would do well to consider it.

A- / $30 to $40 / ciscobrewers.com

Junipero is old school. Sipping it takes you back in time. You can imagine Churchill pulling down this stuff while trying to decide what to do about those friggin’ Nazis.

Junipero makes a really perfect gin martini: The juniper, as you’d imagine from the name, is up front yet not overpowering. But it’s more spicy than evergreen, so you don’t feel like you’re constantly belching up pine cones when you drink it. Of course there’s more to it than that, though, and Junipero, like most other gin makers, keeps its recipe secret. It’s hard to put your finger on much beyond some lightly bitter orange and lemon peel and something that gives it a kick of sweetness, but I can say that whatever Junipero puts in this gin, it works really well in the glass.

At the classic 94.6 proof, I was sure Junipero would be blazingly harsh consumed straight, but it wasn’t. Better, though, was to toss a few rocks in. As the ice melts, the water brings out the fruit peel flavors and mellows the juniper berry further. Win.

A- / $33 / anchorbrewing.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS!]

A little primer for gin novices: Though there are numerous types of gin, but the vast majority sold is called London Dry Gin. Bluecoat is an American Dry Gin. The difference (putting aside their national origin) between London and American gin (not that there’s a lot of gin made here) is generally one of flavor. The further you get from Londontown, the less juniper you’re likely to find in your gin.

Bluecoat, distilled in Philadelphia and packaged in a striking blue bottle, has the immediate aroma of juniper, and won’t disappoint anyone looking for a good-old gin and tonic to start the evening. But gin aficionados will dig Bluecoat’s more interesting flavor profile, one which you don’t get out of traditional gins.

It’s immediately apparent when you take the first sip: There’s a strong and surprising mint character, something I’ve never really found in a gin. You also get a moderately strong flavor of lemon, and still that upfront — but not overpowering — juniper taste. Distilled five times in a custom copper pot and bottled at a whopping 94 proof, Bluecoat is quite clean and not nearly as fiery as its alcohol content might indicate. Overall, it’s a very good gin.

Bluecoat doesn’t publicly announce all of its ingredients, but the aromatic botanicals, including juniper, orange, lemon, and a secret third citrus peel, are all organic. The base spirit, I’m guessing, isn’t organic (as the gin itself isn’t marketed as such), but it’s clear that Bluecoat has taken a lot of pains to put only the best quality ingredients it can find into that bright blue bottle.

A- / $36 / bluecoatgin.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]

For a spirit inextricably associated with England, how surprising it was to read on the bottle of Whitley Neill gin: “Inspired by Africa.”

Apparently Mr. Neill’s (Johnny Neill, actually) wife is originally from Africa, which is why a baobab tree appears on the label and in the bottle, in the form of its fruit used as a flavoring. As well, Cape gooseberry joins gin’s seven other traditional botanicals (the most notable of which is juniper), to round out a pretty unique gin.

Bottled at 84 proof, this is a surprisingly mellow gin, not nearly as harsh as some juniper-heavy spirits. Mind you, I have no idea what baobob fruit tastes like (the company says it’s primarily a heavy citrus flavor), but it certainly seems to lend something to this gin, a subtle earthiness that you normally don’t often find in the spirit (though perhaps that’s just more angelica root than usual?). The gooseberry is a little easier to pick out: Gooseberry is an extremely tart berry, and even in the small quantities it must be used here, it’s still evident.

Good stuff. It works well in tonic, martinis, or fruit-based cocktails. (Distribution in the U.S. just now beginning.)

A- / $30 / whitleyneill.com

The name may sound like a gangsta rapper, but this premium gin isn’t something you’ll want to be mixing with OJ.

Made in France and distilled from grapes, this is not your father’s Tanqueray. The juniper flavor, a requirement of all gins, is there, but it’s substantially mellowed in G’Vine. In fact it’s lemon peel that is the strongest flavor in this gin, with orange peel following. Juniper, I’d say, brings up the rear. You can get the other botanicals (G’Vine claims nine total, none of which are lemon or orange) with extended sipping: G’Vine makes for a great martini or mixing with other citrusy cocktails. The overall taste is very fresh, with a clean finish.

At $33, G’Vine is expensive next to similarly flavored Plymouth and even Bombay Sapphire, but if you’re a true gin lover, you’ll probably find it worth the price.

A- / $33 / g-vine.com