gin
whiskey
These gins are a must-have in your home bar!
This will suit every taste!
Between classic and curious - these 5 gins rock every cocktail party!
The gin revival of the 2010s has revived numerous classics, but also promoted new creations. Some of them are so experimental that they are more reminiscent of perfume recipes than tempting to enjoy. But why not dare to try something new? The following types of gin are so unusual that you should definitely try them. If you add them to your home bar, you can literally cater to every taste - and even give gin skeptics an aha moment.
Dutch Courage - with (excessive) courage against the rest of the world
1.You have to love this creation for its name alone. It alludes to the invention of gin, which England still claims as its own. But the forerunners of the juniper brandy are at home in the Netherlands. In this respect, Dutch Courage is more than just a catchy name.
The recipe is also full of references to the gin's actual home. The rye used is milled in classic windmills and fermented at low temperatures. This gives it a fundamentally fruity taste, which is intensified by distillation in copper kettles.
The botanicals are dominated by citrus notes, but also by an unmistakable sweetness. This comes from the added vanilla and brings Dutch Courage closer to Old Tom variants. As such, you should only top up the gin with soda, as it is not bitter enough for the classic combination with tonic.
Raven Hills - Drink if you dare!
2.This gin also tells a story; it was supposedly created as a medicine for the mentally ill. A young pharmacist is said to have cured numerous inmates of an insane asylum with it. He was only not allowed to see one patient because she was considered particularly dangerous. When he visited her in her room anyway, she whispered her name to him. It was the one given to the headmistress of the asylum...
The taste of Raven Hills is just as crazy as this story. In addition to the typical juniper and citrus notes, the aroma of mint stands out. It gives the gin a pleasant freshness, while a handful of secret medicinal herbs create a euphoric, sweet finish.
If you want to serve Raven Hills in style, you should take a look at the bottle. The old apothecary jar with the weathered-looking label holds the key to the mysterious patient's room - and creates a great atmosphere at your cocktail party. Served with elderflower tonic and red pepper, the extraordinary aromas of Raven Hills unfold best.
Saffron - golden play of colors
3.This gin keeps its promises. Its name and color refer to the most valuable spice in the world, the pistils of the so-called saffron crocus. Up to 440,000 specimens are needed to produce one kilogram of the charismatic spice. How much of it is in the saffron is a well-kept secret of the manufacturer.
Certainly enough to give the gin a unique nosing. The taste is dominated by an extravagant fennel note; only later do the otherwise typical citrus and juniper aromas develop. The finish is dominated by soft caramel. The metallic coolness is particularly exciting, which makes the Saffron seem well tempered even without ice.
Thanks to its charismatic taste, this gin can compete with almost any tonic. The elegant Fever Tree Indian Tonic underlines its floral notes and is effectively rounded off with an orange slice or a few rose petals (!). Alternatively, you can try a long drink with rosé-colored tonics based on berries or flowers.
Roku - a name with a program
4.What the Japanese can do, only the Japanese can do. This gin is a declaration of love for their country. The name simply means "six" - because Roku contains exactly this number of typically Japanese botanicals. Cherry blossoms and leaves, Gyokuro and Sencha tea, as well as Sansho pepper and the peel of the yuzu fruit are each extracted in their own distillation processes. This makes the production of the gin extremely complex and corresponds to the notorious Japanese drive for perfection.
Roku is powerful and fresh in terms of taste, with the sparingly used juniper dominating at first. Then slightly bitter and fruity notes set the tone - before finally turning into a warm, spicy spiciness.
Roku is not a gin for beginners, especially when enjoyed neat; but with dry tonic and ginger stick(s) it makes a very interesting long drink with which you can surprise even connoisseurs.
The Illusionist - have fun with it!
5. Speaking of surprise... If you want to put on a show at your cocktail party, The Illusionist is a good choice. The fairly mild gin is a typical late New Western: staged with some fanfare to stand out from the mass of existing new creations. The added lily of the valley flower gives it a beautiful blue color - which changes to violet and rosé tones when tonic is added.
The effect is based on the pH value of the gin, which is lowered by acidic ingredients. The taste is dominated by a Mediterranean note, which makes The Illusionist surprisingly mild and almost a little inconspicuous. The effect in the glass is all the greater, so you should try this gin at least once.
Are you looking for the right tonic water?
Of course, the wisdom that pure enjoyment provides the best tasting also applies here. However, some of the gins mentioned only reveal their charm as a long drink. You can find suitable combination partners here!
... Or go to the overview and look at other gin best lists!