Everything Gin

Gin is a spirit flavored with juniper berries.

Distilled gin is made by re-distilling white grain spirit which has been flavored with juniper berries.

Compound gin is made by flavoring neutral grain spirit with juniper berries without re-distilling and can be considered a flavored vodka.

A well-made gin will be relatively dry compared to other spirits. Gin is often mixed in cocktails with sweeter ingredients like tonic water or vermouth to balance this dryness.

Gin originated in the Netherlands in the 17th century. It is a common misconception that the word gin derives from the Swiss city, Geneva. In fact, the word gin derives from the French word for juniper - genévrier, which of course is the fruit which makes the drink.

Its invention is often credited to the physician Franciscus Sylvius. It was sold in pharmacies and used to treat such medical problems as kidney ailments, lumbago, stomach ailments, gallstones, and gout.

Beefeater
Beefeater Gin contains nine different botanicals: Juniper, Angelica Root, Angelica Seeds, Coriander Seeds, Liquorice, Almonds, Orris Root, Seville Oranges, and Lemon Peel. These botanicals are steeped for 24 hours prior to distillation. Distillation takes eight hours to complete.

Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire is a brand of gin distributed by Bacardi. The flavoring of the drink comes from a recipe of ten ingredients: almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The spirit is triple distilled, and the alcohol vapors are passed through bundles of the herbs and spices in order to gain flavor and aroma. Then, water from Lake Vyrnwy is added.

Gordon's Gin
Gordon's is a brand of gin produced in the United Kingdom and under license in New Zealand and several other former British territories, with the top markets for Gordon's being Great Britain, the US, Greece and Africa. It is owned by the multi-national alcohol company Diageo Plc. The recipe for Gordon's is known to only 12 people in the world and has been kept a secret for 200 years.

1) 20th Century
1.5 ounces (4.5 cl) Gin
3/4 ounce (2 cl) Lillet Blanc
3/4 ounce (2 cl) light Creme de Cacao
3/4 ounce (2 cl) fresh lemon juice

Shake in an iced cocktail shaker, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

2) Alexander
1 oz (3 cl) Gin
1 oz (3 cl) white Crème de Cacao
1 oz (3 cl) light cream

Shake well in a mixing glass with cracked ice, strain and serve.

3) Bijou
3 oz (9 cl) Gin
1 oz (3 cl) green Chartreuse
1 oz (3 cl) Sweet Vermouth
Dash orange bitters

Pour everything but the cherry in a mixing glass that is filled with ice. Stir gently for a few seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry. Serve chilled.

4) The Bronx
1 oz (3.0 cl) Gin
0.5 oz (1.5 cl) Sweet Red Vermouth
0.25 oz (1.0 cl) Dry Vermouth
0.5 oz (1.5 cl) Orange juice

Pour into cocktail shaker all ingredients with ice cubes, shake well. Strain in chilled cocktail glass.

5) Chocolate Soldier
1.5 oz (4.5 cl) Gin
3/4 oz (2 cl) Vermouth
Juice of half a Lime

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

6) French 75
0.25 oz (1 cl) Gin
1.5 oz (4.5 cl) Simple syrup
Juice of half a lemon
Champagne

Combine sugar, lemon juice, and gin in a shaker full of ice. Shake well, then pour into a tall glass and top with champagne. (If possible, ice the glass ahead of time.)

7) Gibson
2 oz (6 cl) Gin
0.25 oz (1 cl) Dry Vermouth

Stir well in a shaker with ice, then strain into glass. Garnish with an olive on a toothpick and serve.

8) Gimlet
2.5 oz (7.5 cl) Gin
3/4 oz (2 cl) Lime Juice

Mix and serve in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.

9) Gin Fizz
1.5 oz (4.5 cl) Gin
1 oz (3 cl) Fresh lemon juice
0.25 oz (1 cl) Simple syrup
2.5 oz (8 cl) Soda Water

Shake gin, lemon juice and syrup with ice and strain into a highball glass over two ice cubes. Fill with Soda Water, stir, and serve in a Highball Glass.

10) Gin and Tonic
1 part Gin
3 parts Tonic Water

Mix and serve-stirred, not shaken.

Keen on mixing great cocktails that will dazzle the socks off your friends and foes?

Bartending For Fun And Profit is a great book that does more than other cocktail recipe books. What I found great about the recipe section is the now popular cocktails and not just the generic ones like Manhattan and Margarita that other cocktail recipe books list.

But my favorite section is the Bar Tricks section where you get to learn about a dozen tricks using everyday items.

It's a good book even if all you'll be doing is mixing drinks for your friends at home too.

Well, that's my two cents worth about the book. I liked it and found it useful. I'm sure you will too.

11) Aviation Cocktail
2 oz gin
1/4 oz maraschino liqueur
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
dash of creme de violette
flamed lemon peel for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a flamed lemon peel.