Hello, everyone! Welcome to the beginning of a questionably-long blog series examining all the various alcohol bottles I seem to have acquired recently. Why the sudden timing for something so seemingly esoteric? A few reasons.
The first is that NaNoWriMo is right around the corner. For those who don’t know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writer’s Month, and it’s a yearly challenge to write a novel (traditionally, fifty-thousand words) entirely within the month of November. Having a running blog series already going will make sticking with both things a lot easier. Since this is my industry and passion, I will be more than able to find stuff to write about even as the rest of my mind and soul is slowly consumed by my story.
But on that topic, the story I’m writing for NaNo is a bar-centric story, so a more in-depth examination of the things I’ve collected and the things I drink will, hopefully, help with inspiration for that story. It’s a diverse, inspirational world, drinks (when consumed and mixed properly), and using it as a springboard for writing inspiration came naturally, at least in the outlining phase. Whether or not it will sustain me remains to be seen.
I digress.
We begin with gin! Why? Gin’s fun, gin’s complex, gin’s extremely variable, and gin is delicious. When I am not drinking wine whiskey, I am drinking gin, with the gimlet having already been established as my go-to cocktail most of the time (although I can already tell you how incredibly different I make them than when I first started this blog…) There are currently six bottles of gin gracing my home bar, and below I’ll briefly discuss why they’re there, what I use them for, and give brief tasting notes for each.
As always, drink responsibly.
· Karner Blue
o What is it? A local gin (#drinklocal), made in Lee, New Hampshire and the Flag Hill Winery and Distillery. It’s distilled from apples, which is pretty cool. This gin has garnered a good bit of positive press, points, and awards, so let’s here it for the wonderful Granite State. Live Free or Die, right?
o Why do I have it? I like it. It’s really that simple. It’s one of the bottles I try to keep a second of on hand, too. If I had to have a ‘house gin,’ it would be this one. Also the bottle is beautiful.
o What is it like? On the nose, there’s a solid note of juniper followed immediately by a big hit of citrus (mainly lemon) and wonderful, mild, herbaceous notes. On the palate it’s a sharp, focused gin, very clean, with the juniper keeping the citrusy notes in check. A little bit of floral, too. Nice texture on the finish.
o What do I use it for? Martinis with twists, obviously! This gin loves vermouth and lemon.
· Brooklyn Gin
o What is it? A new-style gin in a gorgeous bottle, made in New York (duh). Of the new craft gins, I feel this one is fairly ubiquitous. It’s also done in smaller batches, lending this gin some more clout (along with the previously mentioned cool bottle).
o Why do I have it? This was the first gin I kept buying with intention, partially because the nature of this gin (below) loves gimlets, and partially because it has (again) a really cool bottle. (We’ve all been there…)
o What is it like? It’s a citrus bomb, not plain and not simple. It’s citrus, orange blossom, and whisper of juniper on the nose. On the palate, even more floral, soft and a little sweet, with citrus (lemon) again as the dominant note.
o What do I use it for? Gimlets. This has been my go-to gin for some time if only because it works so well in my favorite drink.
· St. Augustine Distillery
o What is it? A Floridian gin! Distilled from sugarcane and full of citrus! The effort of the eponymous distillery in the eponymous city. One of the first, if not the first, distilleries I visited.
o Why do I have it? I went to college in Florida. St. Augustine was a frequent haunt of me and my friends, with many wonderful, powerful memories. To have a bottle of something to remind me of that also means a lot. I try to get a bottle whenever I go back and visit.
o What is it like? More herbal than you’d expect, though not that the citrus is hiding either. Certainly contemporary. Nose shows a nice balance of all the components, feeling harmonious. Palate is herbal up front, citrus perfume the whole way, ending with a little prickle.
o What do I use it for? I mentioned that I made a cocktail specifically for this gin before, but it’s also pretty good in tonic. This was my gin of the past summer.
· Dorothy Parker
o What is it? The newest gin in my collect, bought on impulse because it’s named for my favorite poet. Distilled by New York Distilling Company, and noted for the inclusion of cinnamon and hibiscus as botanicals.
o Why do I have it? I just told you. Dorothy Parker is incredible. I needed this, and a second bottle to keep unopened on my desk.
o What is it like? I posted a proper review of this on my Instagram, but to reiterate: “Very floral and a touch sweet, with a good balance of juniper and wonderful mouthfeel.” I’ll add a pleasant earthy-spiciness showing at the moment, but wow do those florals come through.
o What do I use it for? It may be my new go-to for gimlets, as this gin definitely loves citrus, but it’s equally lovely in tonic.
· Monkey 47
o What is it? I feel this is another fairly ubiquitous gin. German, expensive, complex, with a fabulous story and forty-seven ingredients, Monkey 47 has its lovers and its fanatics. The bottle also looks cool. I recently gave a friend of mine who’s a avid gin-hater a taste, and she acknowledge that at the very least this is different stuff.
o Why do I have it? See above. I’m a fan.
o What is it like? Complex, in a word. On the nose, this gin is woody, herbal, a delicate and intricate balance of a range of botanicals hard to sort but all wonderfully present. The palate is perfumed and explosive, full of character and a diversity of flavors too numerous to mention.
o What do I use it for? I sip this neat. Sometimes tonic. If I feel like splurging, then a martini.
· Barr Hill Tom Cat
o What is it? Quite a different animal than most gins, distilled from honey, by Caledonia Spirits, and aged in oak! I tell people it’s like if whiskey and gin had a kid. There’s a touch of raw honey added as well. It’s a unique spirit.
o Why do I have it? I had this at a tasting for work and immediately went out to buy a bottle. I’ve kept one in stock ever since. Vermont’s also close enough for me to claim to #drinklocal
o What is it like? On the nose? Oh the honey’s there for sure. Orange cream, vanilla blossom, sweet pine. The palate is rich, sweet, and a nice balance of pine syrup, honey, and all those wonderful floral notes.
o What do I use it for? I think I’ve mentioned making a cocktail around this drink as well, but it’s also fun to give people a taste and/or mix around with when I’m bored.