Gin Gin Gin

imme

What make of gin should I buy.

It will be for gin & tonic.

There is a lot of talk about Hendricks, there seems to a certain cache about it,that could be publicity. Some people have bought into it.

Also is there a better class of tonic thzn another?

domrush

Bombay Sapphire

OldMrBrennan83

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HeidiHeidi

Hendricks and Fever Tree tonic are so hip these days that they're almost a cliché - but they make a damn fine G&T, especially if you slip a slice of cucumber into it!

A whole world apart from the auld Gordons/London Dry and Schweppes.

janja

Tanqueray Raipur if you can find the stuff is amazing otherwise Hendricks (dont like the cucumber in it tho)

Zymurgist

Glendalough gin is very nice, there's a fantastic aroma from it

beertons

I bought my friend a bottle of Drumshambo Irish Gunpowder gin yesterday. Saw an article about it in the Sunday Times, looked really good with what they said. I'll find out when he's had one or two and see what he says.

newbie2

Monkey 47 - really nice and smooth, but very pricey for such a small bottle.

My newest and now favouite is Brockmans. I have it with a wedge of grapefruit.


Tanqueray is nice too.

i'm a fan of Dingle Gin.

Would love to hear what the gunpowder gin is like.

Pinch Flat

I love the hendricks. Can be enjoyed with a nice tonic, or neat with some ice

janja wrote: »

(dont like the cucumber in it tho)

Yeah true not for everyone, although it's nice with some black pepper cracked in with the cucumber. Failing that a slice of lemon or lime is also nice for a bit of tang

BeerNut

Hendricks is madly over-rated, IMO. Slick marketing with very little behind it.

I like Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater would be my budget choice, and Aldi's London Dry Gin is very passable for less than €15 a bottle if all you want is gin that tastes of gin. Blackwater No. 5 is superb, but too good to dilute with tonic, I think.

Staplor

BeerNut wrote: »

Hendricks is madly over-rated, IMO. Slick marketing with very little behind it.

I like Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater would be my budget choice, and Aldi's London Dry Gin is very passable for less than €15 a bottle if all you want is gin that tastes of gin. Blackwater No. 5 is superb, but too good to dilute with tonic, I think.

Aldi gin is awesome value for money, that and Hendricks are in my house

Pinch Flat

Staplor wrote: »

Aldi gin is awesome value for money, that and Hendricks are in my house

Been meaning to try the aldi one, I'd read some review that it came out on top in a blind taste. Must pick up a bottle next time I'm in - great value.

SlipperyPeople

blackwater strawberry gin if you can find it. served with a strawberry, mint, tonic and pinch of cracked black pepper.

beardybrewer

BeerNut wrote: »

I like Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater would be my budget choice, and Aldi's London Dry Gin is very passable for less than €15 a bottle if all you want is gin that tastes of gin.

I'd agree with this, however I wouldn't waste Bombay on a G&T. Use the Aldi stuff for that and save the Bombay for a dirty martini! I can attest to all 3 mentioned are "clean" gins and won't give you more of a hangover than you deserve (which isn't the case for all gins).

L1011

Patww79 wrote: »

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Only if you like the taste. If not, it's not "the best"

OldMrBrennan83

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BeerNut

Patww79 wrote: »

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intheclouds

Good lord cant believe the cheap gins being lauded here!

Hendricks is muck! Maybe Im one of the percentage of people who cant taste cucumber.
Bombay Sapphire is pretty cheap and and nasty (although Bombay Sapphire East is a bit better).

G'Vine, Brockmans, Monkey 47 and Dingle are probably the best over the counter gins we have easy access to in Ireland.

Tanqueray Rangpur is quite nice but hard to get here. Plymouth Sloe gin is very very nice if you like a sloe gin - Gordons do a lovely sloe gin but its not available in Ireland.

Ive been drinking some of the small batch gins recently too, Shortcross, Blackwater, Glendalough - they are ok, not a patch on the first 4 I listed though.

Daffys, Bulldog, Tanqueray - all a bit bland.

Seriously, try the G'Vine - you will never want to drink anything else.

I intend on picking up a bottle of the Drumshanbo Gunpowder next time.

BeerNut

intheclouds wrote: »

Bombay Sapphire is pretty cheap and and nasty (although Bombay Sapphire East is a bit better).

As a long-time Bombay Sapphire fan I really wanted to like the East when it came along but the plain one is definitely better IMO, especially given the price difference.

intheclouds

BeerNut wrote: »

As a long-time Bombay Sapphire fan I really wanted to like the East when it came along but the plain one is definitely better IMO, especially given the price difference.

I think I like the spicier flavour - I prefer Tanqueray Rangpur over plain Tanqueray as well.

But you are quite right, the price difference really isnt worth it.

maximum12

As you can see OP it's a matter of personal taste. At the moment my favourites are Bombay Sapphire and Dingle. We do keep the Aldi in house because it's such great value but lacks a bit of "oomph" IMO.

I do question some of the prices of artisan gins sold in 50cl bottles.

As for tonic, bog standard Schweppes (in cans to retain carbonation) is my tonic of choice. If came out tops in this blind taste test:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkadvice/11466577/The-perfect-GandT-whats-the-best-tonic-to-pair-with-gin.html

intheclouds

maximum12 wrote: »

I do question some of the prices of artisan gins sold in 50cl bottles.

Definitely!

maximum12 wrote: »

As for tonic, bog standard Schweppes (in cans to retain carbonation) is my tonic of choice.

Only ever buy cans now - too many times Ive opened a bottle of tonic to find its gone flat, and once its opened you really have to use it within 48 hours or it goes flat.

So cant only for me, although they might be a bit more pricey.

BeerNut

Until recently, Tesco did a Finest-brand canned tonic which was superb and dirt cheap. Seems to have gone now though Look out for it if it ever comes back.

Are there any worthwhile canned tonics, other than Schweppes?

the beer revolu

Patww79 wrote: »

No, Hendricks is regarded as the best because it is the best. There's no need to go looking for a lesser known one just because it's a known brand.

That is a ridiculous statement to make about any product when taste is subjective.

I'll give my opinion on Hendricks :
It's a well made gin, pretty inoffensive but rather ordinary. It's rather expensive for what it is but it is extremely well branded and marketed, so much so that lots of people insist that it's the best gin out there!

In last year's IWSC (a blind tasted international competition) both Hendricks and Bombay Sapphire got bronze medals, Blackwater No.5 got Silver Outstanding - 2 grades above!
So, obviously, Blackwater is the best gin out there 😉 (I make Blackwater btw).

But seriously, I would strongly urge anyone to try some of the new Irish gins: (in no particular order, apart from the first 3! )

Blackwater No.5
Blackwater Wexford Strawberry Gin
Blackwater JuniperJuniper Cask
Gunpowder Gin
Dublin City Gin
St Patrick's Gin
Dingle Gin
Glendalough
Black's of Kinsale
Bertha's Revenge
Shortcross
Highbank Orchard

Some very good gins in there.

I don't drink much tonic these days but I do like Fevertree light with our No. 5.
Schweppes goes well with our strawberry gin, as does Fevertree elderflower.

L1011

Patww79 wrote: »

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I think you'll find that the idea that people are drinking beers because they're not macro brewed they don't like is pretty much constrained to you and you alone on here.

Hendricks is highly flavoured. It is, as a result, definitely not to everyones tastes. Its also EXTREMELY expensive. You considering it the best could be far more easily suggested to be someone being taken in by marketing and "what's cool" than the beer drinkers on here, in fact.

I quite like Blackwater, even without the maker posting on here...

OldMrBrennan83

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L1011

BeerNut wrote: »

Until recently, Tesco did a Finest-brand canned tonic which was superb and dirt cheap. Seems to have gone now though Look out for it if it ever comes back.

Are there any worthwhile canned tonics, other than Schweppes?

They also killed the fantastic Finest ginger ale - it was significantly more, erm, ginger-y (there must be a better way of writing that)

Fever Tree is available in cans but is very pricey.

Simon2015

Gordons Gin is the best IMO.

intheclouds

L1011 wrote: »

Hendricks is highly flavoured. It is, as a result, definitely not to everyones tastes. Its also EXTREMELY expensive.

Apparently not everyone can taste cucumber, I must be one, I find it a bit flavourless. Would you class it as extremely expensive, it's only 45 or so a bottle? And that's a full size bottle. I've paid 100+ for gin (unfortunately that bottle was only ok - Tanqueray Malacca), but consider 40ish a standard price for a good bottle.

Must take a trip up north, good gin is considerably cheaper and I hear they have a new one called "Anti A-gin" which keeps you looking young! I need this in my life!

Found the Blackwater No. 5 kinda bland myself but I'd like to try the Wexford Strawberry, who is stocking it?

the beer revolu

I find Hendricks not very flavoured and not particularly expensive - compared to the likes of Gordon's or CDG it might be but not for its premium positioning. For example, Monkey 47 is close to twice the price of Hendricks - delicious, though.

Regarding the Wexford strawberry, where abouts are you?

L1011

intheclouds wrote: »

Apparently not everyone can taste cucumber, I must be one, I find it a bit flavourless.

I can. Protestant blood, I imagine :pac:

intheclouds wrote: »

Would you class it as extremely expensive, it's only 45 or so a bottle? And that's a full size bottle.

When you can get perfectly drinkable (moreso than Gordons/Cork/Beefeater in my eyes) gin for 15 in ze Germans, 45 is definitely premium pricing and it doesn't really justify it.

Lyaiera

L1011 wrote: »

I think you'll find that the idea that people are drinking beers because they're not macro brewed they don't like is pretty much constrained to you and you alone on here.

I don't know any people who intentionally drink beers they don't like. I know quite a lot of people who drink beers they don't like because they've never tried the beer and are adventerous in their tastes.I know a lot of people who choose to drink other stuff over macros because they simply prefer other stuff, for both beer and gin. And I know a lot of people who have a lot of reasons to not drink macros, and it's nothing to do with being trendy.

A friend of mine runs a pub that's been around for decades. It's not a trendy pub, they have a lot of regulars that like the place because of the pub, and the know the people there. They also get a huge amount of write ups in things aimed at foreign tourists, some big things like Lonely Planet and the Condee Nest(sp) publications, but also smaller publications, and in personal recommendations, so they get a lot of foreign tourists coming in. The foreign tourists often want Guinness, because it's Irish. They also want other "Irish" things, food, beer and spirits. So the pub stocks a lot of small Irish gins, because it's possible to get 100% Irish owned gin, it's also possible to get 100% Irish owned beer, it'll happen with whiskey too but we'll have to wait for the casks to sit. If a tourist asks for Guinness, they'll get a great pint of Guinness. If they ask for something Irish, they'll be pointed towards and given samples of fully Irish beers and spirits. Irish heritage and ownership is huge for tourism. This is in no way a craft bar, or anti-macro bar, they stock mostly macro stuff. But they also stock a good portion of Irish craft stuff because they want their customers to have real Irish products.

The locals in there mostly like the "macro taste." There are plenty of craft lagers that would be similar enough to macro lagers. The craft fan might have them, but would usually have a more adventurous taste. The locals in this bar want an average lager. But the bar stocks a craft lager, two actually. And a lot of the locals have decided to buy the craft product, because it's equivalent to their taste in macros, but they actively want to support Irish business. Taste is important, vital for most, but I fully understand why a lot of people want to fully Irish businesses, employing people in Ireland, and keeping 100% of their money in the Irish economy. And especially when they don't have to sacrifice on taste.

I drink a fair bit of Blackwater No. 5. It's always stocked in my local, it's reasonable priced, I like the taste, and I want to support The Beer Revolu. I also quite like the Blacks gin. Both Blackwater and Blacks are local to me and I have talked to the people involved with both.

I haven't had Hendricks in a while. It was my first "better" gin. Someone made me one with the cucumber slice. I really liked it.

I haven't tried Dingle Gin, but I've heard great things about it.

I actually quite like Cork Gin. I know there's nothing great quality about it, but it's too my tastes, in much the same way a Burger King Bacon Double Cheeseburger is.

Edit: I've tried the Blackwater Strawberry Gin. I had it straight. I wouldn't drink it straight, or in a simple gin and tonic. I think it's much more suited to being part of a cocktail. Gin, tonic, mint, strawberry, and black pepper is enough ingredients for me to consider a cocktail.

Bogsnorkler

The Bertha's Revenge Milk gin blew my socks off. It was amazing, albeit tasting so different as to almost not really taste like gin. Had it with tonic and it was like a creamy korma or something.

the beer revolu

Bogsnorkler wrote: »

The Bertha's Revenge Milk gin blew my socks off. It was amazing, albeit tasting so different as to almost not really taste like gin. Had it with tonic and it was like a creamy korma or something.

Yup. Bertha's is what I would call a spiced gin (although all gins are spiced to one extent or another).

intheclouds

Bogsnorkler wrote: »

The Bertha's Revenge Milk gin blew my socks off. It was amazing, albeit tasting so different as to almost not really taste like gin. Had it with tonic and it was like a creamy korma or something.

And where, pray tell, did you procure such a thing?

BeerNut

Verily I know not wherein Bogsnorkler acquired aforesaid libation, but O'Brien's sells it.

intheclouds

BeerNut wrote: »

Verily I know not wherein Bogsnorkler acquired aforesaid libation, but O'Brien's sells it.

Thanketh thee kind online traveller.

dudara

I quite like the following:

1. Martin Millers gin from Iceland
2. Copperhead gin from Belgium - nice citrus, great with orange
3. Gin Mare - great with rosemary and olives. Very Mediterranean
4. Monkey Shoulder - great with strawberry

I haven't tried many of the Irish gins at the moment, but Dingle Gin is quite OK, good with orange & grapefruit.

I just finished off a bottle of Ungava, a yellow gin from Canada. Nothing amazing though, just decent. Nothing wrong with Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray etc. They're all very decent gins. Hendricks is also quite nice and cooling, particularly with the much-mentioned slice of cucumber.

oblivious

dudara wrote: »

4. Monkey Shoulder - great with strawberry.

You should probably keen an eye out for Blackwaters: Wexford Strawberry Gin

the beer revolu

dudara wrote: »

I quite like the following:

1. Martin Millers gin from Iceland
2. Copperhead gin from Belgium - nice citrus, great with orange
3. Gin Mare - great with rosemary and olives. Very Mediterranean
4. Monkey Shoulder - great with strawberry

I haven't tried many of the Irish gins at the moment, but Dingle Gin is quite OK, good with orange & grapefruit.

I just finished off a bottle of Ungava, a yellow gin from Canada. Nothing amazing though, just decent. Nothing wrong with Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray etc. They're all very decent gins. Hendricks is also quite nice and cooling, particularly with the much-mentioned slice of cucumber.

Martin Millers is an English gin - with Icelandic water. A bit gimmicky but very nice gin.

enda1

In Madrid recently I had Brockman's with tonic and strawberry as the garnish. Superb! A lovely change from more citrusy infusions.

intheclouds

enda1 wrote: »

In Madrid recently I had Brockman's with tonic and strawberry as the garnish. Superb! A lovely change from more citrusy infusions.

I drink all gin with 2 strawberries, some blueberries and a shake of cracked black pepper - plus tonic.

Brockmans is particularly good with strawberries.

Ive tried blackberries, raspberries etc also - keep meaning to try mango and melon, just havent gotten round to it yet.

Slattsy

Hendricks for me too, and not many gins out there left for me to try. I always go back to it.

Drumshambo is next on my list.

the beer revolu

I like Gunpowder gin. It's a savoury sort of gin.

Slattsy, just how many gins have you tried?
You do know that there are over 200 British gins alone?
I've tasted a lot of gins and I've hardly scratched the surface.

monkeynuz

Gordon's or tanqueray with tonic and Plymouth gin neat, Bombay sapphire is not that great and dingle gin is very rough.

illdoit2morrow

Firstly, i don;t know much about gin but i picked up a bottle of blue bottle gin while i was in Guernsey recently.

It is produced there so they highly rate it, taste nice with fever tree tonic, but then again, i'm no expert.

maximum12

BeerNut wrote: »

Until recently, Tesco did a Finest-brand canned tonic which was superb and dirt cheap. Seems to have gone now though Look out for it if it ever comes back.

Are there any worthwhile canned tonics, other than Schweppes?

Lidl sell 250ml cans of tonic for 39 cents in Schweppes Yellow. Very dry if that's your thing.

Jentle Grenade

My favourites for the last while are Bertha's Revenge and Blackwater No. 5. I do drink Hendricks or Dingle when I'm out as they appear to be more regularly available where I am. TBR, where would I find a bottle of the strawberry Blackwater around Cork city? Bradley's maybe?

the beer revolu

Jentle Grenade wrote: »

. TBR, where would I find a bottle of the strawberry Blackwater around Cork city? Bradley's maybe?

Yes, Bradley's, Abbot's Ale House, O Brien's, probably more too.

dudara

I tried Bertha's Revenge at Taste of Dublin. Very impressed by it

beertons

Got a thumbs up from my friend this morning for the gun powder gin. Presume he had it last night and not on the way to work.

Although........