Okay, sorry about the title. I had to use that pun. So you say, "Why the spirit post?" Well, because it is really good. Yeah, yeah, everyone hates gin. Well, everyone but me. I'm the author, so tough luck.
Lately I've been doing Gin & Tonic if I am to have a drink before dinner time. Why? Because its much lighter. Most of my favorite beers are just not afternoon drinks and I'm not going to force something I won't enjoy.
Here's the deal, I had to find an easygoing drink that was lightweight and could be sipped for a long period of time. I really don't enjoy being drunk, and especially not before dinner. Its unsophisticated and quite miserable. Cue gin.
I've had plenty of the overrated and overpriced gins and have been really dissatisfied. Bombay is too fruity and distinct, the only thing good about Tanqueray is the ads they used to air, and nobody carries Beefeater 24. Well, a local barkeep introduced me to Hendricks. Wow.
Hendricks is a modern gin by relative terms. Mostly consisting of Juniper, cucumber (yup), and Bulgarian rose, it comes across aromatically and subtly complex. Also, it is incredibly smooth. If done as a martini, it has plenty of character but is completely drinkable. As a g&t, it doesn't overpower the raw beauty of the drink with misplaced floral and fruity notes like many other gins. And on the rocks... Well, I havent tried that one but Im sure it is fantastic. Lets face it, gin is just as mean as tequila, so lets try to keep it off the rocks.
Oh, Hendricks recommends it be served with tonic and a cucumber slice. Havent tried it but I'm sure it works well. I usually have my Hendricks and tonic with a lemon, not a lime.
So, its one more lesson to forget the big name brands and fancy advertisements and go sample a little of everything.
-Its all in how you play the hand you're dealt.
