Gin Flashcards
Beefeater
Beefeater Gin is a brand of gin owned by Pernod Ricard and bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom, by the company of James Burrough. Beefeater remained in the Burrough’s family control until 1987. It is a 47% alcohol product (94 proof) in the US, and a 40% alcohol product (80 proof) elsewhere in the world (including the UK) (note proof is calculated differently in the US from elsewhere). 40% alcohol is 80 proof in the US.
The name ‘Beefeater’ refers to the Yeomen Warders who are the ceremonial guards of the Tower of London. Beefeater distillery is one of nine currently still operational in London itself - this includes East London Liquor Company, City of London Distillery, Half Hitch Gin, Sipsmith, Bermondsey Distillery, Thames Distillers, 58 Gin, Sacred Microdistillery and The London Distillery Company.
Beefeater 24
Beefeater 24 is a new luxury super premium addition to the Beefeater Gin portfolio launched in October 2008. Like its revered sister Beefeater Dry, Beefeater 24 is made in the heart of London at the Kennington distillery a ball throw away from the famous Oval cricketing ground.
Like Dry too it’s made by the time honoured steeping method. Here the copper pot stills at the Distillery are charged with neutral grain spirit, then the botanicals are carefully measured in and the mixture left to soak for 24 hours. From this process and the fact that London buzzes 24/7, Beefeater 24 takes its name.
Master Distiller Desmond Payne has applied his 40 years experience to the creation of 24. Having long been fascinated by the potential of tea in the botanicals mix he was delighted to discover that the father of James Burrough had been a tea merchant in London supplying fine teas to the Royal Household. Building on this historic link to Beefeater’s founding father, his voyage of discovery began. After almost two years of constant experimentation, the journey is complete.
Beefeater 24 is a London Dry Gin, which means that no colouring or flavour has been added after distillation. The recipe includes the core botanicals that define the distinctive, instantly recognisable Beefeater taste – juniper, coriander, angelica root and seed, Seville orange peel, lemon peel, orris and almond. To these are added a unique blend of Chinese green and rare Japanese Sencha teas, extra citrus in the form of grapefruit, and liquorice. The spirit is ‘cut’ at an earlier stage and a smaller percentage of the run is taken in order to retain the fresher, more volatile flavours of grapefruit and the leaf teas. On the nose notes of citrus, juniper and the aromatic scent of Sencha are immediately apparent. In the mouth there’s a burst of citrus followed by juniper developing into a long finish with spicy coriander balanced by the dryness of angelica and the woodiness of liquorice. Bottled at 45% abv, Beefeater 24 is a glamorous, sophisticated spirit that takes gin to a whole new level and has inspired some of the world’s top mixologists to come up with stunning new cocktails.
Bombay
Dry style gin imported from England. Blended with eight botanicals using a recipe that dates back to 1761. Bombay uses a unique distillation process which infuses the aromas and essences of the botanicals with the vapor of the spirit (rather than cooking them together as most gins do). Clean bouquet of coriander, juniper and citrus. Spicy flavors of vanilla and juniper. Creamy texture.
86 Proof Gin
Bombay Sapphire
Bombay Sapphire is a brand of gin owned by Bacardi that was first launched in 1987 by IDV. In 1997 Diageo sold the brand to Bacardi.[1] Its name originates from gin’s popularity in India during the British Raj and the sapphire in question is the Star of Bombay on display at the Smithsonian Institution. Bombay Sapphire is marketed in a flat-sided, sapphire-coloured bottle that bears a picture of Queen Victoria on the label.
The flavouring of the drink comes from a recipe of ten ingredients (which the bottle’s label boasts as “10 exotic botanicals”): almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The spirit is triple distilled using a carterhead still, and the alcohol vapours are passed through a mesh/basket containing the ten botanicals, in order to gain flavour and aroma. This gives a lighter, more floral gin rather than the more-common ‘punchy’ gins that are distilled using a copper pot still. Water from Lake Vyrnwy is added to bring the strength of Bombay Sapphire down to 40.0% (UK, Canada, Australia).
Hendrick’s Gin
Hendrick’s Gin is a brand of gin produced by William Grant & Sons in Girvan, Scotland, and launched in 1999. In addition to the traditional juniper infusion, Hendrick’s uses Bulgarian rose and cucumber to add flavour. Hendrick’s gin is bottled in a dark brown apothecary-style bottle.
Monkey 47
Bottling Note
An unusual gin from the Black Forest in Germany, Monkey 47 contains a unique ingredient. No, not that! Cranberries! The 47 comes from the number of botanicals that go into this unique gin, and the fact it’s bottled at a healthy 47%.
This plethora of ingredients has paid off, and in 2011 Monkey 47 won the World Spirits Award Gold in the Gin category and Gold for best in class for the Gin Worldwide at the International Wine and Spirits Competition London. Not bad!
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose: Oh there is a lot going on here… woody, vegetable smells under pin fresh grassy citrus notes and botanical sweetness, like a pine forest after the rain.
Palate: Predictably complex, this is a robust and powerful gin with plenty of spice, fruit and herb flavours. It’s very well structured, and difficult to unpick but a citrus fresh start segues into pine and wood notes for a drying finish.
Finish: Wooded and reassuringly heavy.
Overall: A unique gin, that is crying out to be made into a Martini. It’ll need an equally robust vermouth though.
Tanqueray
Tanqueray is a brand of gin produced by Diageo plc and marketed worldwide. Although it originated in England, it is now produced in Scotland. It does not command a sizable market share in its native market, its largest market being North America, where it is the highest selling gin import, followed by southern Europe.
Tanqueray No.
An incredible small batch London dry gin made in pot still number 10. Tanqueray Number 10 is citrussy and full bodied.
Uncle Val’s
ingredients
juniper: the quintessential gin ingredient, juniper adds
a dash of that distinctive “gin” taste to Uncle Val’s.
cucumber: adds a cooling effect to the taste, along with
subtle freshness cues.
lemon: the citrus zing provides balance amongst the
botanicals, along with the added benefit of crispness.
sage: derived from the phrase “to be saved,” sage has been
held in high regard throughout history both for it’s culinary and
medicinal properties. Helps make you feel more alert, calm
and contented, with the effects lasting.
lavender: historically used for its calming effect,
it reduces stress, aids in sleep.
the taste
Uncle Val’s presents a complex and subtly pleasing
sensation of flavors. Raise your glass and you’ll notice crisp
aromas of sage and juniper. Your first sip will bring out a
bright lemon taste, which gives way to a warm, spicy,
lavender finish, softened by the coolness of cucumber. Each
sip bolsters the botanical flavors, along with a continuous
presence of piney juniper.
