Monkey 47<\/a>), a year as it turns out.\u00a0 I have vowed to step up my Gin reviews, partly because it’s fun to try new Gins, but mostly because there are just soooooooo many new, and often confusing, Gins out there today.<\/p>\nAs before I am reviewing this, and future, Gins in a very dry and very cold Martini, so fair warning, my Gin reviews will be in the context of Martini usage.\u00a0 After all, this blog is about the perfect Martini more than the perfect Gin.<\/p>\n
A little more history for you new readers, my preferred Gin for Martinis is Bombay Sapphire.\u00a0 It is ubiquitous in bars, lounges, and restaurants so I know it is always (almost) available.\u00a0 It’s a great way to start an evening with a known and dependable Gin.\u00a0 Thereafter I may experiment a bit and that is where these Gin reviews come in.<\/p>\n
Now Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray are two of the World’s top selling Gins.\u00a0\u00a0 For those interested the top 5 are: Seagrams, Beefeater, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, and Gordon’s, in that order, according to “The Spirits Business” June 2017.<\/p>\n
Of further amusement is that Tanqueray and Sapphire are owned by Diageo and Barcardi, respectively, two of the world’s largest spirit distributors (1st and 5th respectively) and are therefore, and clearly, heated rivals.\u00a0 This is clearly borne out when talking to Gin aficionados as they are (almost) always either in the Sapphire camp, like me, or on the “dark side” favoring Tanqueray.\u00a0 Of course there are a many stragglers out there who are Nolet’s or Hendrick’s, or other Gin, fans, both of which are fine Gins in their own rights …. but I digress.<\/p>\n
I am not a fan of Tanqueray in general, it’s a bit too much citrus for me; I prefer the herbals of Sapphire.\u00a0 Tanqueray 10, having a bit more herbal components that Tanqueray, is more palatable to me for that reason.\u00a0 So when I was given a bottle of Tanqueray Rangpur, knowing it was the Rangpur Limes that gave this Gin its name, I was a bit dubious.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Rangpur-Lime-small.jpg?resize=300%2C213\")
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(Yes, they’re orange.\u00a0 It’s a hybrid between the mandarin orange and the citron.)<\/p>\n
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But I have a bottle to use and I’m certainly not one to waste Gin.\u00a0 I started with some Rangpur neat.\u00a0 The initial impression on the nose is predominately lime with hints of juniper way in the back.\u00a0 Tasting this gin confirmed the lime forwardness.\u00a0 But now the juniper decided to show up and shared the limelight with the lime (sorry, I had to do it).\u00a0 The other herbals come into play on the back end but are mostly muddled together and subdued.\u00a0\u00a0 I also would note that when taken neat, it’s almost a bit syrupy.\u00a0 You almost feel like it coats your tongue.<\/p>\n
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As a martini it is still very lime forward.\u00a0 The aroma hits you immediately: very sweet citrus.\u00a0 Even with my martini extremely cold the nose affect is immediate.\u00a0 The first taste is a beautiful mix of citrus and juniper!\u00a0 Nothing floral here and almost imperceptible herbal elements.\u00a0 The juniper fades on the back end, but the citrus carries through to the last moments.\u00a0 Again the herbals come in at the end but are subdued and remain secondary to the citrus.\u00a0 I also noted that the syrupy feeling from the neat tasting was completely gone.\u00a0 I suspect due to the dilution of the Gin while shaking the Martini.<\/p>\n
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In the end I like this Gin!\u00a0 But I’m not sure how to drink it.\u00a0 In my opinion it’s a bit sweet and citrusy for a Martini, I prefer a bit more herbal notes.\u00a0 I think using it in a G&T might be the better choice.\u00a0 Or even neat, though with some ice to lighten the tongue coating syrupy-ness.\u00a0 Thinking about it, on ice on a sunny afternoon seems just about perfect.<\/p>\n
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As an aside, I really like lime in my cola and was tempted to add some of this to my Coke.\u00a0 I did and that was really pretty good!\u00a0 The acid of the Coke cut the syrupy feeling, though it was still pretty sweet; sort of a more citrus-y Cuba Libre.\u00a0 One of the reasons I don’t drink sweet cocktails is that they go down so easily and so quickly and this one absolutely would quickly overpower me.<\/p>\n
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Would I recommend Rangpur?\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0 Having a bottle in your Gin collection is recommended and I do.\u00a0 For that sunny afternoon.<\/p>\n
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If you like what you\u2019ve read, please subscribe.\u00a0 If not, please post a comment telling us how and why you disagree.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My Second Gin Review! Yes, it’s been a long time since I wrote my first Gin review, back in June of 2017 (Monkey 47), a year as it turns out.\u00a0 I have vowed to step up my Gin reviews, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0},"categories":[11,10,12],"tags":[5,2],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1956,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1956","url_meta":{"origin":2362,"position":0},"title":"The Perfect Gin Explained","author":"wlmoon58","date":"April 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I often get asked \"What is the best gin?\" Apparently some people seem to think I should know.\u00a0 I'm still researching that myself and until I try all the Gins I don't think I can really give a valid assessment.\u00a0\u00a0 But it's a valid question and deserves a little thought.\u00a0\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gin"","block_context":{"text":"Gin","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/IMG_20150904_165038-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":717,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=717","url_meta":{"origin":2362,"position":1},"title":"Best Gins for a Martini? Here’s one Opinion","author":"wlmoon58","date":"July 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Are you wondering what Gin(s) make the best Martinis?\u00a0 I came across this article while perusing my twitter feed (@Shkn_Nt_Strrd) and found it interesting.\u00a0 I hope you do too. best-gins-to-use-in-a-martini I particularly like Gin #1 as a suggestion for a novice Gin drinker or possibly to convert a 'vodkaphile'? I've\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gin"","block_context":{"text":"Gin","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":768,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=768","url_meta":{"origin":2362,"position":2},"title":"Bar Review: Ocean Prime, Philadelphia, PA – Update","author":"wlmoon58","date":"July 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I was recently in Philadelphia and decided to eat at one of my local favorites, Ocean Prime.\u00a0 I have in the past reviewed their Martini and given them my coveted two Martini rating.\u00a0 See\u00a0 \"Bar Review: Ocean Prime\".\u00a0\u00a0 But that was before I started adding a rating for Gin selection.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":420,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=420","url_meta":{"origin":2362,"position":3},"title":"Ratings Enhancements","author":"wlmoon58","date":"June 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"In my never ending effort to bring to you, my dear reader, the most detailed information possible in my Bar Reviews, and having a recent epiphany on how best to convey such information, I have decided to add a letter grade to future reviews. Why and what for you may\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":885,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=885","url_meta":{"origin":2362,"position":4},"title":"Makar Gin","author":"wlmoon58","date":"September 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"While walking around Glasgow recently,\u00a0I came across \"The Good Spirits Co.\" \u00a0and decided to stop in. \u00a0While I was intending to explore their Whiskey selection the discussion quickly turned to gins. Much to my surprise our\u00a0host, Victoria, offered us a few samples of locally produced 'new' Gins. \u00a0This was certainly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gin"","block_context":{"text":"Gin","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":713,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=713","url_meta":{"origin":2362,"position":5},"title":"Craft Gin, the new trend?!?","author":"wlmoon58","date":"August 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"It seems that these days there are boutique and small gin distilleries popping up all over.\u00a0 Being a long term gin drinker I can recall the days when my choices at any typical bar were severely limited; Beefeater, Tanqueray, Bombay, and Gordon's.\u00a0 If I was lucky a bar might have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gin"","block_context":{"text":"Gin","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2362"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2362"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2422,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2362\/revisions\/2422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Tanqueray-Rangpur.jpg?resize=110%2C300\")
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