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 Hendrick’s.<\/p>\n
I generally applaud this renewed interest in Gin.\u00a0 It gives me a lot of new flavors, tastes, and aromas to experience.\u00a0 But it did get me thinking, there are a lot of\u00a0new ‘twists’ on Gins these days and I’m not sure I like where some of them are going.<\/p>\n
Barrel Aging! \u00a0Gin aged in Whiskey barrels?\u00a0 Cognac Barrels?\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 Either of these treatments will certainly add color and different flavors to the Gin. \u00a0And, most likely, add a certain astringent taste to the Gin – what wine enthusiasts refer to as tannins.<\/p>\n
The lack of clarity of these barrel age gins\u00a0certainly would not appeal to a traditionalist. \u00a0And the tanninic taste I think will not go well with the fundamental juniper flavor required in all Gins.<\/p>\n
But the other flavors that come from barrel aging may, or may not, indeed offer some surprises and pleasures. \u00a0I haven’t tried these yet, but I’m dubious.\u00a0 I’ll withhold judgement, for now.<\/p>\n
But Craft Gin?\u00a0 Did gin becoming a trend?\u00a0 Or, god forbid, a FAD?\u00a0 I sure hope not, I’m about as anti-fad as they come.\u00a0 I’d be really annoyed that some snot nosed runt of a frat boy thinks I just jumped on the Gin bandwagon last week.\u00a0 When I’ve been drinking gin since …. well, you know.<\/p>\n
There used to be a certain sophistication and ‘bon vivant’ feeling to ordering a ‘real’ Martini in a crowd of Vodkaphiles.\u00a0 I’m going to miss that.<\/p>\n
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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, … Continue reading