the Gin is IN

Gin from an American perspective, since 2009.
Tags: 2 stars

Schlichte Gin

Jan
22
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Very strong juniper flavor with relatively minimal heat. Very simple flavor profile. It's juniper and all juniper.

Some gins are the perfect examples of their style. Plymouth is the classic example of Plymouth style gin and Schlichte is the classic example of the Steinhäger style. If you’re curious about the style’s baseline, we covered that a short while ago. This review is just about Schlichte. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful earthenware bottle. It stands out among the other glass bottles in any gin section where it appears. It seems distinctly “old world” and “throwback” just as itself. I opened, and the first thing I noticed was nearly nothing. No powerful aromas, just a subtle hint of [...]

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Seagram’s Extra Dry

Jan
18
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A toasty juniper gin with a powerful sweetness and smoothness; some of which comes from the classic London Dry botanicals, and some which comes from 3 months in an oak barrel.

Seagram’s Gin is the best selling gin in America; therefore it warrants a closer look. I know that immediately it embodies one American virtue: thrift. This may be the only gin I review that I can tell you with confidence, “yes, they do sell it at Walmart.” In fact, this gin could be the next entry in my “It came from the Bottom Shelf” series. But although widely available we’re interested if the taste lives up to the hype. Does it warrant being the best selling gin in America. But first, an Experiment! At a recent party I held a [...]

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Oliver Cromwell 1599

Sep
29
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Lots of juniper and only faint hints of citrus and intimations of other gin spices. Warm on the palate but not fiery.

The little bottle of Oliver Cromwell 1599 Gin that I had the pleasure of tasting was again thanks to the kindness of the kind gin-loving compatriots over at Summer Fruit Cup. Spirits competitions remind me a bit of beer competitions. For example, let’s take the example of Budweiser or Pabst Blue Ribbon. Most beer connoisseurs would probably be reluctant to say “those are great beers” (given the array of complex craft brews out there) but they are stellar examples of that style. A lager is supposed to be clear, uncomplex, yawn-inspiring. So naturally when I heard an inexpensive gin from Aldi won [...]

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Tanqueray

Oct
24
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A gin with a very hot juniper foundation that dominates on the nose and the palate.

Let’s be honest. You’ve probably heard of this gin before. If you’ve ever had gin before you’ve probably had this gin before. If you’ve been to a bar, you’ve seen this gin before. The tell-tale green bottle is usually what I scan a bar shelf for to find their gin selection. (This and the shimmering blue of Bombay Sapphire are among the most distinctive bottles at a bar). Among all gins, Tanqueray I think is the one with the most wide-scale advertising campaign- but despite its commonness, it somehow slides below the radar of most liquor review sites. Tanqueray first [...]

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New Amsterdam

Aug
25
Posted in Bottles of Gin 3
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A mild, slightly sweet gin that goes light on the juniper and citrus, but goes easy on the intensity making it very easy to drink.

I don’t want to give the impression that I have a “top shelf” bias. I do drink all gin. This gin was lovingly brought to me by a friend who brought it for a dinner party we had a few months back. Thoughtfully, she brought the 1.75 liter bottle because a lot of us drink gin. The taste of New Amsterdam is surprisingly clean. It may not be as smooth as some of my favorites like Miller’s, Hendrick’s or G’vine; it is smoother than Beefeater or Tanqueray. It goes perfectly well in a gin and tonic and is complimented nicely with [...]

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Tru2 Organic Gin

Feb
10
Posted in Bottles of Gin 4
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A spicy herbal gin with hints of juniper and diverse almost floral bouquet.

Loftily billed as the first “100 % Organic Gin,” Tru2 doesn’t look like your average gin. It has a brownish color that looks more like watered down whiskey. The scent is only vaguely gin like. Drinking it straight it reminds me of Chartreuse: Overwhelmed by a blend of herbs, some of them very pungent. As I poured myself a drink I wondered “is there any juniper in here?” In Gin and Tonic, the herbal combination overwhelms the tonic water. The Quinine doesn’t quite compliment Tru2 gin properly, though it is somewhat more palatable when mixed with ample fresh lime. But, [...]

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