Cheers 2013 - (Page 100)

with n TREND Be o POSH gin U nless you go shopping wearing blinkers, you can't have failed to notice the rising number of premium gins appearing on the shelves on an almost weekly basis... and you will know them by their price. There has been an amazing explosion in their popularity and sales are growing yearon-year. It seems that everyone is jumping onto the bandwagon, both the big boys and smaller, independent distillers alike. So, what exactly is premium gin? Well, there's no legal deﬁnition, so clever marketing plays its part in spades here. In principle, however, it's the kind of gin that shouldn't be drowned in quinine-laden tonic (not always, at least). It is perfect for gin-based cocktails. And as well as the high price tag, the vast majority are far from weak and wobbly when it comes to alcohol levels - which is a very good thing for gin lovers, in fact. While all gin is produced by redistilling white grain spirit with a compound of herbs and spices known as botanicals, their aromatic oils are best extracted (and appreciated) when the alcohol content is greater than the legal minimum of 37.5%. Gin producers are notoriously secretive about the exact formulae of their botanical blends, though juniper berries always form the backbone and coriander, angelica, lemon and orange peels, fennel, cassia, almond and anise are other common choices. Premium gin distillers are far more likely to introduce more exotic ingredients to create a unique selling point. 100 CHEERS t Floral-led styles and These offer a fragile restrained personality SALVATORE SAYS 'Contrary to what the name may suggest, London Dry gin doesn't have to be made in London. Instead, it refers to a style of gin, the benchmark of quality' Explore the different variations that are perfect with tonic or as part of a jazzy cocktail £27 £20 2 £37.2 Bloom London Dry (Sainsbury's and Waitrose, 40%) A delicate gin, inspired by the natural ﬂora of an English country garden. Chamomile, pomelo and honeysuckle are the three key botanicals, creating a very subtle style. Taste Wonderfully ﬂoral and moreish Bombay Sapphire (ASDA, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose, 40%) Versatile and extremely popular, they use 10 exotic botanicals chosen from around the world, to a recipe dating back to 1761. These include grains of paradise from West Africa, cubeb berries from Java and cassia bark from Indochina. Taste A deliciously complex ﬂavour of pepper and marmalade, and a crisp, delicate ﬁnish Warner Edwards Harrington Dry (www.masterofmalt.com 44%) Produced in Northamptonshire, this highly aromatic, barley-based gin is ﬂavoured with homegrown elderﬂower and 10 other secret botanicals sourced from farms in Wales and England. Taste Spicy, with touches of royal jelly, lavender, elderberries, acacia blossom and turmeric http://www.masterofmalt.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cheers 2013

EDITOR’S LETTER
HELLO FROM OZ
CIAO FROM SALVATORE
HOT OFF THE PRESS
SNIFF AND SPIT
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS
SOUTHERN STARS
PARTY PIECES
UP AND COMING
LET’S GET FIZZICAL
BUON NATALE
A SAFE HARBOUR
ITALIAN MASTERS
MIXING IT UP
CLASSIC COCKTAILS
WONDROUS WHISKY
VERSATILE VODKA
GIN-GIN
CAKES AND ALE
BOTTLE SHOP
SOMETHING TO EAT
GOURMET GETAWAYS
GIFTS AND GADGETS
BOXING CLEVER
STOCK UP YOUR BAR
BLOG IT!

Cheers 2013