Menu
PUBLISHED: 18. JANUARY 2023
CATEGORY: Lifestyle
Gin is more than just a product category, it’s the latest trend in drinking and it’s developing its own culture. If you order a gin & tonic in a bar, the question about the flavor or the preferred brand follows more and more often.
And that’s right – because not all gins are the same. There is a diverse range among the various distilleries, even some with special effects.
Depending on the variety of gin, the production differs. However, the basic principle remains the same for all. The basis is always neutral alcohol from an agricultural origin. The alcohol is then mixed with juniper and other natural flavorings and diluted with water to obtain the desired percentage. Gin, originally Genever, has the main ingredient already in the name: Juniper.
The high-quality Dry Gin from Deux Frères is really special. Depending on the pH value, it changes its colour from blue to violet to pink. This amazing characteristic is just one of the reasons why it’s becoming so trendy.
The high quality Dry Gin from Deux Frères has a clear juniper note. Floral, fresh on the nose, it unfolds its soft and harmonious aroma on the palate. Here, fine spice meets balanced aroma complexity. The exact recipe remains a secret at almost every gin distillery! The last ingredient is crucial for the strong blue hue, which is added only after distillation.
In 2015, Gian and Florian started the production of their first gin with a combination of eleven herbs and spices in their own home laboratory in Zurich. However, finding the decisive recipe from twenty-five different flavorings, took about two years. Today, a larger distillery in Austria produces Deux Frères in collaboration with the two brothers.
Matching cocktail suggestions with this delicious gin can be found here. The taste of Africa.
“The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.”
Winston Churchill
The handcrafted Elephant London Dry Gin (45% vol), invites not only visually but also tastefully into the wilderness of Africa. An innovative blend of 14 original flavors complemented with fresh apples from northern Germany provides a richly balanced gin. Right off the bat, you taste the strong note of juniper aroma, with a subtle undertone of pine and a hint of herbs. Elephant is multi-layered in flavor, yet strikingly delicate.
The shape of the bottle is reminiscent of travel and writing utensils used by European colonists in Africa. The triangular symbol on the label refers to the old stamps of the time and the inside of the bottle is decorated with an old illustrated map of the South African coast. With this gin, you experience the taste of Africa without getting on a plane.
The strong connection to elephants is not only celebrated by the name of the gin. With a lot of commitment, the German founders give part of the proceeds back to the continent. They donate part of the profits to various foundations that work to protect elephants.
Two fruitier variations of gin can be found in Chase – Grapefruit Pomelo Gin or Malfy Gin. Summery, tangy and zesty, Chase’s gin bristles with grapefruit freshness, juniper and lime flavors. An absolute favorite! Garnish this gin best with a slice of grapefruit or with raspberries, so the pink shade comes out even stronger! The similar variant for friends of citrus notes is the Malfy Gin Rosa. The emphasis in this gin is on Sicilian grapefruit with a small hint of rhubarb. The distinct flavors of these two gins invites pairing with tonics or other mixers.
And for those who want to avoid alcohol, Siegfried Wonderleaf is the ideal solution. Not a real gin, but a damn good alternative. Just like Wonderleaf’s original gin, you add 18 natural flavorings to the liquid, including lime blossom, juniper, allspice, bitter orange and lavender. This substitution brings flavor diversity to your non-alcoholic drinks.
Gin offers a variety of taste experiences. Whether forty-seven, twenty-five or twelve herbs and spices – with gin you get an insight into many different worlds of taste. That’s why you should take your time the next time you order a gin & tonic and take a close look at the many different varieties. It is worth it! Indeed, you should definitely take the opportunity to ask the bartender about the exciting background of the gin varieties. This will not only broaden your taste experience during your next visit to the bar, but also your own gin horizons.
