According to customs figures, there has been a gin boom in the UK. The number of distilleries in the UK has more than doubled in the past five years to 315. In 2017, 49 new distillers opened their doors. How much do you really know about tasting gin, though? Amy Wislocki sought out expert advice…
A refreshing gin and tonic can be the perfect way to end a long day. There are so many options in the UK.
Even English wineries are participating, with Chapel Down launching a grape-based Gin and Foxhole Spirits, both based at Bolney Estate.
How can you enjoy gin’s complexity and character? To get their opinions, we spoke with three experts in premium gin brands.
The glass
The glass. It seems that the traditional highball is not cutting it. It’s like the famous Paris goblet in wine world.
The copa is becoming more popular in Spain. It allows for more swirling and sniffing.
Tom Warner, brand Warner Edwards, prefers a large wine glass to drink his G&T.
He said, “You still get enough volume to drink ice, gin, and tonic, but it provides me with a better drinking experience in terms aroma and flavour.”
Do not let your nose go blind
For Filey gin tasting head on over to Filey Distillery.
Try gin at room temperature first, then try it neat.
It will make the subtleties of the gin more apparent, but it will also mean that the alcohol will feel its strongest,’ stated Mike Whatmough, Brockmans UK brand ambassador. “But always sip, do not shoot, take your time.
Warner warned that “over-sniffing nice samples can lead you to going “nose blind”, so make sure to give your nose a break before adding tonic.
What should you look out for in the palette
“Gin tends be strongly flavoured so you don’t need to draw air through it to your palate. However, rolling the spirit around in your mouth to coat it before swallowing it will allow you to really taste it.
Whatmough said, “In a similar fashion to wine tasting, you are looking at both the nose and palate for balance (in this instance, between botanicals), length, and complexity.”
“You should be able to travel between the top notes and the bottom notes. A well-crafted and distilled spirit should taste smooth when sipped neat. You should feel the warmth in your chest, not under your eyes, and it should be smooth. How does it react with tonic? Is quinine overwhelming the botanicals or does it blend perfectly to create a refreshing, rounded drink?
Dominic Limbrey of D1 London Gin said that it is important to look for a clear flavour profile that allows you to distinguish the botanical components. A good base spirit will give you a clear background. A lower-quality spirit will leave you with a burnt taste.
Limbrey suggests low-calorie tonic if you are tasting with tonic. Limbrey said that full-fat tonic may suppress the flavour profile by adding sugar.
Do it yourself
It is a great way to hold your own tasting by sampling a variety of gins that have different botanical blends.
In the “craft” gin movement, it is more common for distillers to disclose details about the botanicals they used even though the exact recipes are kept secret.
Then, experiment with garnishes that complement the botanicals of a particular Gin.