Gin is one of the most versatile types of alcohol. You can find it in a range of flavors and ingredients so you’re sure to find a type of gin that you like.
How is gin made? Gin is made by distilling botanicals, like citrus peel, almond, and juniper, with neutral grain alcohol. The botanicals in gin are always natural.
The great thing about gin is that you won’t find two types that are exactly the same. There are also so many ways in which to enjoy this popular alcohol.
So, with that in mind, let’s explore some of the best ways to drink gin.
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How To Drink Gin: 4 Different Ways
Experiment With Gin Cocktails
Why not try gin in a cocktail? This is a good way to enjoy gin because it will allow you to explore those delicious botanical flavors that gin has to offer.
Here are some popular types of gin cocktails that you should try:
- Gin Martini: This drink combines dry vermouth and gin that are mixed together and then stirred. What’s so great about this cocktail is that it can form the foundation for other, more complex, drinks.
- Negroni: This is another popular gin-based drink. It’s made by combining sweet vermouth, gin, and Campari, the latter of which provides a bit of bitterness. These ingredients are perfect for stimulating appetite, so this drink is fantastic to serve before hosting dinner at your home.
- Apple, Gin, And Elderflower: This is a cocktail that’s a great example of how versatile gin is and how you shouldn’t be afraid to try something a little different with it. This cocktail makes use of gin, elderflower cordial, and apple juice. Start by mixing the gin and cordial together, then add apple juice just before serving.
Choose The Right Tonic
If you like to drink gin with a tonic, it’s crucial to make sure that you chill the tonic beforehand.
This is because a warm tonic will make the drink too sweet and less fizzy, so it won’t be as exciting or delicious.
On the topic of tonics, it’s a good idea to read the tonic labels and see what flavors they contain. Then, match those up with the gin you want to drink.
So, if there’s a rosemary flavor in your tonic, look for gins that work well with that flavor.
Mix It With Soda Water
If you’re not a fan of tonics, you can drink your gin with soda water. This will make your gin less strong.
When adding soda water to your gin, you can add nothing more than a splash of it, or opt for making your drink half-gin and half-soda water.
For more flavor, because soda water can be quite bland, choose soda that’s been infused with lemon, grapefruit, or lime.
Consider Drinking It Neat
It used to be that drinking gin neat was frowned upon, but these days there are so many gin flavors that you can enjoy them alone.
A good tip when drinking gin neat is to freeze the gin beforehand. This makes it thicker and when it warms up its flavors will be better released into the glass.
This will enhance your experience of drinking gin.
Best Tips For Serving Gin
If you’re serving gin to your guests, there are different ways in which to do so. Let’s explore some of the most common.
How to serve gin on the rocks
- You’ll need a tumbler. Since a tumbler has a short, wide design with a heavy base and a shorter length, the gin aroma will be closer to your nose and enhance the experience of drinking the gin.
- Use fresh ice and pour the gin over the cubes.
- Choose the “less is more” approach when adding a garnish to the drink. You don’t want the garnish to take center stage and overpower the gin’s flavors.
How to serve gin neat
A pro tip when serving gin neat is to pour the gin into a glass that’s a bit tapered at the top and then add a splash of water.
The water will dilute the alcohol a little bit, which will help you to identify some of the more subtle flavors that are in the gin.
How to serve a gin and tonic
- When you make a gin and tonic, you should add more ice to it because this will increase the surface area of ice that’s coming into contact with the gin and cool down your drink faster. The key is to ensure that the ice cubes aren’t too small as that will cause them to melt too quickly. FYI, it’s been found that four ice cubes seem to be the perfect amount.
- Start by adding one-third of gin to two-thirds of your premium tonic to a glass, then add the ice cubes.
- Stir the ingredients four times to make the flavors come out nicely.
- If you’re adding lime as a garnish, avoid squeezing it into the drink. The lime juice could overpower the delicate notes of flavor in the gin.
Related Questions
What’s the best garnish for gin?
Lime or lemon is usually the go-to gin garnish, but you can also pop some ginger or a sprig of mint into your drink for a lovely burst of flavor.
Is it healthy to drink gin?
Gin is considered healthy because it contains fewer calories and less sugar than other liquors, but mixers can boost the sugar content of your drink, making it less healthy.
Conclusion
Drinking gin is enjoyable and can be fun, but you might be wondering if there are any rules you should follow.
In this article, we’ve looked at some important tips and tricks to help you make the most of your gin-drinking experience.
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