MIXOLOGY

< The Bee’s Knees

Consider the Juniper Berry PHOTO BY HALLIE WESTERMANN HALLIE BY PHOTO Springtime Cocktails Call for Aromatic, Flavorful Gin he second Saturday of June is celebrated the world over as World Gin Day – but fans of this wide-ranging, Taromatic spirit don’t need to wait for a specific month to celebrate its wonderful complexity. As much a part of pop culture as it is a coriander, citrus peel and cinnamon, among a types of the spirit, and features a balance of well-stocked bar, gin has counted a number wide variety of other botanicals, depending on juniper and citrus. of notable adherents ranging from Winston style. It’s an aromatic spirit with a wide ranging Try it in a: Martini. Churchill (who liked his martinis so dry that it’s flavor profile that can travel from crisp and Old Tom style provides less juniper, and is said he’d merely chill the gin and then bow in refreshing to a deep, aged flavor with malty slightly sweeter than London Dry, with more the direction of France) to James Bond among notes not unlike whiskey. It has an herbal malt. its enthusiastic sippers. (Bond became known flavor that blends well with refreshing, spring- Try it in a: Tom Collins. for his vodka martinis, but in Ian Fleming’s like cocktails, yet adds something completely first novel, he requests a dry martini with unique to the taste. The variety of styles can New World, also known as American Style, three measures of gin – shaken, not stirred, of play a significant role in the end result. among other titles, takes advantage of a wider course.) range of botanicals in the distilling process. “Gin is such a wide category,” says Anna London Dry is drier than some of the older Try it in a: Gimlet. Bromley, marketing manager at Caledonia Spirits, in Hardwick, producers of Barr Hill Gin. Get to Know: Gin “When you’re looking at gin, just try a bunch • Gin is said to have originated in Holland • The Philippines claims the world’s highest of different gins. Get to know the difference during the Dutch War of Independence, per-capita consumption of gin. between London Dry, Old Tom – all the differ- though some will argue it was first produced • An old bartender’s myth that says an even ent kinds. Don’t count gin out because you in England as genever – a malted spirit. number of olives skewered on a cocktail pick had a London Dry and didn’t like it.” • Gin can be sweet or dry. in a martini is bad luck. Gin derives its predominant and most • The gin and tonic was first concocted in India in the 19th century. recognizable flavor from juniper berries,

4 | 802spirits.com u APRIL 2018 Please drink responsibly. Genever features flavors of malt and more savory botanicals like fennel, which creates The Martini: One Drink, Many Options similarities to whiskey. As with gin, the martini has many different iterations, flavors and expressions. It can be Try it in a: Genever Old Fashioned. made with vodka or gin, and in several different styles: Dry: Uses little to no Classic Gin Martini “When you’re looking for a good gin, I’d just say vermouth. courtesy thespruce.com to be open to it,” Bromley says. “Don’t be put 2½ ounces gin Bone dry: Emphasizes off by thinking that all gins are a super-juniper, ½ ounce dry vermouth that you want no vermouth. evergreen punch to the mouth. They’re not all 1 dash orange or Angostura like that. It’s a huge world that deserves more Basically, it’s chilled gin. bitters (optional) recognition and attention.” 50-50: Equal parts gin and 1-3 olives Lemon twist Caledonia Spirits’ Tom Cat Gin is an example dry vermouth. of how far afield the spirit can go from its pine- In a mixing glass filled with ice Perfect: Equal parts sweet cubes, combine the gin and taste reputation. Caledonia Spirits ages its Barr and dry vermouth. vermouth, pouring more or less Hill Gin in new American oak barrels, resulting Gibson: A martini garnished vermouth to your taste. Stir for in a bolder, more robust expression that Brom- 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled with a cocktail onion. ley describes as a New World style gin. The oak cocktail glass. Add a dash of mingles with the botanicals and a touch of raw Dirty: Uses a bit of olive orange or Angostura bitters, if honey to create a remarkable spirit that sits brine to add a savory and desired. Garnish with olives or a lemon twist and serve. perfectly in a wide range of cocktails – or even salty element. sipped neat. “Our founder came from a whiskey distilling For a taste of springtime, try these gin-based cocktails. family from Scotland,” Bromley says. “So he ON OUR COVER always had a love for whiskey. We ended up Rosemary Grapefruit Gin Fizz courtesy cakenknife.com playing with aging and barrels and it felt like 2 ounces gin Club soda the next step.” ½ ounce grapefruit juice 2 rosemary sprigs The takeaway: Gin may be the most useful 1/4 ounce lime juice 2 small grapefruit wedges clear spirit in your bar, especially in the spring- 1½ ounces simply syrup time – and with good reason. Barr Hill Gin, in Crush a rosemary spring and drop in a cocktail shaker. Add gin, grapefruit juice, lime juice particular, tastes like spring because it uses and simple syrup. Shake and pour into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and honey sourced from Vermont and New York. give one final stir to mix. Garnish with remaining rosemary sprig and grapefruit wedges. Its character, then, reflects the terroir of its northeast home. So Fresh and So Green The Bee’s Knees courtesy bonappetit.com courtesy caledoniaspirits.com “It’s such a lively spirit,” Bromley says. “Every- 1½ ounces gin 1½ ounces Barr Hill Gin thing is blooming again, and the flavor of gin 4 sage leaves ¾ ounces lemon juice encapsulates that into the spirit. You’re tasting 1 teaspoon sugar ½ ounce honey simple syrup fresh flowers and what the bees have foraged. 5 1/8-inch thick cucumber slices Lemon segment for garnish It’s very clean and crisp and refreshing.” 1 large egg white Lavender (optional added garnish) Barr Hill Gin is produced in a custom-made ½ ounce fresh lemon juice In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the botanical extraction still built right at the ½ ounce simple syrup gin, lemon juice, honey, simple syrup and distillery by local welders. President and 1/4 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur shake vigorously. Pour into a chilled Head Distiller Ryan Christiansen is hesitant to Aromatic bitters cocktail glass and add garnish. divulge the special touches that go on inside Muddle sage leaves, sugar and four cucum- the still – it is proprietary – but he will say that ber slices in a cocktail shaker. Add egg white, Vermont Gin and Juice gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, St. Germain it was built the “good, old Vermont way – from courtesy caledoniaspirits.com and a dash of bitters. Cover and shake scratch.” 1½ ounces Barr Hill Gin vigorously until egg white 3 ounces apple cider Bromley – an admitted fan of gin, (“I couldn’t is very frothy 1/4 ounce ginger simple syrup work here if I wasn’t,” she says, laughing.) rec- (about one Thyme and apple for garnish ommends The Bee’s Knees for an ideal way to minute). Fill Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, Barr Hill Gin, break into the world of one of Vermont’s most shaker with ice and shake vigorously cider and simple syrup. Shake vigorously unique exports. until outside is frosty and pour into a highball glass filled with “If someone doesn’t have an extensive (about one minute). Strain ice. Add garnish and serve. home bar, it’s a simple go-to,” Bromley says. into a coupe glass and “If you have honey in your pantry and some garnish with remaining lemon juice, you’ve got a real crowd pleaser, cucumber slice. guaranteed.”

Always drink in moderation. APRIL 2018 u 802spirits.com | 5