A GINspirational Guide to Mothers Ruin, Strip Me Naked or Ladies Delight (A Lazy Guide to Gin) ABV% 25ml GENEVER STYLE First distilled in Flanders, Belgium during the 16th century, where it was used for medicinal purposes, the evolution of genever is well-preserved in manuscripts, artifacts, paintings, pictures, and tradition. Driven by wars and a 17th century distilling ban that lasted over a century, Flemish (Belgian) distillers and their genever migrated throughout Holland, France, and Germany. The Dutch absorbed much of the genever trade into their well-established commerce system, shipping it around the world. Genever was the original 'Dutch Courage' as English Soliders drank it to reinforce themselves for battle during the 30 Years War (1688- 1648) Genever has more in common with whisky than it does with modern day English gin but it was the reason and base on which English gin came to be. BOLS GENEVER 42% £3.25 A terribly old spirit, Genever is the precusor to English gin. Supposedly based on the original recipe of Proffesor Sylvius de Bouve in 1572. This is a blend of 50% malt wine flavoured with Genever botanicals one of which, most importantly is Juniper. It offers up a more whisky like sweeter style of gin with a snifter of associated history. Bols is also the oldest distilled spirit brand in the world. BOLS BARREL AGED GENEVER 42% £3.25 Bols Barrel Aged Genever is based on the same original 19th century recipe as above however this one is aged in French oak for 18 months. It is rick with malty, vanilla and apricot notes. GIN de MAHON STYLE Menorca is a Mediterranean island which belonged to the British crown over 200 years ago, for most of the 18th century. Thousands of British sailors and soldiers were stationed on the island in those days. They frequented the local taverns, but they were unable to find the liquor that was fashionable at the time in their country: GIN. Soon some Mahon craftsmen, found a solution to the problem. They would import juniper berries and produce gin on the island, using wine alcohol from Mediterranean vineyards. In this way, GIN was successfully launched in Menorca. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it became established as a popular drink, and became an indispensable feature at any special event, private or public, on the island. In the early part of the 20th century, on the initiative of a Menorcan family of craftsmen, a brand name was born: XORIGUER -- which began to bottle and carefully commercialise the product which hitherto had only been marketed locally. XORIGUER MAHON 38% £3.50 From Mahon in Menorca, Xoriguer is one of the only gins in the world (alongside Plymouth) to have a geographical indication, Gin de Mahon. Gin has been made on Menorca since the time of the British occupation in the 18th century. Unusually, Xoriguer is made in wood-fired potstills from distilled wine (eau-de-vie) rather than the more usual grain-based distillate, and is rested in American oak barrels before bottling. PLYMOUTH STYLE Soon after Coates & Co began in 1793, Plymouth Gin became a firm favourite in the numerous countries it was shipped to. The gin drinking of the Royal Navy considerably enhanced gin's prestige as it climbed the ladder of respectability in Victorian times. By 1850 Coates & Co were supplying over 1000 barrels of 'navy strength' 57% abv gin a year to the Royal Navy. They were fond of mixing it with Angostura bitters or lime for 'medicinal' purposes. Thanks to the British Royal Navy taking it on ships all over the world, it was to become the world's largest volume brand of gin with 1000 cases a week going to New York alone by the 1900's. In 1904 the first ever recipe for a Dry Martini specified Plymouth Gin (in Stuart's Fancy Drinks and How to Mix Them) and by the 1930's Plymouth Gin was the star of the cocktail era. It is the only gin still around today to be named in numerous recipes in the renowned Savoy Cocktail Book - still the bible of mixology. PLYMOUTH NAVY STRENGTH 57% £5.00 A very popular style of gin that legally must come from Plymouth. As apposed to the more famous London Dry which can actually be produced anywhere as the London Dry refers to the style rather than the geographical location. Plymouth gin has been supplied to the Royal Navy for almost 200 years so we thought it only proper to put this Navy Strength example on our list. A big powerful flavour. ABV% 25ml OLD TOM STYLE A sip of an Old Tom-style distillation offers an interesting look into the history of gin. By far the sweetest style, it's often referred to as "the missing link" between old-school Dutch genever (the sweet/malty spirit from which modern gin originated), and the now popular London Dry style. Originating in Britain during the 18th century, Old Tom was the traditional gin of choice for cocktails like the Tom Collins, Gin Rickey, and Martinez. The spirit all but died out in the middle part of the 20th century, though these days it's enjoying something a revival. We have a great selection of this much over looked style just try not to become one of Hogarths Gin Lane inhabitants when you drink it. JENSEN'S, OLD TOM 43% £3.50 Based on an original recipe from 1840 which used no added sugar and instead sweetened the gin with larger amounts of botanicals. The recipe was discovered in a very old bottle in a bar in China. Served with lemon and lime. HAYMANS, OLD TOM 40% £3.50 Hayman’s Old Tom Gin is a botanically intensive and lightly sweetened style of gin. Particularly popular in the 19th Century, Old Tom Gins tend to deliver a generally sweeter flavour profile, resulting in a distinctive cocktail experience. Hayman’s Old Tom is no different and for fans of the style, it’s one of the best ones out there. RANSOM AGED OLD TOM 44% £5.25 From the USA and developed in collabaration spirits historican David Wondrich to resemble the type of gin drunk in the 1800's. Aged for 3-6 months in wine barrels. Bright juniper and pine on the palate. Rather floral at points. The cardamom notes develop over time. Malty and alive with orange. Cedarwood pops up right at the end. A piece of gin history. HERNO OLD TOM 43% £5.50 From the Swedish Hernö distillers comes a sweet, lip-smacking Old Tom Gin. They use the same botanical selection as their Hernö Dry Gin for this, although they've dialled up the amount of meadowsweet used. After distillation, they add a touch of honey and sugar, giving it the classic sweetness you look for in a traditional Old Tom Gin. TANQUERAY OLD TOM 47.3% £5.50 A limited edition release of Tanqueray Old Tom Gin, based on a recipe from the Tanqueray distillery founder, Charles Tanqueray, which dates back to 1835. Old Tom gin was popular in the 18th century and is the core ingredient in many classic cocktails. Sweet and more aromatic than the better know example today. LONDON DRY STYLE London Gin has been recognised as a special quality spirit by the European Union and the new definition was passed into EU law on 20th February 2008 as part of the revised EU Spirit Drink Regulations and became law on 20th May 2009. All Gin is made with ethyl alcohol, alcohol flavoured with juniper berries (juniperus communis) and other botanical flavourings. The ethyl alcohol used must be distilled to the minimum standards stated in the EU Spirit Drink Regulations. In all types of gin, the predominant flavour must be juniper, and they must have a minimum alcoholic strength of 37.5% alcohol by volume. However there are some special rules for London Dry Gin, which are: 1. London Gin is made in a traditional still by re-distilling ethyl alcohol in the presence of all the natural flavourings used (these are called botanicals). The ethyl alcohol used to distill London Gin must be of a higher quality than the standard laid down for just ethyl alcohol. The methanol level in the ethyl alcohol must not exceed a maximum of 5 grams per hecto litre of 100% volume alcohol. 2. The flavourings used must all be approved natural flavourings and they must impart the flavour during the distillation process. No flavourings can be added after distillation. The use of artificial flavourings is not permitted. 3. The resultant distillate must have a minimum strength of 70% abv. Further ethyl alcohol can be added after distillations provided it is of the same standard. 4. A small amount of sweetening may be added after distillation provided the sugars do not exceed 0.5 grams per litre of finished product. 5. London Gin cannot be coloured. The only other substance that may be added is water, which is used to reduce the alcoholic strength to a drinkable level. All this means that London Dry Gin can be made anywhere, not just in London, provided all the rules are met. A lot of the more well known brands of London Dry Gin are now made in Scotland. ABV% 25ml BROKERS 40% £3.25 Nicely balanced with a touch of liquorice sweetness this London Dry gin is distilled using a 200 year old still with an equally old recipe. It has been specially blended to be very dry & uses 10 different botanicals and an English wheat base.