Drink Responsibly (ie 0-2 drinks/day). Prices are formatted 750ML/1.75L (otherwise known as a Fifth vs a Handle).
Check out a great list of cocktail recipes, most recommended are official IBA (International Bartenders Association) recipes.
Note: There are classic London Dry Gins and gins which are heavier on the botanicals (floral, citrus, juniper)
Best Value Gin for Mixing
(Best to Worst, but all Good Values)
– New Amsterdam $12/$17 (However, somewhat artificially sweet/citrus)
– Seagrams $11/$19
– Gordon’s $11/$15
– Pinnacle $10/$15 – lacking flavor but still okay value for the lack of harshness
Secondary: Beefeater $18/$25 might be worth if you can find for only slightly higher price than the above (Beefeater 24 might also be a good midway point to the Premiums, better than Beefeater as it is less overloaded with juniper and more floral notes)
Premium Gin for Martinis
– Plymouth $30 (not overamped with Juniper, preferred brand of Alfred Hitchcock, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ian Fleming (creator of James’ Bond), and Winston Churchill)
– Citadelle Reserve $35 (note: not the regular Citadelle, hard to find)
– Bombay Sapphire East (note: not the regular Bombay Sapphire, hard to find)
– Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength London Dry Gin $30 (note: not the regular Martin Miller’s, hard to find)
Secondary: Broker’s $20, Greenhook Ginsmiths $30
DO NOT GET: Nasty (Gilbey’s, Fleischmann’s), Overpriced (Bombay regular, Tanqueray $20/$29, Tanqueray Rangpur, Tanqueray 10 – overpowering botanicals very citrusy but decent), Premium Good but not great (Citadelle, Boodles, Magellan, Botanist, Bombay Sapphire $21/29 heavy botanical flavor, Citadelle $30/1.75, Hendricks $35/$58 – a love or hate it gin as it is not a London Dry Gin, it’s a bit soft, gateway gin for beginners, G’Vine, Martin Miller $40 for 1L, Beefeater 24 $18/750)
Note: For Gin and Tonic, use Fevertree or Schweppe’s for Tonic Water (Schweppe’s better than Canada Dry, Q Tonic is too mellow)
