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Originally Posted by ferrets_bueller
Someone mentioned Nolets gin, a French product laced with Turkish roses. (And here I switch into J. Peterman mode) It used to be the top shelf offering at The Blue Bar in The Algonquin, where I occasionally rent out one of the small libraries for midtown meetings when I am in New York. I tried to like it, but it's dreadful. (End J. Peterman pretentious mode.)
I'm generally a traditionalist about booze, but once in a while some bearded bunch of mad scientists get something right.
An example of good craftsmanship in a place you wouldn't expect it: I can highly recommend Ransom, an Old Tom dark gin from Oregon. Superb straight up, or with one of the fairly new gigantic ice cubes. (Two theories about the "Old Tom" designation: One is that saloons serving the stuff had a sign out front with a fat Tomcat;the other is that it was the basis for the original Tom Collins.)
A second example is the Pinot Noir revolution that started about 25 years ago in Washington or Oregon. But perhaps this is old enough to be considered a traditional place where it is grown.
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I've had Nolets. Thought it a bit sweet and fragrant. But tolerable.
If you want to get into some strange gin, yet more drinkable than stuff like Monkey 47, Barr Hill is interesting. It's made from honey. The nose is a bit off-putting, but it actually goes down nicely in a g&t. It does not, however, make a very good martini.
If you like super dry gin made with exceptionally pure ingredients, Martin Miller's is excellent. Super-crisp. The only problem I have with it, however, is it's so crisp, it suffers from the same affliction as Tito's Vodka: Purity outweighing flavor.
My favorite g&t gin of the moment is Gunpowder Gin. This stuff is fantastic. Floral, crisp, and little sweet. With Fever Tree, outstanding. Again, however, not the best martini.
I've traveled this land far and wide and keep coming back to two somewhat pedestrian choices: Sapphire and Hendrick's. Bombay Sapphire makes the best martini. Hendrick's an interesting second best. And both work nicely in a g&t.
