# Gin - The beverage, not the card game **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200 "2004-07-21T16:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/1 "2004-07-21T16:35:49Z")
\*\*Mathochist \*\* and **Ass for a Hat** , I took your [suggestion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=259408), and tried Citadelle. I like the fact it’s $4 less for a bottle, but as to whether it’s better than Bombay Saphire… The jury’s still out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good gin. Definitely a top shelf. Not a gin for diluting with tonic water, but it doesn’t have the same subtleties of Saphire. I may buy it again. Maybe it will grow on me. Anyways, Dopers, what’s your favorite gin? ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/2 "2004-07-21T22:35:21Z")
Bombay Sapphire ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/3 "2004-07-21T22:41:39Z")
Not a big gin drinker, and the wife prefers vodka martinis…but the bottle in the bar is Bombay Sapphire. ---
**Author:** ![Jplacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/4 "2004-07-21T22:43:11Z")
I am a Beefeater fan. I giggle everytime I buy a bottle. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/5 "2004-07-21T22:46:00Z")
Sapphire only. I love the way it gets all syrupy after it’s been in the freezer for a while. I usually have it with tonic, but when I feel a bit of a heathen, I use Grapefruit juice. MMMMmmmmm, Gin. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/6 "2004-07-21T22:51:27Z")
Lately I’ve been buying Daresbury’s Quintessential Dry. It’s top shelf, full flavor, and not as common as some of the others, so it marks one as a bit snobbish. And, I can get it at a discount, usually. It’s a very tasty gin. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/7 "2004-07-21T23:14:28Z")
Difficult to say what’s the best, since they are all made with different aromatics. It’s really a matter of what flavors trip your taste buds. I like Bombay Sapphire, but also like Tanqueray. Totally different taste. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/8 "2004-07-22T02:30:30Z")
I like Bombay Sapphire myself but often drink Gordon’s which is very decent. To be perfectly honest when it comes to G & T’s I don’t really mind what brand is used, after two or three I care even less! ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/9 "2004-07-22T11:23:35Z")
I drink Plymouth Gin, which is citrussy rather than juniperry. I had a bad G and T experience the other day - my inner tightwad had talked me into buying cheapo supermarket own brand diet tonic water. It was vile, half flat and a complete false economy. So, folks, don’t do what I did. Buy a decent tonic water. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/10 "2004-07-22T12:30:49Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Difficult to say what’s the best, since they are all made with different aromatics. It’s really a matter of what flavors trip your taste buds. I like Bombay Sapphire, but also like Tanqueray. Totally different taste. I find Tanq makes better G&Ts than Saphire. I also add a dash of salt. Try it, it’s yummy. > [@silenus](#): > > …and the wife prefers vodka martinis Nope. Sorry. No such thing. **Tansu** , I think I’ve heard of Plymouth. Wasn’t it popular in the 40s, then almost disappeared, and is now making a comeback? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/11 "2004-07-22T12:54:32Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > I find Tanq makes better G&Ts than Saphire. I also add a dash of salt. Try it, it’s yummy. Anytime I make a tonic drink (and lately I’ve been drinking lots of rum and tonics - very refreshing) I add a dash of bitters. You should try this. I promise you’ll be instantly converted. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/12 "2004-07-22T15:30:14Z")
I drank Bombay Sapphire for many years, but lately find myself leaning more and more toward Tanqueray 10. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/13 "2004-07-22T16:08:41Z")
Ok, this may become another thread, but teach me how to make a good Gin and Tonic. I enjoy them at the local bar on occasion, and would like to be able to make one at home that’s just as tasty. I’ll be starting that other thread too… teach me how to make drinks. Period! Kthxbi! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/14 "2004-07-22T16:36:44Z")
The classic recipe according to [Webtender.com](http://Webtender.com), is: 2 oz Gin 5 oz Tonic water 1 Lime wedge As stated above, I like to add a dash of bitters. ---
**Author:** ![Mamapotomus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mamapotomus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mamapotomus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/15 "2004-07-22T16:38:43Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Sapphire only. I love the way it gets all syrupy after it’s been in the freezer for a while. I usually have it with tonic, but when I feel a bit of a heathen, I use Grapefruit juice. > MMMMmmmmm, Gin. I have just discovered the joys of Gin and it’s love at first taste! I’ve only tried Sapphire, which I keep in the freezer too. I’ve been adding a wee bit of olive juice in with the tonic- I really like the slight salty tang. How does the taste of Sapphire differ from regular Bombay? Tanqueray? Can you really tell the difference? I’m thirsty now. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/16 "2004-07-22T17:08:46Z")
I usually get plain ol’ Seagrams Extra Dry. I’ve had Tanq (still got a bit of the bottle I bought a few months ago sitting in my freezer at home) and Bombay Sapphire (my friend drank most of that, but the bottle was too pretty to throw out). But recently, I had a Gimlet with Beefeater, and I really liked it. Maybe I’ll shell out for a bottle of Beefeater sometime. **Maus Magill** : Is Vodkatini the accepted term? That’s what it’s called in my _Ultimate Book of Cocktails_, but it’s a British book. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/17 "2004-07-22T17:19:33Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > **Maus Magill** : Is Vodkatini the accepted term? That’s what it’s called in my _Ultimate Book of Cocktails_, but it’s a British book. I’m not sure. It’s as good a term as any. I, personally, loathe vodka. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/18 "2004-07-22T19:29:12Z")
I’m a martini man, and I actually prefer regular Bombay to Bombay Sapphire. I like that it’s a little lower in proof (86 vs. 90), and to my taste, the botanicals work better in the regular than in the Sapphire. If Bombay’s not available at a bar, I’ll take Beefeater. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/19 "2004-07-22T21:50:07Z")
Nobody ever gives any love for Booths or Boodles, either of which could be counted as a better than average inexpensive gin. I will not make g&t’s with Sapphire, that’s a sacrilege. So for those hot summer days I keep Booths or Boodles in the house, depending which is on sale. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200/20 "2004-07-23T04:14:54Z")
I read this thread this morning, and went for lunch this afternoon at the White Spot, a local chain. Since the liquor menu was there on the table, I read the ‘Spotini’ section, and found a few gems. (The real martini was halfway down the list.) ULTRA VIOLET - Vodka, melon liqueur, Blue Curacao, Peach Schnapps, cranberry juice. WATERMELON - Vodka, watermelon liqueur, cranberry juice. WAHINI-TINI - Vodka, rum, pineapple juice. I forget the name of the last on the list, but the ingredients included vanilla-flavoured vodka, something called Sour Apple (another liqueur?), and “a swirl of caramel”. Bond would shoot everybody in the place. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-the-beverage-not-the-card-game/256200.md?page=2)