Ok, all these threads about martinis have me thinking: apart from a bad teenage run in with some store-brand rotgut and some instant Country-Time Lemonade (yes, I puked), I’ve never had a gin drink in my life. Where do I start? What’s a good entry-level cocktail for a gin newbie? Please share recipes and recommendations.
Gin and tonic. Some gin. Some tonic water. A wedge of lime. Get in hammock and waste afternoon.
But for God’s sake, use a decent gin, or it will taste like crap. I’m often skeptical when people insist that more expensive liquors are better. Sometimes that’s true, but not always. With gin, IT’S TRUE. Get yourself some Bombay Sapphire, or you’ll very likely hate it.
Tanquerey and Tonic has generally been my bar drink of choice for years now.
Hmm, no hammock, but I’m pretty adept at wasting afternoons anyhow.
BBVL: Yeah, I thouroughly stand by the “buy good liquor” rule; even for vodka.
Soo I’ve got Tanquerey and Bombay Sapphire on the “try” list for the weekend. Even if the color of the Bombay is unsettling to me (it looks like Barfly Smurf’s blood! :eek: ).
Gin and tonic, gin and tonic, gin and tonic.
I think boot gin works perfectly well for a gin and tonic, but if you’re not a big drinker maybe it’s well to heed Lou’s advice.
capybara’s recipe leaves out one important ingredient – ice! Warm gin is no man’s friend. Indeed, for martinis it’s often worthwhile to keep your gin in the freezer, but you’re not supposed to do that for the G&T because supercool gin won’t melt the ice in the glass to the proper extent. (Don’t drink a martini yet, BTW; you’re not ready for it.)
You take a tall glass, fill it with ice, pour in a shot of gin, fill with tonic, and add a wedge of lime (lemon’s OK too). Don’t put in too much gin.
Also worthwhile is the “lazy Tom Collins,” a G&T with 7Up, Sprite, or (my fave) Sierra Mist replacing the tonic. An actual Tom Collins is made with sugar syrup, lime juice, and soda, but if you’re making it yourself, I find that to be too much hassle.
–Cliffy
Don’t fret – it’s colored glass.
–Cliffy
I drink Gin & Seven.
MMMmmmMMMM
Used to be good friends with the liquor rep in our area that carried Bombay.
Oh, good.
Thanks for all the pointers!
Hmm, G and Ts for me this weekend! Wheee!
If I’m away from home, my gin drink of choice is a gin & tonic (aka G&T) - preferably with good gin if that’s under my control.
I’m also a fan of the Gin Gin: gin & ginger ale. Unfortunately, most commercial ginger ale is way too sweet and not gingery enough for my liking, so I never ask for it.
I used to make Gin Gins at home using Reed’s Ginger Brew (I used the one carried by Trader Joe’s, which I think is the Premium – green bottle, red border around the label IIRC), until I realized that $1 per 12oz bottle is a lot to pay for something that is so easy to make. I really like ginger, and was consuming a lot of the Reed’s, not just as a mixer for gin.
So, about a year ago I started making my own ginger drink (closer to Ginger Beer than Ginger Ale, since it’s less sweet, more gingery, and cloudy). The recipe I use is similar to that described here, except that I use regular tap water, and usually lime rather than lemon. I sometimes make batches with differing amounts of fresh ginger; I like mine more gingery than most of my guests.
I’ll agree with previous posters that gin quality is important in a G&T; however, I find I can cut back on the quality of gin used in a homemade Gin Gin because the taste of the ginger is much stronger than that of tonic.
Just be aware that what makes gin into gin is the botanicals, and that different brands use different infusions, which means that some (like Gordon’s and Bombay Sapphire) are heavy on the juniper, while others (like Hendricks) are heavy on cucumber.
So, a G&T made with Gordon’s or Bombay Sapphire is best with a slice of lemon or lime, while a Hendricks G&T is best with a slice of cucumber.
I like Hendricks, it is especially yummy, although a Bramble made with Bombay Sapphire is pretty good too.
I love spending Christmas with my sister the bartender and cocktail waitress…
Just a tip - a dash of bitters in a G&T is quite yummy.
I have been buying Daresbury’s Quintessential gin lately. I like it a lot, and have gotten quite a lot of favorable reaction when I serve it to guests.
Forget Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray and especially (blecch) Gordons. The first two are drinkable, yes, but to truely enjoy a gin and tonic, you need to get your hands on some Plymouth.
Throw threes of any suit onto the discard last, and above all, pay close attention to what the other guy is picking up and throwing out. I know that it’s hard to anticipate what cards he has in his hand when you’re just starting, but it doesn’t take that long to learn, really…
Whoops, wrong kind of gin newbie. Carry on, then. 
People have mentioned Bombay Sapphire and Tonic with a wedge of lime and lots of ice. But to make this drink perfect, you must mix in a splash of Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice. All bars have it. You just have to ask for it. Enjoy!
And that is my drink of choice. For a newbie, though, I think he should start with the Sapphire. Anything less and he will be off gin, anything more and he will not appreciate it enough for the extra cost. After you get use to the drink move on up to the Plymouth.
Related question: What exactly is gin “bruising”? I read somewhere, possibly here, that shaking gin causes it to “bruise”. And how do they prevent this in transport?
My favorite gin is Hendrick’s. It’s crisp and clean and tastes a little bit like cucumber. Yum!
Here’s another recommendation for Plymouth gin. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Tanq and Tonic was my introduction to gin drinks, and a very good introduction it was (and thanks to old Dave, wherever he may be now, for that intro). I agree with flight that it’s better to start with a quality “Middle-of-the-Road” major brand than to go straight for the High End bottle.