Gin

Gin is one of the most versatile and complex spirits, known for its distinctive juniper flavor and wide range of botanicals. Whether you’re new to the world of gin or a seasoned enthusiast, gin tasting is an excellent way to deepen your appreciation for the spirit, explore the nuances between different brands, and discover which styles you prefer.

Tasting gin involves much more than just taking a sip—it’s about engaging your senses and understanding how different botanicals come together to create a symphony of flavors. In this article, we’ll guide you through the essentials of gin tasting, from how to prepare, what to look for in each phase of the tasting process, and how to describe what you’re experiencing. Whether you’re tasting gin neat or as part of a cocktail, this guide will help you get the most out of your gin tasting experience.

Preparing for a Gin Tasting

Before you dive into tasting, there are a few key steps to ensure you’re prepared and can fully appreciate the gin. Proper preparation is essential for creating the right environment and mindset to taste gin thoughtfully.

1. Choose Your Gins

For a tasting session, you’ll want to select 3 to 5 different gins to compare. This will allow you to explore a range of flavors and styles without overwhelming your palate. You might want to select a variety of gins, such as a London Dry Gin, a new western-style gin (often more experimental), and a flavored gin like a citrus-forward or herbal gin.

2. Use the Right Glassware

For gin tasting, tulip-shaped glasses or small Glencairn glasses are ideal. These glasses concentrate the aromas at the top, allowing you to better appreciate the gin’s nose (aroma). Avoid large glasses, which can dissipate the delicate botanical notes too quickly. If you don’t have tulip glasses, standard rocks or wine glasses will work in a pinch.

3. Have Water and Neutral Snacks on Hand

It’s essential to have room-temperature water for rinsing your palate between tastings. You might also want some neutral crackers or bread to cleanse your palate between gins, helping you reset your taste buds. This ensures each gin is tasted with a fresh palate and that the flavors won’t overlap.

4. Tasting Temperature

Gin should generally be tasted at room temperature when neat, as chilling the spirit can mute some of the delicate botanical flavors. If you’re tasting gin in cocktails, it’s fine to serve it chilled, but for neat tastings, room temperature is best for a full sensory experience.

The Tasting Process: Engage Your Senses

Tasting gin is a sensory experience, and it’s important to use all five senses to fully appreciate what’s in your glass. Follow these steps to get the most out of your gin tasting session:

1. Appearance: Examine the Gin

Begin by looking at the gin in the glass. Swirl it gently to observe its clarity and texture. Gin should be crystal clear, though some gins with a higher concentration of oils from botanicals may appear slightly cloudy when diluted with water or ice. You can also observe the viscosity of the gin—does it form legs on the glass like wine? This can give you an idea of its texture on the palate.

2. Nose: Smell the Gin

Hold the glass a few inches away from your nose and take a light sniff. Try not to inhale too deeply, as the alcohol can overpower the subtler notes. Instead, waft the glassand take short, gentle sniffs to pick up on the gin’s aromas.

What do you smell first? Is it the signature juniper? Do you pick up on other botanicals like citrus, florals, or spices? Take your time here—swirl the glass again and see if new aromas appear. Gins often evolve as they sit in the glass, so take a moment to appreciate the complexity of the nose before moving on.

3. Palate: Taste the Gin

Now it’s time to taste. Take a small sip and let it coat your palate. Pay attention to the initial flavors (the attack) and the way the flavors evolve in your mouth (the mid-palate) before the finish. Swirl the gin around to ensure it hits different parts of your palate.

• Juniper: Does the classic piney, resinous juniper come through strongly?
• Citrus: Can you taste bright, zesty citrus notes like lemon, orange, or grapefruit?
• Spices: Are there hints of pepper, cardamom, or cinnamon?
• Floral: Do you detect softer, more floral notes like lavender or chamomile?
• Herbaceous: Are there herbal flavors like rosemary, sage, or coriander?
• Sweetness: Some gins might have hints of sweetness from botanicals like licorice or angelica.

After your first sip, take a second, slightly larger sip, and hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. This allows the flavors to open up further and gives you a better sense of the gin’s texture and complexity.

4. Finish: Savor the Aftertaste

The finish is what lingers on your palate after you’ve swallowed the gin. Pay attention to how long the flavors remain, and what flavors persist. Is it a dry finish, like you might expect from a London Dry Gin? Does it leave behind a lingering citrus, spice, or floral note?

The length and quality of the finish can tell you a lot about the gin’s craftsmanship. Some gins may have a quick, clean finish, while others may leave a more lingering, complex aftertaste.

Describing the Flavors: Tasting Notes

When tasting gin, it’s helpful to take notes, especially if you’re comparing multiple gins. Here’s a breakdown of the types of flavors and characteristics you might want to note:

• Juniper-forward: Is the juniper piney, peppery, or resinous? Classic London Dry Gins will usually lead with this.
• Citrus notes: Look for zesty, bright notes of lemon, orange, or grapefruit.
• Herbaceous: Herbal notes might include coriander, sage, rosemary, or angelica.
• Floral: Softer gins may feature botanical notes of lavender, chamomile, or elderflower.
• Spices: Some gins have warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or peppercorn.
• Texture: Is the gin light and crisp, or does it have a richer, oilier mouthfeel?
• Balance: How do the flavors work together? Does the gin feel balanced, or do certain notes dominate the profile?

For each gin, try to sum up your tasting experience in a few key words or phrases like, “Bright and citrus-forward with floral hints and a peppery finish,” or “Juniper-dominant with earthy, herbal undertones and a crisp, clean finish.”

Tasting Gin in Cocktails

While tasting gin neat allows you to appreciate its pure form, gin is famously versatile in cocktails. Once you’ve tasted your gin neat, try mixing it into a simple Gin & Tonic or Martini to see how it interacts with mixers and additional ingredients.

• Gin & Tonic: For a Gin & Tonic, use premium tonic water and a complementary garnish (like lime, lemon, or rosemary). The bitterness of tonic water can enhance certain flavors in the gin, such as citrus or herbal notes.
• Martini: In a Martini, the gin’s botanicals should shine through the dry vermouth. Experiment with different ratios of gin to vermouth to find what suits your palate.

After tasting your gin neat, note how the flavors change when combined with tonic or vermouth. Do certain flavors become more pronounced or subdued?

Popular Gin Styles to Explore

If you’re setting up a gin tasting, here are a few different styles to consider, each offering something unique:

1. London Dry Gin: Classic and juniper-forward, with a crisp, dry finish. Examples: Beefeater, Tanqueray.
2. New Western Gin: Often less juniper-heavy, with more emphasis on alternative botanicals like citrus or florals. Examples: Hendrick’s, Aviation Gin.
3. Old Tom Gin: A slightly sweeter style of gin, often with a richer mouthfeel and historical roots. Examples: Hayman’s Old Tom Gin.
4. Plymouth Gin: A protected designation of gin, softer and slightly more earthy than London Dry Gin. Examples: Plymouth Gin.
5. Flavored Gin: Gins infused with additional flavors like fruit or spice. Examples: Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger, Beefeater Pink.

Appreciate Complexity

Gin tasting is a fantastic way to explore the diverse range of flavors and styles that gin offers. Whether you’re a fan of the juniper-forward classics or prefer more experimental, botanical gins, tasting gin thoughtfully allows you to understand and appreciate the complexity of this beloved spirit.

Next time you pour yourself a glass of gin, take a moment to savor the aroma, flavor, and texture, and think about the craftsmanship behind each bottle. Whether you’re enjoying it neat or in a cocktail, gin tasting is about more than just drinking—it’s about discovering new layers of flavor, appreciating the unique botanicals, and deepening your understanding of one of the world’s most iconic spirits. Happy tasting, and cheers to the wonderful world of gin!