Gin Night

Last night I decided to experiment with gin drinks at home. I only had a few ingredients, so my options were limited.

First I tried a Bronx Medium, which is gin with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth, and orange juice. (A standard Bronx or a Bronx Dry is made with only dry vermouth.) It was good, but nothing special. It tastes a bit like a screwdriver but with dryer gin instead the sweet sting of the vodka/orange juice combo.

Next up was the Cooperstown, which is an ounce of gin with half an ounce each of sweet vermouth and dry vermouth. Not surprisingly, it tastes like a Manhattan made with gin rather than whiskey. I think the vermouth dominates the gin a little too much in this combination. I remixed it and went heavier on the gin and lighter on the sweet (Rosso) vermouth to much improvement. The drink would be best made with a gin of strong flavor and character. The Tanqueray I used was fine. Junipero might be better. This is a drink I'd order out if anybody knew what it was.

And finally I had a Derby, which in many bartending guides is listed as gin with peach brandy or peach bitters, though in my guide they suggest gin with a dash of Peychaud bitters, stirred with ice and strained into a sherry glass. Usually I don't like the taste of bitters- they're just so...bitter. But when experimenting with gin I've learned they can actually improve the taste. Who knew? Anyway, this drink is rather severe- a gin martini with a bitter bite to it. It might be good after a full meal, but it's not the kind of drink for which you're going to go back for seconds and thirds.

Then I was drunk so I watched Spongebob Squarepants and fell asleep.