Stephen Handisides came by to try out our Gin Flight. As an avid gin drinker, Stephen knows that one of the best ways to try out new gins is by using the pairing system on the cocktail menu. Not only did he get to try four different gins, he was also given the opportunity to learn a little more about the history of those gins. It’s a great deal, our Gin and Tonic Flights only cost $24 but you get four one ounce pours of gin (your choice) and paired with a tonic.
Gin Flight NYC
There aren’t any rules when it comes to drinking gin, but, there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to proper gin drinking. Gin has had a bad rap over the years but in reality it is one of the most versatile and fun alcohols to drink. Remember, there are so many different ways to drink gin, (hence the gin flight sampling) so many different types of pairing types and even different types of water that go better with certain various gins. We even have gin clubs on select Tuesdays which are a lot of fun and a great way to understand the essence of gin. And, you can always order a gin flight, any day of the week.
Shishito My Libido
Stephen Handisides is an international TV presenter, roving reporter, model, MC, journalist, publisher and an all-round expert on Aesthetic Beauty and Male Grooming. Stephen Handisides is a regular expert commentator in the US, Australia and UK on ITV’s This Morning, GMTV, Lorraine, OK! TV, Five, Sky News, Channel 10, BBC radio and the Dr. Oz Network. Stephen is the host of ‘The Modern Face of Beauty’ television series broadcast on 52 local and national television networks in the US reaching 44 million households, as well as Filmon.TV with 74 million viewers and the MyFaceMyBody global channel. To read more of Stephen’s blogs CLICK HERE.
Here are the four gins that Stephen chose for his Gin Flight.
Gin Flight: Bluecoat American Dry Gin
is a revolutionary spirit that leads with refreshingly sweet aromatics, giving way to soft and earthy juniper notes. the body is intensely smooth with a complex depth of flavors that reveal themselves as they permeate the palate. the bright finish is exceptionally long and completes an experience that is incredibly pleasing to the senses.
All Gins Begin With Juniper Berries
And bluecoat is no exception, however, bluecoat exclusively utilizes organic juniper berries which transmit spicy, earthy notes as opposed to the pungent pine-tree flavors of regular berries. a premium blend of organic american citrus peels and spices complements the rich juniper notes, giving bluecoat its classic citrusy finish.
“Handcrafted In America”
As the original american dry gin, bluecoat is in a class by itself. unique in flavor profile and unsurpassed in character, five times distilled in the birthplace of america – PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
Gin Flight: Bluecoat American Dry Gin Botanicals
Barrel Aging Process
Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin is produced by aging Bluecoat American Dry Gin® in new American oak barrels for a minimum of three months providing a unique, well rounded and complex spirit.
Distilling Process
Distilled in a custom, hand-hammered copper pot still, bluecoat represents the pinnacle of artisanal craft spirits.
only the smoothest, most flavorful cuts are bottled. the results are immediately noticeable: a quality spirit with a smooth and gentle mouth-feel and a refreshingly light taste.
*source Bluecoat American Dry Gin®
Gin Flight: Hendricks Gin
Our Peculiar Past
Meet the delightfully curious Hendrick’s Gin. Life is simply too glorious not to experience its peculiar flavour, infused with rose and cucumber in our remote Scottish distillery.
Seek out those who embrace the unusual, and you’ll find that our gin is much loved by a handful of curious individuals all over the world. We invite you to join the merry few. Do mix yourself a scrumptious tipple and get ready to explore the milestones of Hendrick’s peculiar past.
Our Bennet Still Is Born
The year our BENNET STILL is made by coppersmiths in LONDON. Although a meagre few Bennett stills are ever produced, the few which GAINED A REPUTATION for yielding a spirit that is PARTICULARLY ROBUST and FLAVOURFUL. (Back then, Hendrick’s was just a twinkle in its eye).
The Family Business Commences
Mr. WILLIAM GRANT, with his SEVEN SONS and TWO DAUGHTERS build their family distillery in Scotland. The only assistance from outside the Grant family comes from a single SPORADICALLY WORKING STONEMASON.
Our Carter-Head Still Is Begotten
The CARTER-HEAD STILL destined for Hendrick’s is manufactured by John Dore & Co. With a VAPOUR-DRIVEN FLAVOUR BASKET atop a quite long neck, the Carter-Head engenders an exceedingly SUBTLE, FRESH and DELICATE spirit. Despite its fabulousness, the Carter-Head still has become quite RARE. Only a few are known to exist today.
A Spirit Genius Enters The World
Ms. LESLEY GRACIE is born and from an early age is fascinated with the CURIOUS WORLD OF BOTANICALS, flavours and horses (the horses have no relationship to the gin she would eventually dream up, but facts are facts). At the age of 4, she begins serving her family teas derived from various plants and twigs. Thankfully, HER FAMILY SURVIVES this and countless other experiments and diversions.
A Random Act Of Odd Destiny
On somewhat of a whim, Mr. CHARLES GORDON, GREAT GRANDSON of Mr. William Grant, purchases at auction TWO UNUSUAL STILLS: one, a phenomenally rare Carter-Head; and the other, a dusty 19th-century Bennet. (It will be a full THIRTY-THREE YEARS before he actually determines what precisely to do with these peculiar contraptions).
The Pursuit Is Launched
Mr. Charles Gordon enlists Ms. Lesley Gracie in his ECCENTRIC QUEST to invent an elixir with his two entirely different and very antique stills. Although many interesting distillates are generated, none are deemed UP TO SNUFF. Captivated by the possibilities of using two odd stills to create one unusual spirit, THEY SOLDIER ON with their efforts.
Triumph Of The Unusual
FINALLY, Mr. Gordon and Ms. Gracie achieve “a peculiar sort of deliciousness” by firing up BOTH the Carter-Head and Bennett Stills with an ODD SYMPHONY OF BOTANICALS further enlivened with curious infusions of CUCUMBER and ROSE. Against all odds, they concoct the odd perfection that becomes known as HENDRICK’S GIN.
Visit our Treasury of Tipples for delightful cocktails.
Join the SOCIETY of the UNUSUAL to learn more CUCUMBER SECRETS.
A Small-Minded Approach To Production
Small batch typically means 1,000 litres or fewer. Hendrick’s distills in miniscule batches of 500 litres, which gives our master distiller even greater control of her careful artistry.
Meet our Delectable Odd Botanicals
Hendrick’s wondrous botanical signature consists of flowers, roots, fruits, and seeds from the world over: yarrow, juniper, elderflower, angelica root, orange peel, caraway, coriander, chamomile, cubeb berry, orris root and lemon. They function to complement and set the stage for our delicious duet of infusions: rose petal and cucumber.
A Tale Of Two Stills
Hendrick’s is the marriage of two different spirits from two rare and unusual stills: the Bennet still and the Carter-Head still. By combining the two, we are able to create an extraordinarily smooth gin that has the required character and balance of subtle flavours.
The Infusion Of Rose And Cucumber
No other gin taste like Hendrick’s because no other gin is made like Hendrick’s.
We infuse our gin with the remarkable Bulgarian Rosa Damascena and specially selected cucumbers from the finest producers.
*source Hendrick’s Gin
Gin Flight: No.3 London Dry Gin
No.3 is the London Dry Gin distilled to a proprietary recipe of Berry Bros. & Rudd, London’s oldest wine and spirit merchant.
The name No.3 refers to the address in St James’s Street, London: our home since 1698. No.3 was created to be the last word in gin for a Dry Martini.
With juniper at its heart, it unashamedly celebrates the integrity and character of a classic London Dry Gin: six perfectly balanced botanicals distilled in traditional copper pot stills.
History of Gin
Gin was unheard of in England until the ‘Glorious Revolution’, when William of Orange was crowned King of England in 1688. William came from Holland, the home of juniper flavoured spirits.
Under his rule the spirit we know today as gin quickly became the popular drink of choice in England, and has stayed a national favourite ever since.
‘Sweet gin’ was the norm until the early 19th century, so-called due to the large amount of sugar used to mask the harsh, coarse spirit.
In the 1830s the distillation process was transformed and a much cleaner, smoother gin emerged, with juniper as its definitive flavour.
London Dry Gin
This new style was coined ‘London Dry Gin’ to differentiate it from the sweeter gin and had refreshing yet fully flavoured qualities.
As the gin became more refined, so too did its archetypal drinker. No longer for down-and-outs, gin became the tipple of choice for the discerning London gentry who drank for social pleasure.
Today, London Dry remains the most popular style of gin but is not necessarily produced in London, as most of the city’s 19th century distilleries have now disappeared.
Traditionally distilled with only natural botanicals and a definitive taste of juniper at its heart, No.3 is the epitome of London Dry Gin.
Gin Flight: No. 3 London Dry Gin Botanicals
Just three fruits and three spices, collectively known as botanicals, are all we deem essential to the flavour of No.3 London Dry Gin.
Juniper, from Italy, not only gives gin its name, but also the unmistakable gin taste of pine and lavender. Sweet Spanish orange peel provides freshness in the form of clean, crisp citrus. Grapefruit peel gives an extra zingy lift.
Angelica root delivers an earthy quality and helps to make the gin dry. Moroccan coriander seed releases a lemon flavour and a spicy, slightly peppery finish. And finally, cardamom pods which add a spicy, aromatic, yet warm bite.
We do not believe any further botanicals to be necessary, as they can detract from the flavours essential to a classic Dry Martini or a gin and tonic.
How No. 3 Is Made
We distil our gin at one of Holland’s oldest distilleries – a family owned firm like us, with over 300 years of experience and know-how.
No.3 Gin is the only London Dry Gin that they distil to our own proprietary recipe, using small traditional pot stills.
Perfecting The Recipe
To develop that recipe for a high quality liquid that gives a truly traditional taste of London Dry Gin, Simon Berry called upon the expertise of Dr. David Clutton. As one of the world’s foremost authorities on gin, he has helped to create some of the world’s most prestigious gin brands.
Read More About David Clutton
Along with a team of fine spirit experts, Dr. Clutton spent a year painstakingly refining and perfecting the final recipe.
Gin Flight: The Distillation Process
The chosen botanicals are carefully weighed and placed in a clean, copper pot still. Pure grain alcohol is diluted with demineralised water and added to the botanicals. This is stirred gently and then left to steep overnight. This allows full extraction of the essential oils from the botanical ingredients.
The next morning, distillation begins. The pot still is heated, turning the liquid to vapour before condensing back to liquid form. After a resting period and further filtration, the gin is diluted to a strength of 46% alcohol by volume, before being bottled.
Distiling the finest gin takes a high level of skill and years of experience. This is why the Master Distiller, working closely with Dr. Clutton, presides over every batch of No.3 Gin.
Gin Flight Tasting Notes
NOSE
Bright, crisp and fresh with an uplifting welcome of juniper.
PALATE
Juniper to the fore, supported by floral notes and spicy, warm cardamom. Plenty of citrus ‘zing’ complemented by the gingery spiciness of coriander.
FINISH
The earthy dryness of angelica kicks in.
*source #3 Gin
Gin Flight: Plymouth Gin
A City Of Exploration
A beacon for explorers and pioneers, the port of Plymouth has been shaped by the sea and defined by its geography. It’s also the place Plymouth Gin was born.
A Home Like No Other
Our home since 1793 and a monastery before that, the historical Black Friars distillery is the oldest working gin distillery in England.
A Navy Favourite
From a weather beaten English port to the four corners of the globe, the journey of Plymouth Gin is synonymous with the British Royal Navy, its sailors and ships.
A Modern Classic
Plymouth Gin is not just the choice for seafaring pioneers. Since the beginning of the 20th century it’s also been the choice of bartenders around the globe.
A New Adventure
From the Seven Seas to bars around the world, Plymouth Gin has had its share of adventures over the last 200 years. We know the future will be no different and we can’t wait.
Plymouth Gin Original
Plymouth Gin is a true original. Since 1793 its unique recipe of botanicals has been made to the highest standards in the same distillery in the very heart of the historical city of Plymouth, on England’s South West coast. It’s these factors that have resulted in our particularly English gin becoming as famous and well travelled as those who first tasted it.
Gin Flight: Plymouth Gin Tasting Notes
The Nose: A rich, fresh aroma of juniper followed by notes of coriander and cardamom.
The Palate: Extremely smooth, creamy and full-bodied, with a slight sweetness
The Finish: Elegant, long, fresh and aromatic.
Gin Flight: The Botanicals
JUNIPER BERRIES! If there are no Juniper Berries it’s not gin. Their essential oils provide an aroma of pine and a hint of bitterness on the palate.
CORIANDER SEED
Provides a balance to the gin with its citrus aromas, hint of sour and spice.
ORANGE PEELS
An eating orange from Spain brings a delicate sweetness to the gin’s aromatics.
LEMON PEELS
Adds a background note of fresh citrus.
GREEN CARDAMOM
The highest percentage of essential oils out of any of our botanicals, it also adds a hint of menthol to the gin.
ANGELICA ROOT
Brings the distinctive dry finish that English gins are deservedly famous for, along with a complex sweetness.
ORRIS ROOT
Along with a hint of violet, this natural preservative ensure every bottle we make retains its full flavour and aroma.
Plymouth Gin Heritage Ad FINAL WITH LEGAL-HD_1080p from Plymouth Gin on Vimeo.
*source Plymouth Gin