Mumsnet Talk

For so many years Gordons was just fine. Then came Tanqueray, which was a bit posh... and then came Bombay, which blew away all other gins that I had tasted.

Now I hear there are better gins yet!

We are not on this earth for long, it sounds like I have already spent too many years drinking good gin, when I could have been drinking great gin!

I have not yet made an opinion on the best tonic, though I have enjoyed gin and ginger beer with cheap brands.

My current three favourites are Hendricks, Tanqueray Rangpur (which tastes subtly of limes) and Hoxton (which has a kind of coconut and grapefruit taste).

I always get Fevertree tonic to go with them.

I have never tried Plymouth. There is something about the branding of it that always put me off and made me think it was cheap gin for old ladies. I will try it as it such a good comments here.

I bought Hendricks once, wasn't wild about it for the cost. A bit too flowery.

I love Tanqueray 10, and I generally buy Gordons, Tanqueray Export or Bombay Sapphire, but I've gone off BB a bit. I only ever drink it with tonic, or I make Martinis. The thought of anything else in there just seems wrong.

Oh, except White Ladies. They are the bizz.

Inside ER Towers a 10 battle rages between me and DH.

Lime or lemon with a G&T.

say limes to agree with me

Bathtub and Botanist have both been mentioned - I love both of those.

The other one I've discovered recently is Ish, which is heavenly, especially with 1754 tonic.

Fentimans or Fevertree are better tonics to have with the more expensive gins, according to my local pub, which has a collection of about 100 gins.

Bombay with just a whiff of dry Martini (8:1 in favour of gin). Seriously chilled. Yumsville.

Can you please tell me where to find that little piece of heaven pub

Oh I am salivating in anticipation!

"Fentimans or Fevertree are better tonics to have with the more expensive gins, according to my local pub, which has a collection of about 100 gins."

If I ever get a SatNav, that pub would be on my fave list. (Is that how they work?)

Anyone heard of/been to the ginstitute in London?

Lime with G&T. I've been making mine with the juice of a lime as well as a slice as that makes it one of my 5 a day.

I had no idea that there are so many gins! I've been experimenting with gin that isn't Gordon's or supermarket own value brand and currently have a bottle of Greenall's in the fridge coz I like the shape of the bottle

Will I really appreciate different, and I'm assuming more expensive gins, if I'm planning on drowning it in supermarket tonic and lime juice?

Haha at just noticing someone with the username WonkyLegs on this thread. How apt.

It's a shame Stratters is not here. She likes to neck back sample a good gin. We promised ourselves an MN Gin sampling Meet Up once - anyone remember that? It never happened.

However, it's worth mentioning again, that we should all be allocated a particular brand to bring along and then get bladdered have a very serious tasting and critiquing session, with proper notes and everything.

Highgate Gin is good for a special occasion. And if you wanted something a bit different, I had an amazing cocktail yesterday, made with Damson Gin, sugar syrup and soda. It was wonderful!!!

Hark at you lot, you bunch of lushes!

I once famously did a market research for Gordons and was required to taste lots of other gins. I arrived sober, with not a penny to my name and left 2 hours later, pissed, with £40 in my pocket and not a clue what gin was what!

In short, I think I like them all!

Sipsmith and Fevertree tonic is yum with lime.

Plymouth is just yum. Also, if you go to the distillery, you get a tour from a very enthusiastic bloke that looks remarkably like Derren Brown!

I can't drink it any more, but there's a very fancy gin made with frankincense and called 'sacred gin', which my mate says is amazing if you like the smell of incense: sacredspiritscompany.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50

I think gin is nicest with a dash of elderflower cordial, a squeeze of lime and topped up with tonic.

Our gin nights always seem to involve Bombay Sapphire...

Sacred Gin is the one made in Highgate that I referred to (forgot its real name isn't Highgate Gin!!) my brother is taking me to the Ginstitute for my bday in march, can't wait!!

Oops, sorry carolra, should have noticed that!

I'd love to know if it's as good as it sounds - the ingredients sound almost like perfume.

I am itching to go to Ginstitute - just trying to justify the £200 it would cost for me + dp.
I am intrigued to see if I can make myself a decent recipe

Ooh sacred spirit sounds amazing!

I reckon a Mnet ginstitute field trip is in order...

Carolra - you must report back!

Sacred spirit do a Christmas pudding gin!
<faints>

Sacred gin is lovely. We bought some for our rector for his birthday - he's the official churchy-person for some gin society (I was paying a lot of attention when he told us, as you can see) and when we saw it in Fortnums I had to buy it. They gave us a little taste and it was lovely - I always think its a sign of a good gin if you can drink it neat!

Otherwise I love Hendricks and Sipsmith, and have Bombay for my throwing gin. Loathe Hoxton gin though - though I may like it if I was expecting it. Someone handed me a "g&t" and it tasted like Malibu. Bleurgh.

It's DH's birthday today and I have finally found what to get him with Ginstitute. Thanks for the inspiration!