Tanqueray Review

Tanqueray London Dry Gin is sold in the U.S. at 94 proof.  It's distilled 4 times, and is sold in its recognizable green bottle.  Tanqueray's ingredient list is kept secret, known by only 3 master distillers (at least according to the Tanqueray website).  The bulk of it is distilled in Scotland.

Tanqueray is bright platinum in color.  Nosing reveals crisp, sprucy juniper notes.  Citrus zest is also present, along with a slight medicinal note.  And, if you try hard enough, you can find a syrupy sweetness. Tanqueray's taste is dominated, but not overpowered, by a slap of peppery juniper berry.  Lemon peel is mixed in there, too, as are whisps of spearmint, licorice, and the essence of a bubblegum sweetness.  Tanqueray finishes with a hearty burn, thanks in equal measure to the juniper presence and alcohol content.  The aftertaste is akin to what you'd be left with after chewing a pine needle.  Thirty seconds after swallowing, you're left with a tingling burn on the middle of your tongue and top of your palate.

Tanqueray is ubiquitous in American bars and liquor stores, making it a staple gin.  It's juniper spice makes Tanqueray a great choice for a gin and tonic, or for serving over rocks to enjoy on a brisk evening.  Like a whiskey with high rye content, Tanqueray's juniper flavor places it squarely in the catergory of a spicy spirit.

How to Make a Dry Martini

Not sure if the bartender's British accent adds credibility or not.  Anyways, in the words of Shooter McGavin, here's a free lesson:

Hendrick's Gin Review

Hendrick's Gin is self-procalimed as being handcrafted in small batches.  The small batch distillling model is self explanatory: the gin is distilled in smaller quantities (450 liters at a time for Hendrick's) than larger-production brands, which allows the master distiller more control over the process.  Hendrick's Gin is clearly marketed as a boutique gin.  It's held in a short cylindrical, nearly opaque bottle, like that of  an apothecary's.  And, it's 88 proof.

The full set of ingredients are proprietary, but what makes Hendrick's unique is the use of rose petals and cucumbers.  Its appearance is shimmering crystal clear.  Upon nosing, you're met with piney juniper spice, lemon peel, and floral fragrance.  There are also subtle sweet, hard candy-esque notes.  Mouthfeel is a bit heavy, more on the thick than watery side.  Hendrick's taste is juniper spiciness, that's balanced by the sweetness from the rose petals, which comes across as a rose water essence.  The spice/sweetness is the dominant taste profile, but in the background and on the edges is a ground cumin note, which adds nice complexity.  Hendrick's finishes quickly with slight purfumey sweetness and a warm ethanol burn.

Hendrick's Gin proclaims that "It Is Not For Everyone."  Marketing ploys aside, I don't think is necessarily true.  Hendrick's may not be your go-to, everyday gin.  But, it's certainly worth being in your liquor cabinet's rotation.