Alpana’s Gin Picks

Bloody Marys with Gin.

I'm a big gin fan and I remember reading somewhere that the original bloody mary may have been made using gin instead of vodka since gin is what they mostly drank back then. I went through a phase where if I ordered a cocktail, it was always a bloody mary but I also didn't want to give up my gin so I asked for a gin bloody mary. The juniper and other aromatic botanicals in the gin really marries (hee hee) well with the sweet tang of the tomato juice and the overall flavor is far more savory than with a vodka based mary. Trust me, it's a good a drink.

I have two favorite gins at the moment - Hendrick's ($37) and Cap Rock ($32). I discovered Cap Rock earlier this summer at a restaurant in Boulder, Colorado. It is a made from a blend of fruits, buds, seeds, and spices infused and distilled in a base spirit made with organic Jonathon and Braeburn apples. Twelve different botanicals (some dried some fresh) and two fresh juices are used to produce layers of fresh aromas and tastes.

Most recently, I have also discovered Right Gin ($27) from Sweden. I made a batch of bloody mary mix this past Sunday and instead of my usual Hendrick's, I poured in some Right Gin and the difference was amazing. With Hendrick's, you can really pick up the celery seasoning and the flavor is more on the savory herbal side. As expected, Right heightened the black pepper notes and the overall flavor was spicier and not as "sweet".

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