Quote Originally Posted by Zardoz View Post
She did put forth the opinion that all Gins are not created equal, and if one is not starting with Tanqueray, you're wasting your time anyway! She had a lot of knowlege and opinions on it in fact!
Yes, Tanqueray is lovely, and in my opinion, Tanqueray No. 10 is even lovelier, but since I drink a G&T nearly every day, I prefer to save the good stuff for special occasions. I also sometimes keep a small bottle of Hendrick's (a Scottish gin) in the freezer for the rare times when I feel like a martini.

It's bewildering, sometimes, to stand in front of a wall of liquor and wonder what the difference is between one bottle and another. Why is one so cheap and the other so expensive? What do they taste like? And we latch on to a favorite and rarely stray. That's why I found this review from Eric Asimov and his friends at the New York Times so helpful:


No, Really, It Was Tough: 4 People, 80 Martinis
Tasting Report: I’ll Take My Juniper Berries With Personality

BEST VALUE

Plymouth English Gin $22 *** 1/2
82.4 proof 1 liter
Subtle and elegant with crisp, lingering flavors of citrus and juniper: a martini in a dinner jacket. (Importer: Absolut Spirits, New York)
Junipero Anchor Distilling $35 ***
United States 86 proof 750 milliliters

Smooth, clean and very dry with assertive, classic flavors of juniper and citrus: a martini with one eyebrow raised.
Cadenhead’s Old Raj Dry Gin $50 ***
Scotland 110 proof 750 milliliters

Powerful, muscular and hot, but in a good way: a martini with a punch.
(Preiss Imports, Ramona, Calif.)
Seagram’s Extra Dry $15 ** 1/2
80 proof 750 milliliters
Surprisingly complex, with fruit, ginger, juniper and citrus flavors: a martini with a thesaurus.
Tanqueray London Dry Gin $22 ** 1/2
England 94.6 proof 750 milliliters
Crisp with a hint of mint and juniper flavors: a martini peeking out from librarian’s glasses. (Diageo, Norwalk, Conn.)
Hendrick’s $40 ** 1/2
Scotland 88 proof 750 milliliters
Unusual, intriguing floral aromas: a martini in a Hawaiian shirt. (William Grant & Sons, New York)
Gordon’s London Dry $12 ** 1/2
United States 80 proof 750 milliliters
Gentle and harmonious with cardamom and nutmeg aromas: a martini in a gray flannel suit.
Bombay Sapphire London Dry $30 **
England 94 proof 1 liter

Jangly flavors of mint, herbs and citrus, with detectable alcoholic heat: a neurotic martini. (Bombay Spirits, Miami)
Quintessential London Dry $30 **
England 80 proof 750 milliliters

Smooth and direct, but with an odd, bittersweet flavor: a martini with a blemish. (White Rock Distilleries, Lewiston, Me.)
Martin Miller’s London Dry $32 **
England 80 proof 750 milliliters
Soft and slightly sweet, with floral aromas, but not a hint of juniper: a martini in pedal pushers. (Skyy Spirits, New York)
WHAT THE STARS MEAN:
Ratings range from zero to four stars and reflect the panel’s reaction to the gins, which were tasted with names concealed. The panelists this week are Eric Asimov; Florence Fabricant; Pete Wells, editor of the Dining section; and Audrey Saunders, an owner of the Pegu Club in Manhattan. The tasted gins represent a selection generally available in good retail shops, restaurants and over the Internet. Prices are those paid in liquor shops in the New York region.
Regards,
Rex.