Most guests at Queen prefer to enjoy gin through classic cocktails such as Gin & Tonics , Martinis and Negronis , Ansaldi says . The bar carries six different brands of gin : N3 , Bombay , T10 , Sipsmith , Hendrick ’ s and Monkey 47 . “ Each gin on our menu has been carefully chosen for its unique characteristics , allowing us to provide an enjoyable gin experience for our guests ,” he says .
Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach stocks more than 20 brands from all over the world , including Apostoles , Four Pillars , Bombay Sapphire , Plymouth , The Botanist , Malfy , Aviation , Citadelle , Gray Whale , Fords , Hendrick ’ s and Bols , says bar manager Stephen Wicker . Bombay Sapphire and Hendrick ’ s Gin tend to be the most popular calls . “ Some trends I ’ ve noticed are that consumers have been favoring brands with citrus peel or olive leaves , as most guests favor these notes in their cocktails .”
Gin is the heart and soul of the beverage program at Valerie in New York , says beverage director Marshall Minaya . “ When we opened in December 2018 , we had 15 gins available — now we carry over 80 varieties and growing !” Fords London Dry , Hendrick ’ s , Spring 44 , Gin Mare , Four Pillars Olive Leaf gin and Suntory Roku are popular pulls for the bar team and the guests at Valerie .
Minaya has seen an uptick in citrus-forward gins during the past few years , “ not just an orange peel , lemon peel or occasional grapefruit involved in a botanical build , but a full-blown citrus nose , palate and finish gin .” In fact , he believes that too many of these citrusy gins hit the market simultaneously .
Savory gins are starting to creep in now , too , Minaya adds : “ These make for a lovely Martini riff .”
Minneapolis-based All Saints typically stocks eight to 12 gins , says beverage program director Scott Weller , “ making sure we always have a wide variety of styles and options ranging from classic London Dry to more contemporary expressions .” He ’ s also a fan of genever , “ the super-malty , Holland-based precursor to gin . We carry Old Duff Genever , and it ' s a fun bottle to grab if you want to turn some classic gin cocktails on their heads .”
WORKING WITH GIN
Queen ’ s approach with gin cocktails is distinct from working with other spirits , says Ansaldi . “ The nature of gin , being a complex blend of herbs , spices and fruits , makes it one of the most playful and versatile spirits in our bartenders ’ toolkit . The diversity of flavors within the gin category allows us to explore a wide spectrum of tastes and aromas .”
At Valerie , “ We are trained to understand that not all gins are the same — each gin carries its own story , terroir and botanical build ,” Minaya says . “ Some gins are best served as a modifier to a cocktail , and others are best used as a base spirit . We know what recommendation to make based on the classic cocktail that a guest would like .”
For example , “ When it comes to a Dirty Martini , we offer two gins that are distilled with olives , and we love to showcase something new for a guest rather than just have them order their usual ,” Minaya notes .
“ ABV in a gin is always a conversation , as well as how the gin will shine in different styles of cocktails ,” he says . “ Sometimes you
Gin cocktails at Queen in Miami include the Fleur de Lis ( top ) with Bombay Sapphire gin , elderflower , plum and sparkling sake , and the Negroni riff Idol ’ s Eye , with N3 gin , Campari infused with strawberries and plum wine .
need to add a touch of navy strength [ gin ] in a citrus cocktail or a fizz .”
Gins play well with fresh herbs , fruits and produce so they ' re a natural choice as a base for more refreshing , citrus-forward cocktails such as highballs , smashes and sours , says All Saints ’ Weller . “ This usually means our cocktail menu naturally leans more gin-heavy in the warmer months .”
Tanqueray , Hendrick ' s and Bombay Sapphire are the most popular gins at All Saints , “ but we also carry some more esoteric bottles and gins from around the world , like Applewood Gin from Australia — my personal favorite ; Harahorn from Norway ; Song Cai from Vietnam ; and Condesa from Mexico ,” Weller says . “ Contemporary-style gins are popping up all over the world , and they often showcase botanicals only found in that country — or at least botanicals that are sourced locally — which is super cool .”
INNOVATIVE GIN COCKTAILS
“ Outside of our normal cocktail menu offerings , we ' re always cranking out lots of Martinis and Negronis on a www . cheersonline . com Spring 2024 • Cheers 23