Cheers Summer 2021 | Page 47

— NICOLE LEBEDEVITCH , OPERATIONS PARTNER AND BEVERAGE DIRECTOR OF DENVER COCKTAIL BAR FORGET ME NOT

PHOTO CREDIT : KALYA JONES

So what happened in 2020 ? The overall gin category increased 1.4 %, according to the Beverage Information Group ’ s 2021 Handbook Advance , reaching 9.99 million 9-liter cases .

It ’ s somewhat surprising that gin started to turn around during the pandemic , since many consumers learn about gin cocktails at bars , and the on-premise was shuttered for much of the year .

And when people stocked up to stay in during the spring of 2020 , they tended to reach for big bottles of popular vodkas , bourbon , and tequila for making Margaritas at home , as well as cases of beer and boxes of wine . It did not seem to be the time to be experimenting with gin .

But consumers may be getting tired of drinking what they always drink and opting for the safe choices . And as more Americans get vaccinated , and guests feel more comfortable venturing out , some beverage professionals expect to see people getting into gin this year .

“ Right now I would say that gin is most popular among our ‘ in the know ’ cocktail drinkers ,” says Nicole Lebedevitch , operations partner and beverage director of Forget Me Not , a new Denver-based cocktail bar . “ I hope that by the end of 2021 , we are crushing through gin .”

Forget Me Not , which takes its name and inspiration from the location ’ s former flower shop tenants , currently stocks 18 gins on the back bar , ranging from London Dry to navy strength to Old Tom , New American or botanical , and genever . “ Our most popular brands are the new American-style gins , Hendrick ’ s in particular ,” Lebedevitch says . The William Grant & Sons brand , launched in 1999 , incorporates distinct botanicals , with flavors of Bulgarian rose and cucumber .

“ I think our guests like the less-aggressive approach to juniper , but we also see Monkey 47 gaining a ton of popularity ,” Lebedevitch notes . Monkey 47 , acquired by Pernod Ricard last year , is made from 47 botanicals sourced from Germany ’ s Black Forest .

Sear + Sea Bar , the lobby bar at the new JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek in Florida , boasts a portfolio of more than 100 gins displayed on its floor-to-ceiling back bar . “ Because gin is still trying to muscle its way into the spirits market with the likes of vodka and bourbons , the mainstay gins are still the most popular ,” says bartender Thomas Greene .

For example , many customers call for Tanqueray , Bombay Sapphire and Beefeater gins , Greene says . But in the past few years , Hendrick ’ s and Nolet ’ s have been more popular with guests . More recently , Sear + Sea Bar has been getting calls for Aviation gin , due to its popularity with the actor and brand owner Ryan

Gin cocktails at Forget Me Not in Denver include Nobody ’ s Angel , above right , which uses a local Earl Grey-infused gin from Family Jones , bergamot liqueur , lemon juice , egg white and elderflower tonic ; and the Alpine cocktail , with Hendrick ’ s gin , manzanilla sherry , dry vermouth and amaro nonino , with a touch of bitters and sage .

Reynolds , as well as Monkey 47 and Gray Whale gins , he says . The smallbatch Gray Whale uses six botanicals foraged or farmed along the migratory path of the Pacific Gray Whale down California ’ s coast .

“ As the market evolves ,” Greene notes , “ gins have been created using a number of new botanicals , as well as some flavors to mask some of the juniper taste , including Beefeater Pink , which has a strawberry flavor , and the Malfy line that has grapefruit and blood orange flavors .”

COCKTAIL CULTURE Classic cocktails are by far the most popular go-to for gin drinkers at Forget Me Not , “ but I ’ m always looking to encourage guests to drink a well-made Martini or Gibson ,” Lebedevitch says .

The number-one gin cocktail on the bar ’ s menu is the Nobody ’ s Angel , which uses a local Earl Grey-infused gin from Family Jones , bergamot

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