The London Lounge

Gentlemen:

Following up on recent libation topics, a guy walks into a bar and craves a good ice cold martini/gibson or two. My oft expressed faves are Plymouth and Hendrick's. Those are seldom available in my climes - southeastern United States.

What's a parched lad to do?

My inquiry - of the "major" brands of gin (excluding Plymouth and Hendrick's), what do the members drink when your choices are limited to the usual suspects and why?

Trey

Ordinary Gordon's let the show down by reducing to 37.5'. But the Tanqueray is up there - there are different strengths of the Plymouth - favourite Royal Navy gin -f or wardroom pink gins. In Brazil there is Seager's ('London gin' made here under some licence - but I don't recall the name in England) - which is pretty strong and Beefeater is nice and dry.
NJS

Plus now Gordon's and Booth's, at least here in the southeastern U.S. are sold (in the liquour stores I frequent) in plastic bottles. I refuse to purchase hooch in plastic bottles.

Trey

Trey - absolutely amazing!! Plastic gin bottles! I remember reading that plastic bottles for milk give off some feminizing chemical (possibly responsible for lowered fertility in certain societies) and, although I am no scientist - if this happens with milk, maybe it happens more with gin.
NJS

I sympathize. I'm a Plymouth man, too, for martinis and vespers. When unavailable I've had best luck, like NJS, with Tanqueray Ten or the regular Tanqueray. I like the botanical mix in Bombay Sapphire for G&Ts but I find it too hot in martinis.

If you like your martinis/vespers with a twist (I prefer olives or, in vespers, cucumber disks) you might like the Philadelphia-made Bluecoat gin. It's copper-pot distilled in small batches with a distinctive botanical blend that emphasizes citrus zest (including some orange). Very well made if you like the style.

It's surprising sometimes where one doesn't find Plymouth. We were in the Lobby Bar at One Aldwych for a drink before seeing Mackerras conduct Figaro at the ROH in late June, and Tanqueray was the best on offer for my martini.

Plymouth is a very small distillery. As I say, its greatest time was with the RN orders but all that has probably gone by the board by now....I can't think of many London bars that stock it - Bombay Sapphire became all the rage - ironic really!!
NJS

Tanqueray has always been up there, according to a friend who was responsible for stocking some of the up markets bars in London.

My first choice is Hendricks, but if not be found, then Tanqueray.

Storeynicholas - I thought Vodka was feminized gin! Couch - I second the Bombay Sapphire being too hot for martinin's observation. Thanks for the bluecoat recommendation. I will try to find it.

Trey wrote:Storeynicholas - I thought Vodka was feminized gin! Couch - I second the Bombay Sapphire being too hot for martinin's observation. Thanks for the bluecoat recommendation. I will try to find it.

I wouldn't tell the Cossacks that!!
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:

Trey wrote:Storeynicholas - I thought Vodka was feminized gin! Couch - I second the Bombay Sapphire being too hot for martinin's observation. Thanks for the bluecoat recommendation. I will try to find it.

I wouldn't tell the Cossacks that!!
NJS

Thank you NJS, you have made me chuckle this morning.

I am just like John Lewis: never knowingly undersold. I do try to bring the chuckles out - but there are always some whose moustaches one can hear bristling - down there in the depths of inner-suburban SW London.............after having been 'up west' to, let us say, the Cavalry and Guards' Club, for their lamb cutlets and ' house claret'....followed by a medium-sized R&J in the law-abiding open-air precincts........... and , harumph!!!! to you too, sir!!!. - Yes, you, sir - who are harumphing at me!!!!!
NJS

Dearest cossack loungers -

Although I consider myself egalitarian, I assumed no cossacks were among our ranks. To all you cossack loungers, I tip my glass of well chilled Stoli to you in your honor and extend to you my most sincere apologies. I meant no disrespect. Please do not make war on my region.

Trey

storeynicholas wrote:I am just like John Lewis: never knowingly undersold. I do try to bring the chuckles out - but there are always some whose moustaches one can hear bristling - down there in the depths of inner-suburban SW London.............after having been 'up west' to, let us say, the Cavalry and Guards' Club, for their lamb cutlets and ' house claret'....followed by a medium-sized R&J in the law-abiding open-air precincts........... and , harumph!!!! to you too, sir!!!. - Yes, you, sir - who are harumphing at me!!!!!
NJS

Dear NJS,

Please forgiive my ignorance. R & J??? I know of G & Ts, W & S (as in P.G. Wodehouse), B & B (at least in the States), but R & J?
I think I am now ready for D.M. no 2 (Dry Martini, if you must ask).

Frog in Suit

Dear FiS,
More properly 'R y J'.
NJS.