The selection is unreal - find a country, find a flavor profile, find a cool bottle design: it's never been a better time to explore the huge variety in gin. It's not just pine trees anymore!!
Jason DeRusha's Top 6 Gins
Posted on May 4th 2024
Jason DeRusha
SÔNG CÁI VIỆT NAM Floral Gin:
"You'll see Song Cai behind the bar of some of the Twin Cities finest restaurants, as the connection to the home of many of our Hmong-American friends is so unique and special. I love the lightness of this floral gin - you'll get a touch of berry, a hint of pollen, a grassy green pepper. Perfect in a summery negroni."
Condesa Gin Prickly Pear and Orange Blossom: From Mexico
"A female-owned distillery in Mexico City, Condesa's classic gin is also excellent, but I think this infused gin is special. Prickly pear, orange blossom, raspberry, juniper berries, coriander seeds and lime - just add tonic, or experiment with a really explosive gimlet."
Gin Raw Gastromic Gin:
"What do you get when you take the talents of a chef, a sommelier, a mixologist and a master parfumeur in one of the most exciting food cities in the world, Barcelona, Spain? You get Gin Raw. Herbal, citrus, exotic: lemon, citron and kaffir lime leaf combine with just a hint of juniper."
Beefeater Gin:
"This is the classic martini gin. Affordable, clean, crisp, juniper-forward but nicely balanced with citrus. I love this gin with just a splash of vermouth and then I shake it like a Polaroid picture to dilute it just a bit."
Tanqueray No. Ten:
"A bartender favorite, Tanqueray No. Ten takes the original botanicals in a Tanqueray (juniper, coriander, angelica, and licorice) and adds in fresh white grapefruit, fresh lime, fresh orange, and chamomile flowers.
Citrus-forward, but a little more exciting than the standard Tanqueray - you'll get lime and then juniper - it's warm and herby and a little spicy."
Local:
Tattersall Gin:
"22 botanicals, I tasted this out of a thermos when Dan Oskey was getting ready to start his company in Minneapolis, and I still maintain it's one of the best gins in the world. Big time citrus on the nose, it's got a mild juniper taste up front, but then you get the coriander, citrus, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and a peppery finish. It's baking spice, it's floral, warm and spicy, it's an amazing gin."