Gin Rummy....OK, Just Gin Then!!!!

Well one of my favorite bevies of choice is definitely gin.  So I thought a mere tribute to all things gin was due!!!

First off, a little hx!  Gin is classified as a hard alcohol, flavored with the seeds of the juniper bush.  Gin is a rather dry alcohol and is rarely enjoyed on it's own, but used instead as a base for many different types of drinks.  Good gin is very smooth, with a strong juniper flavor exciting the senses!

The invention of gin is usually attributed to a Dutch physician in the 17th century, though there is some contention in this area, with many claiming that the Italians (of course it would be the Italians - didn't they discover everything? Bwahahaha!!!) 

had been drinking a nearly identical liquor for some time before this.  Whatevah the case it may be, it was actually in good ol' Holland that gin first achieved it's popularity, being widely sold as a tonic to treat ailments such as gallstones, rheumatism, and stomach aches.  Juniper was added not only for flavor, but because the berries have a number of healing properties, including acting as a diuretic and helping with arthritis.  Sounds good so far.....

From the Netherlands, gin spread to England (like all great liquor did!), where it quickly achieved mass appeal.  The flavor was simplified somewhat from the Dutch gin, which was often aged in wooden casks & ended up taking on more co

mplex flavors.  When, in the early 18th century,  the Brit government allowed gin to be stilled without a license, the market of this product took off like no one's business!  Hence, by the middle of the 18th century, more gin was being consumed in England than beer!!

Today, the most modern style that we consume  is dry gin.  However, we are seeing a flood of ultra premium gins hitting the market.  These are made in small batches and produced exclusively from whole fruits, giving it a balance of taste that makes it ideal for gourmet cocktails.

Gin is most commonly seen in the much loved and coveted "Martini",  in the Gimlet, the Tom Collins, or simply on it's own, mixed with a splash of tonic and a wedge of lime served over ice.

This is one of my favorite summer cocktails that I want to share with you:

The Longdog

2 oz. gin

2 oz. tequila

2 0z. triple sec

2 oz. lime juice

2 oz. lemonade

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with some ice and shake vigorously!!! Work it baby!!!

Pour into a collins glass (tall), unstrained.  Top off with additional lemonade if you can't handle the punch!!  Garnish with lime and bottoms up!!!

MWAH~