Gin Blossoms

The juniper berry gets into the spirit

By HANKY PANKY + PINK LADY

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Leaf through the pages of a vintage cocktail book and you're likely to find references to different styles of gin: Hollands and Old Tom. What are these mysterious gins with mannish names? Here's a quick summary of what distinguishes each, as not all gins are created equal.

Dutch gin, also known as Hollands or genever, is made in pot stills primarily from malted barley, corn, wheat and rye; the botanicals are immersed directly into the mash before it is distilled. The use of malted barley results in a full-bodied spirit that is most frequently chilled and sipped straight.

Dry gin is based on a neutral grain spirit rectified through several distillations. Botanical flavors can be added in two methods: by applying them directly to the neutral grain spirits in a pot still prior to re-distillation, or by passing that vaporized spirit through them. This category is the most common one you'll find and includes modern brands, like Beefeater and Bombay.

Old Tom gin is a sweetened gin. It was the type of gin originally called for in the Tom Collins and the Ramos Gin Fizz. These sweet styles of gin have been near extinction in the US for some time. Old Tom gin has not been found here since the 1950s. Dutch gins were also unavailable until San Francisco-based Anchor Distillery released their new genever-style gin, Genevieve, an attempt to re-create this "ancient and mysterious" (and heretofore extinct) gin style.

Grab a bottle and join in the celebration by mixing up one of these!

Cin-cin!

GENEVER COCKTAIL

2 ounces genever gin

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

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