Less is More

some favorite gins in a sea of options

I like London dry gin. I like its herbaceous, citrus-y, juniper forward flavor. And, in case you didn’t know, it is a style of gin—it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s from England. I like it in my martini, my Negroni, my Bloody Mary, my gimlet, and, of course, my gin and tonic. The problem (actually not so much a problem) is that there are piles of gins on the market now. The global market is flooded with distillers—small mom and pops, artisanal producers, local yocals and big brands. I always try smaller producers whenever they are recommended by the bartender in front of me, or an enthusiastic salesperson, but honestly, there is a lot of gin noise out there to keep up with. But when I find myself someplace where I’m underwhelmed with limited options to choose from (like an airport bar or some small town joint), or overwhelmed with a dizzying amount to pick from, I stick with what I know, and what works in the drinks mentioned above. My list is pretty standard and I am sure you will recognize these workhorses as well.

Here are my favorites in order of preference: