Tips and tricks to discover how to taste gin and enhance the tasting experience.
Looking for tips on how to serve and taste Gin? We have gathered some simple guidelines to help you get ready and fully enjoy the Spirits we love. Here’s everything you need to know.
Index
- Tasting Gin: tips and tricks
- The right glass
- Serving temperature
- Gin and cocktails: choose only the best
- Garnishing the drink
- Storage tips
Tasting Gin: tips and tricks
The right glass
Just like with all tasting drinks, including wine, the glass plays a fundamental role in the tasting experience.
Tumbler
If you intend to serve a Gin on the rocks (simply with ice), the tumbler is the best choice. It has a solid and sturdy shape, ideal for holding Gin and ice, allowing you to sip the drink slowly.
Highball
The Highball glass is particularly suitable for cocktails such as the Gin Fizz or Tom Collins; in one word: sparkling. Tall, slender, and narrow, it preserves the effervescence in the drinks.
Copa de Balon
A wide-bowl glass, very similar to a wine glass, the Copa de Balon has a wide opening that allows the drink to harmoniously release its aromatic bouquet.
Martini Glass
The Martini glass is particularly suitable for cocktails like the Negroni. Its V shape helps maintain the serving temperature and enhances the aromas of Gin and the other ingredients.
Serving temperature
The ideal serving temperature for Gin is between 4 and 10 degrees Celsius. Why? If colder, the aromas may be less appreciable. If warmer, the risk of losing volatile aromas due to evaporation is very real.
How to cool Gin? There are two ways: you can use a cold glass (previously placed in the freezer, or filled with ice and cold water for a couple of minutes), or you can store the liquor in the fridge or in a wine cooler set to the recommended temperature.
We suggest always using large ice cubes: they take longer to melt and help maintain the temperature of the drink for longer.
Gin and cocktails: choose only the best
When preparing a cocktail with Gin, make sure the other ingredients are of high quality. It takes very little to compromise the tasting experience if the tonic, the Vermouth, or any of the other components are not carefully chosen.
The Gin Tonic is undoubtedly one of the cocktails you must know how to prepare if you are a true Spirits enthusiast: to create a perfect one, remember the perfect ratio. 1:3, one part Gin to three parts tonic.
You can always adjust the proportions according to your taste, but always start with the recommended doses to practice.
Garnishing the drink
If you are tasting Gin, you will surely want to fully enjoy its organoleptic characteristics. Adding garnishes or botanicals can not only add an aesthetic touch to the glass but also help complete and enhance the flavors of the distillate.
Among the most common garnishes are citrus fruits (adding freshness and acidity), aromatic herbs such as thyme, mint, or rosemary, spices (juniper berries, pink pepper, or cinnamon), or fruits (blueberries, raspberries, or a slice of cucumber).
Storage tips
How long does Gin last after opening?
Gin does not expire, thanks to the alcohol content which makes it impossible for pathogens or molds to proliferate. It is recommended to consume it within a year of opening the bottle, as over time it may progressively lose aromas and bouquet, becoming flat.
Should I store Gin in the fridge?
Gin can be stored at room temperature; it is not necessary to store the bottle in the fridge. If you choose to store it in the fridge, make sure the bottle is tightly closed to avoid it absorbing other odors.
Store the bottle upright or lying down?
It’s better to store the Gin bottle upright, to avoid exposing a larger surface of the liquid to contact with air, which can cause oxidation.
What is the best temperature to store Gin?
Gin should be stored at a temperature between 10 and 20 degrees, away from direct sunlight and in environments free of strong odors.