It’s for medicinal purposes, Sweetie.

~ Meg

Week 24 in The Year of Drinking Adventurously! It’s gin!

Oh, joy of joys, we’re back to a booze I adore – gin.  With hazy origins in the Middle Ages, gin evolved from the Dutch beverage, genever, whose name is derived from the Dutch word for juniper, gin’s primary component.

Co-opted by the English, gin’s original uses were medicinal, with the juniper berries being combined with other botanicals so that the flavor of the juniper could be either prominent or subtle depending on the mixture. During British Colonialism, the good old Gin and Tonic was responsible for saving countless lives, thanks to the “tonic” component.  Quinine, an effective antimalarial agent, could be added to water to create tonic and mixed with gin to improve the flavor. Among other things…

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As with many alcohols we’ve considered so far, there are rules governing the production and labeling of gin. There is basic gin, distilled gin and London gin which is regarded as the premium style. But then… enter the craft distilling movement and a whole new crop of styles has emerged.

Bluecoat American Dry Gin – Philadelphia Distilling Company

From Jeff’s book: “Bluecoat American Dry Gin, the flagship brand of Philadelphia Distilling Company, has, since 2005, become a rather prominent example of this new style. The name Bluecoat, naturally, is the colonial answer to the Redcoats’ centuries-long gin dominance. The brand’s key botanicals include natural coriander seed, American citrus peel, natural angelica root, and, of course, juniper berry (organic berries, to boot). A major distinction for the product produced in the City of Brotherly Love is that it’s not quite as juniper-forward as its British brethren. Bluecoat’s blend creates more of a citrus experience on the palate.”

I toured the distillery a couple years ago and had a tasting of all their products, including (if you remember) Vieux Carre Absinthe and the Blue Coat Gin. I compared it with my Bombay London Gin and indeed the juniper flavor is far more subtle in the Blue Coat.

How do I drink gin? Classic martini, obviously, gin and tonic on a hot summer afternoon, but one of my favorite gin cocktails is the gimlet. I drank my first gimlet in audacious surroundings – The Blue Bar in the famous Algonquin Hotel in New York City.

The Algonquin opened in 1902 and its Oak Room was long one of New York City’s premiere cabaret nightclubs.  After the end of World War I, the hotel became the site of the daily meetings of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of journalists, authors, publicists and actors who gathered to exchange ‘bon mots’ (well-chosen words) over lunch in the main dining room. This daily gathering lasted for the better part of ten years.

With its oak panels and other decor recalling an earlier time, the heyday of cabaret, the Oak Room was small, intimate, and expensive (at least $100 per person, more if one had dinner, except for matinees). When finally it was closed in 2012, part of the space occupied by the former Oak Room was used to enlarge the Blue Bar…img_3818

So the gimlet:    In a shaker with ice:
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ½ ounces gin
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Shake and serve with ice and a wedge of lime in a rocks glass. Enjoy!

Now, run, sweeties and see how Lula drank her gin!

(She’s Eddie to my Patsy! And we are absolutely fabulous!)

 

Published by Meg

Easily amused, never bored and constantly distracted. My creative pursuits include writing, drawing, painting and photography.

63 thoughts on “It’s for medicinal purposes, Sweetie.”

  1. I really find its always amazing how we counterbalance each other so perfectly without any foreknowledge. You did the history and your homework when I didn’t.

    I think your gimlet is going to be my third cocktail this week for my happy hour at home. One of my favorites ❤️

    And yes, we (and gin) are absolutely fabulous!!

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Excellent… It used to be called mother’s ruin back in the early 19th century, it was drank then as a tincture of gin and opium. The old fun palaces were definitely worth a visit but I am not sure they still exist anymore

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  3. I’m on board with gin. Although, I had an interesting night in Cancun once after a $10-all-you-can-drink party. Gin and tonic was my pick. I ended up waking up outside the door of the condo. I think I remembered having fun. 😃

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    1. Haha! That’s one of those “how did we ever make it out alive” stories! Glad to hear from you. I was going to come looking for you today… Worried you got so pissed at WP, you quit! (Don’t do that, btw) How was Fla? 😎

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      1. Ha! I still can’t see anybody’s posts on my phone but I can from the iPad or my wife’s phone. Go figure. The trip was awesome! My lord it was hot though, and like 120% humidity. Fun was had though. It happened to be Pride week, so it was….interesting. The mood was different Sunday, obviously. And the trip home was an utter clusterfuck. But had a fantastic time. 😃

        Liked by 1 person

      3. It was fantastic, crowds and chaos and all. It was a lively weekend, that’s for sure, but we rented a scooter so we were able to escape it all if we wanted to. Of course, once news of Orlando spread, the mood changed. 😕

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Never cared for tonic so I used to drink gin and Squirt (or any lemon/lime soda.) Very refreshing in the summer. I haven’t had one in years – thanks for reminding me! (adds squirt to shopping list)
    Thinking of gin always reminds me of a line from the movie Oliver when Fagan says to one of the street urchins “shut up and drink your gin”! 😉

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  7. Yum!! Even better that I can refer to it as my ‘medicine’. 😜 We have a new bottle of bourbon barrel gin which have yet to open. Also a four peel gin (don’t know what they means!). But I’m lazy and easy, so I drink mine lately with ginger ale and lime.

    Cheers!

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  12. Thought you might like this
    STRAWBERRY AND BLACK PEPPER GIN AND TONIC
    50ml Gin
    4 large strawberries
    Black peppercorns and grinder
    Ice
    200ml Fever-Tree tonic water

    Pour 50ml Gin into the glass and add three sliced strawberries.

    Fill the glass with ice and add a crack of black pepper.

    Pour in Fever Tree tonic water, stir and add a strawberry for garnish.

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. Things are going to get worse. Some people read the first on google. Those types are not helpful. Forgetful of things done, where I am medically and I am getting picked on a lot. Some I deserved, but not as much. it is a long story. It’s better to email me if you choose.

        Liked by 1 person

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