Page 18 - Issues131-133

the original martini recipe (1896). Up until 2015 Plymouth Gin had to be made in
Plymouth, England but now it can be made anywhere. This is strange as other
classic drinks such as Cognac, Sherry and Champagne can only be made in their
home regions. Maybe European lawyers are better than English ones. Plymouth gin
is a versatile drink as it is the most common base for pink gin.

Navy strength gin must be at least 57% abv
i.e. 114 proof. A New Zealand example is
Scapegrace Gold (on cover of miNiZ123). A
nice bottle to have in your collection is Rock
Rose from Dunnet Bay Distillery, Scotland. It
comes in a ceramic bottle (unfortunately not in
miniature) and is produced near John
O’Groats.

Old Tom was a very popular style in 18th
century England. The government crack
down on cheap gin (Mother’s Ruin)
basically made it disappear. Hayman’s
released an Old Tom a few years back in
an effort to make it popular again. The
addition of syrup makes it slightly
sweeter than normal gin but not as sweet as Genever.

A New Zealand company has produced a
world first to the gin market. Scapegrace
Black is the first black gin. Based in
Christchurch the distillers add Aronia berries
to give the gin it’s colour. When tonic is added
the drink turns purple – see miNiZ123.

To show there really is a gin craze,
Buckingham Palace is producing it’s own gin
with many of the botanicals grown in the
palace gardens. Unfortunately i do not think it
comes in miniature bottles.

Frank Wynn

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