With the Bank Holiday weekend approaching, what better way to welcome family and friends as they head to your dwelling than with a finely made, gin-based cocktail to lift the spirits and start the festivities with a certain gusto.
While the Dry Martini is the classic option, I find myself drawn to the Vesper: a bold, bracing gin-and-vodka creation dreamed up by Ian Fleming for James Bond in Casino Royale. To make one, pour 75 ml gin, 25 ml vodka, and 12.5 ml Lillet Blanc (today’s stand-in for Kina Lillet) into a shaker packed with ice. Shake with energy for 10 to 15 seconds until the mixture is icy cold, then strain into a frosty Martini or coupe glass. For the finishing touch, twist a long, thin strip of lemon peel over the drink to release its bright citrus aroma, then drop it in. And, of course, Fleming’s instruction: “shaken and not stirred.”
Having sampled a number of gins recently, the key for a cocktail gin is intensity and balance: it should complement other ingredients without disappearing behind them. A premium, juniper-forward gin works particularly well because its botanical intensity remains apparent alongside the other components. A final four make up the selection below.
1 - Berry Bros. & Rudd London Dry Gin
The classic starting point. This is not Berrys No. 3, but their London Gin distilled in London by Thames Distillers rather than the No. 3 that is distilled in Holland by De Kuyper Royal Distillers. It is a flawless distillation that also makes a perfect G&T.
£31.50 - Berrys -merchant link
2 - Isle of Raasay Gin, Inner Hebrides
A strong and richly defined gin with a pronounced juniper and citrus base that is very appealing. Well-defined botanicals with obvious lemon and orange, coriander, pepper, rhubarb, and an almost pine needle element. Quite earthy but immensely drinkable. They have their own take on a Vesper: 50ml Isle of Raasay Gin, 12.5ml Lillet, twist of orange with plenty of ice.
£40.00 - Isle of Raasay Distillery - distillery link
3 - Roku Gin, Japan
There is a delicate, aromatic quality to this gin. It combines eight traditional gin botanicals with six Japanese botanicals: sakura flower, sakura leaf, yuzu peel, Sencha tea, Gyokuro tea and Sansho pepper. The result is floral and citrus-led, with a silky texture and a distinctive peppery finish. For a Vesper, Roku is a good choice if you want an elegant, citrusy, slightly floral interpretation. A lunch-time cocktail rather than the pre-dinner option.
£25.50 - Waitrose -merchant link
4 - Procera Blue Dot Gin 2023, Kenya
This is delicious just by itself. Perhaps a touch of water with a drop or two of Angostura Orange Bitters. Exceptionally well made and one of the finest gins I have ever tasted. Available from many outlets, including the Berrys’ link below.
Procera Blue Dot Gin stands out as a cocktail gin, its vibrant bouquet of botanicals shining through in any mix. Crafted in Nairobi, Kenya, it demonstrates the unique component of using fresh African juniper, delivering lively notes of pine, citrus, and herbs. With a robust 44% ABV, this gin holds its own against vermouth, citrus, bitters, and dilution, never losing its character. Its crisp texture, intense aromatics, and lingering peppery finish make it a star in timeless cocktails.
£83.00 - Berrys -merchant link
Separate missive on Negonis to follow over the coming weeks …
