Photograph by Katherine Bish
The current rage in the spirit world is vodka, specifically vodkas infused with exotic fruits and berries. Little known is the fact that gin, the spirit that somehow became associated with martini-drinking grandmothers everywhere, was actually the first infused vodka. It should be no surprise, then, that with 70-plus varieties on the market, gin cocktails—from the classic to the supermodern—are back in style. Raise one to grandma.
Due to the bland and tasteless nature of vodka, gin has always been the choice of cocktail connoisseurs as well. Ted Kilgore, mixologist from Monarch, tells us that “you will start to see more gin-based cocktails, because they present a greater challenge to the bartender as well as offer more depth and character than even the best infused vodkas.” Kilgore has also taken the unusual step of infusing gin with different fine teas, providing a unique base for his original concoctions. On a recent tasting I came across several new and trendy gins that were quite approachable and absolutely mind-blowing, especially when mixed and shaken by a hand as experienced as Kilgore’s.
- Hendrick’s Gin was one of the first new-style gins to hit the market more than five years ago (from Scotland, of all places); it uses cucumber and rose petals along with other botanicals. Kilgore’s “Xanadu” combines this gin with pomegranate juice, cassis and fresh lime to produce a massive cocktail with bright red cherries, orange zest, lime oil and a delicately tart finish.
- No. 209 is distilled in pot stills in Napa Valley using only the finest juniper berries, citrus and exotic fruits and spices. It’s extremely floral, with notes of sweet pine, fresh herbs and hints of licorice.
- G’Vine was the first grape-based gin to hit the market, with delicate flavors of sweet bubble gum, ripe bananas, white cherries and what came off as the flavor of Del Monte fruit cocktail. In his “Last Words” cocktail, Kilgore combines G’Vine with yellow Chartreuse, maraschino cherry liqueur and fresh lemon juice. The effect is bright citrus notes of lemon and lime, perfectly balanced with a rock candy–like finish that seems to go on forever and that as you sip grows tarter and tarter.
Xanadu Recipe
- 2 oz. Hendrick’s Gin
- ¾ oz. Crème de cassis
- ¾ oz. POM pomegranate juice
- ¼ oz. Fresh lime juice
Xanadu Method
Combine all ingredients in a martini shaker and add ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Pour into cold cocktail (martini) glass. Garnish with a twist of lime.
