St. Louis bartenders on their favorite springtime gins

Parker Allen | Bridge Tap House and Wine Bar 

“I really enjoy the Japanese botanicals found in Roku Gin. Yuzu, green tea, and sansho peppers blend well with a lot of the bright, floral, and herbaceous flavors that we see in spring. I’ve been pairing it with Rishi Green Tea tonic for a Japanese gin and tonic.”

• Gin: Roku Japanese Gin

• Favorite Pairing: Rishi Green Tea Tonic

Chris Wagner | Platypus

“I really enjoy J. Rieger’s Midwestern Dry Gin in the spring and summertime. I’m a sucker for lemon and gin when it’s hot out, and their gin leads with a quick nip of juniper and a nice orange peel/licorice finish. It’s crisp, clean and stands up to some bold spring/summer flavors in a way that other gins might get lost in.”

• Gin: J. Rieger’s Midwestern Dry Gin

• Tonic Pairing: Franklin and Sons Lemon Tonic

Leila Miller | Taqueria Morita

“I love Uncle Val’s Peppered Gin. It has all of the botanicals of gin, with the added savory notes that I don’t find in others, which tend to be perfume-like. This gin pairs well with any tonic, but my favorite is Fever Tree Sparkling Lime & Yuzu.”

• Gin: Uncle Val’s Peppered Gin

• Favorite Pairing: Fever Tree Sparkling Lime & Yuzu

Chris Kuse | New Society and Grand Spirits Bottle Co.

“My favorite spring gin is the Citadelle Jardin d’Ete. It’s a brighter, more citrus-forward gin (think yuzu and lemons), with a long finish of melon and chamomile tea. I love the refreshing quality of Jardin d’Ete, making it great for picnic gin and tonics all spring and summer.”

• Gin: Citadelle Jardin d’Ete

• Favorite Pairing: Franklin and Sons Lemon Tonic

Randi Kranz | The Vandy and Pop-Up Paper Crane

“I like the bottle…and pepper. It’s savory, with hints of citrus and peppercorns that make it bright and refreshing. I’m not a gin and tonic person, but I would absolutely crush a Lind and Lime and soda.”

• Gin: Lind and Lime Scottish Gin

• Favorite Pairing: Topo Chico Mineral Water