Spirits Spotlight: A Guided Tasting of Gin

The world of spirits is a universe of intricate rules and unique traditions. While we’ve previously explored the rich, wood-driven character of Bourbon, it’s now time to turn our attention to its crisp, botanical cousin: Gin. Unlike Bourbon, which finds its personality in the quiet solitude of an oak barrel, gin is a vibrant, aromatic symphony, a canvas upon which a distiller paints with a wide array of herbs, spices, and botanicals.

For the home bartender, gin can feel like an enigma. With so many brands and flavor profiles, how do you even begin to understand the difference between a classic London Dry and a modern New Western? The secret, once again, is in the tasting. Just as we did with Bourbon, we're going to move beyond simple consumption and into a mindful, four-step process that will allow you to deconstruct a gin, identify its key characteristics, and build a vocabulary that will serve you for life.

This post is your guided tour through the world of gin. We'll apply the same professional tasting method to a widely available, accessible bottle, helping you to not only appreciate its unique qualities but to understand the beautiful science and artistry that goes into every glass.

The First Step: The Look

While Bourbon’s visual story is told in shades of amber and gold, gin’s is one of pristine clarity. The look of a gin, while simpler, still offers a few key insights.

The Glass: Just as with any fine spirit, a tulip-shaped glass, like a Glencairn, is the ideal vessel for tasting gin. Its wide bowl allows the delicate botanical aromas to gather, while the narrow rim concentrates them beautifully.

The Color: A classic gin should be perfectly clear, like water. Any cloudiness or haze could indicate an issue with filtration or storage. The exceptions to this rule are aged gins, which can take on a subtle color from the barrel, or specific styles that have a slight opalescence from their botanicals. For our tasting, we'll focus on a standard, crystal-clear gin.

The Viscosity (The Legs): Give your glass a gentle swirl and watch the "tears" or "legs" run down the inside of the glass. While not as pronounced as in an aged spirit like Bourbon, the viscosity of a gin can still give you a subtle clue about its alcohol content and mouthfeel. A gin with a higher oil content from its botanicals might also appear to have slightly thicker legs.

The Second Step: The Nose

If Bourbon is about wood and grain, gin is all about the botanical bouquet you find on the nose. This is arguably the most crucial step of tasting gin, as it’s where you’ll discover the full range of the distiller’s art.

The Technique: Approach the glass with the same caution as you would with any high-proof spirit. Hold the glass a few inches from your nose and take short, gentle sniffs to avoid the alcoholic sting. Swirl the glass between sniffs to release new layers of aroma.

What to Look For: The art of gin tasting is about identifying the layers of botanicals. Think of yourself as an olfactory detective, picking out individual notes from the symphony.

• The Juniper Core: Gin’s defining characteristic. The first thing you should look for is the quintessential aroma of juniper berries. A good gin will have a pronounced, but not overwhelming, juniper character, which is often described as piney, resinous, or slightly peppery. This is the spirit's backbone.

• The Citrus Lift: After the juniper, your nose will likely pick up the bright, zesty notes of citrus peels. Most gins use a blend of lemon, orange, or grapefruit peel to provide a fresh, vibrant top note. Can you tell which one is present?

• The Spice and Earthy Notes: Dive a little deeper and you'll find the middle notes of the gin’s botanical blend. These often come from spices and roots. Look for the citrusy-peppery scent of coriander seed, the deep, earthy character of angelica root, or the warm, spicy notes of cassia bark, cinnamon, or cardamom.

• The Floral and Herbal Whispers: The most complex gins often have a subtle, delicate layer of floral or herbal notes. A good example might be the soft, perfumed aroma of rose petals or the aromatic, slightly bitter scent of lavender or licorice root. These are the elements that give a gin its truly unique character.

Don't be afraid to trust your instincts here. If you smell something that reminds you of a garden in spring or a specific spice you've cooked with, you are on the right track. The goal is to build your own personal database of flavors.

The Third Step: The Palate

Now that you’ve dissected the aromas, it’s time to see how they translate to taste. The palate is where the different notes of the botanicals come together to form a cohesive flavor profile.

The Technique: Take a small sip, just enough to coat your tongue. Let it rest in your mouth for a few seconds before you swallow. As you did with the nose, try to break the experience down into its individual components.

The Experience: The tasting experience of gin, much like its aroma, is a journey.

• The Attack: What are your first impressions? Is it the bold pine of the juniper, a sharp citrus zest, or a warm, spicy sensation?

• The Mid-Palate: As the flavor develops on your tongue, what new notes emerge? Does the initial pine give way to a peppery spice or an earthy sweetness? This is where you can test your earlier olfactory deductions.

• The Mouthfeel: How does the gin feel in your mouth? Is it crisp and light, or is it oily and viscous? A gin with a higher oil content from botanicals like citrus peels and angelica root will often have a more substantial, rich mouthfeel.

The Fourth Step: The Finish

The finish is the final impression a gin leaves on your palate. It's the lingering echo of the botanicals and a crucial part of the tasting experience.

The Length and Flavor Evolution: Unlike Bourbon’s long, warm finish, a gin’s finish is often cleaner and crisper. Pay attention to how long the flavors linger and which ones persist. Does the piney note of the juniper stay the longest, or does a spicy, peppery warmth remain? Does the citrus zest make a final appearance?

The Sensation: Instead of a "Kentucky hug," a well-crafted gin will often leave a clean, refreshing warmth on the palate. It should feel balanced and crisp, without a harsh, alcoholic burn.

Conclusion

Tasting gin is a journey of discovery, a deep dive into the world of botanicals and distillation. By using this simple, four-step method, you are no longer just drinking a spirit; you are engaging with the history, artistry, and passion that went into its creation.

Now that you have the tools, I encourage you to put them to practice. The next time you pour a gin, take a moment. Observe its clarity, smell its complex bouquet, taste its layers, and appreciate its clean finish. You'll find that your home bar has just become a laboratory of discovery, and your palate has become your greatest instrument. This is the first step in a lifelong appreciation for this versatile and wonderful spirit.