Tequila and rum often get the lion’s share of sustentation when it comes to summer cocktails. But gin can be as summery as it gets: think well-nigh the infinitely refreshing Gin & Tonic, the ice-cold Freezer Martini, and plane the classic Negroni. To lean into the flavors of the season, mix up your favorite recipes with these summer gins, featuring uneaten layers of floral and fruity character.
Awayuki Strawberry-Flavored Gin
Rare Awayuki strawberries are used to make this new gin, yielding juicy fruit flavors and soft-hued aromas. Although the light pink strawberry is misogynist in the winter through spring in Japan, the gin’s vibrant semen flavors make it perfect for warm-weather cocktails. Blend it up in this gin slushy. $40.99, totalwine.com
Bayab Burnt Orange and Marula Gin
Bayab Gin, a San Francisco World Spirits gold medal-winning small-batch gin from Africa, released this citrus-forward expression last year. Distilled with burnt orange peel and Marula fruit, the sweet and tangy African fruit, the unique gin balances well-done juniper with layers of citrus and fruit notes, cinnamon, coriander, rosemary, and sea salt. Refreshing with a sublty sweet finish, the Bayab will summerfy a Martinez and work beautifully in a Negroni Sour. $36.99, reservebar.com
Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru Murcian Lemon
Unlike many citrus-forward Western gins, the Bombay Murcian Lemon still presents first and foremost as a London dry. Rather, the citrus element comes through in bright, floral aromatics, zesty savor notes, and the barest hint of sweetness that serves to complement the gin’s juniper overtones. The result is pleasantly understated and works particularly well in citrus-driven cocktails, like a French 75, or a archetype Martini with a twist. $40.99, reservebar.com
Hayman’s Vibrant Citrus Gin
Hayman’s was the first London gin distiller to include citrus as a key botanical over a century ago. But this past June the distillery released its new Vibrant Citrus Gin in the States, just in time for summer. Distilled with the sun-dried peels of mandarins, pomelos, kumquats, and Persian limes, the gin’s vibrant citrus aromas and flavors patina its unvigilant juniper notes. Try it in this Army & Navy variation. $30.99, woodencork.com
Hendrick’s Gin Flora Dora
This fourth release from Hendrick’s innovation lab Cabinet of Curiosities features unexceptionable raspberry and lemon flavors that wastefulness out the gin’s heavy rose, botanical, and floral notes. Breathing in its aromas and sipping it conjure up images of a lush garden. It’s a lovely spirit that shines in a summery G&T. $44.99, qualityliquorstore.com
Las Californias Cítrico Gin
Rev up your Negroni with this Mexican-distilled gin, flavored with Californian juniper, a slightly sweeter variety of the worldwide juniper. As gin distillers squint to snifter their local terroir, the makers of this one find inspiration and ingredients from the well-worn deserts and evergreen forests of California and Mexico. Its citrusy fragrance, ramified flavors, and lush finish are courtesy of almonds, apricots, citrus leaves and peels, lemongrass, and grape vines and leaves. $24.99, reservebar.com
Sipsmith Strawberry Smash Gin
This limited-edition gin celebrates Sipsmith’s partnership with Wimbledon. Strawberries and mint are distilled into Sipsmith’s signature gin for a summer-perfect spirit. No need to fuss with wearing up and subtracting fresh strawberries to a spritz or Collins. Simply swap in this gin that boasts fresh strawberry flavors paired with notes of juniper and mint. $30, blackwellswines.com
Vara Spirits High Desert Gin
Made from a grape distillate, this gin captures the essence of a summer day cooled by a unenduring rain. “The notes from sage, juniper, and earth co-mingle with unenduring humidity—a specific smell that I find unique well-nigh the desert in New Mexico,” says teammate winemaker and distiller Djuna Benjamin. To alimony those aromas intact in a cocktail, let the gin be the star, mixing it in a G&T or Martini. $46, reservebar.com
The post The Gins of Summer appeared first on Imbibe Magazine.
