StillSmart

This is a London dry Gin with no fruit.
Named after Boodles gentlemens club in
London. Sir Winston Churchill was a member.

This was my 1st attempt and happy with result.
2 ltrs neutral @45%
1 ltr bottled water
12g Juniper Berries
6g Coriander seed
2g Cassia Bark
1g Caraway Seed
1g Sage
1g Rosemary
pinch Nutmeg
pinch Angelica
Used the Airstill for this.
Pour liquids in and fit Sputnik.
Lightly crush seeds add all to Sputnik.
I collected down to 60%
Gave me 950ml @ 72%
Diluted to 40% with bottled water.
Gave me 2 bottles and a good taster.
Pleased with result, may improve more
if left for a couple of weeks.

Will call mine Winston Dry Gin

you hooked me with the Rosemary - been thinking about using this in a Gin myself. Does it come thru much ?

Yes can taste it not strongly, but its there
So is the Caraway.
No fruit and it gets away with it.
Mainly cause we all put lemon in our G&T.

I don't suppose there is a one stop shop for these botanicals?

I really need to build my Sputnik, got the colander, just never go around to fitting legs

Anavrin wrote:I don't suppose there is a one stop shop for these botanicals?

I really need to build my Sputnik, got the colander, just never go around to fitting legs

Yup... eBay

Seriously yes there is... Seen a link somewhere but the price offended my inner wee Scotsman

I dug out the collander that fitted, the SS steel bar and the nuts and bolts to make a Sputnik and then didn't bother.
Not that I consider it a bad idea, just not needed the way that I do Gin.
Different strokes and all that.
Keeps us talking

Robert.

As you say Robert may ways.
Just love the results with the
Sputnik. Instant and without
to much mess.

Everytime I scroll past the title of this thread, I see "Bloodless Gin" and I have to do a double take!

Or is that a double measure Dave

You may have a point there, Gaza....

Only a double?

Robert.

make that two fingers of red eye

When you talk of “Lightly crushing”, is this just sufficient to crack the seeds?
Is there a benefit from using Coriander Seeds rather than Ground Coriander?
Was the Sage and Rosemary freshly gathered or would dried herbs do?
Would Kaffir Lime Leaves add anything of advantage?

Toper wrote:When you talk of “Lightly crushing”, is this just sufficient to crack the seeds?
Is there a benefit from using Coriander Seeds rather than Ground Coriander?
Was the Sage and Rosemary freshly gathered or would dried herbs do?
Would Kaffir Lime Leaves add anything of advantage?

As I see it;
1.Yes.
2.Totally different experience.
3.Yes.
4.Quite possibly,please report back.

Robert.

Thanks for that Robert.

My trouble is that once I decide to try something, I find that setting about it gives rise to lots of questions I feel I need clarification on.

Given that one have a very good neutral to start with, as many here do, why the cut off at 60%? Do the botanicals themselves come over too much by going lower?

I think I will be adding Kaffir Lime Leaves, and also a pinch of Orris. I might not live long enough to produce my own, but I do have some commercially produced. I just feel that such a mixture of botanicals requires stabilising (fixing) where possible. Of course there is the added bouquet.

I suppose we all have, in our minds, that perfect Gin. Whilst I too often add a slice or two of lemon or lime to a G&T, I do like the Gin itself to carry the astringency of citrus overtones.

My disadvantages of course, besides inexperience in the process, is that given my equipment, my neutral will never be really neutral. I might well triple distil before moving on to the botanicals.