Sip #9 2024

The Gin

Hello Reader,
Happy Friday! In this edition, we cover :

Gin of the Week: Wajos Black Coffee Gin ☕️

🍸 Hey there, fellow aficionados of gin and coffee! Ready for a taste adventure? This week, we're diving into the world of Wajos Black Coffee Gin, our top pick for the ultimate flavor experience. Picture this: it's like stepping into your favorite cozy coffee shop, but in a bottle!

This magical elixir is expertly crafted with a symphony of flavors – bold juniper, aromatic Arabica coffee, zesty pepper, fragrant cardamom, comforting cinnamon, and clove. It's a blend that'll tantalize your taste buds like never before! ☕️ Now, let's break it down.

🌲 Juniper: We've got a subtle touch of juniper here, coming in at a modest 2/5. It plays second fiddle to the rich coffee goodness, letting it take center stage.

🍋 Citrus: Just a whisper of citrus to brighten things up – a humble 1/5 rating. It adds a refreshing kick to the deep, dark coffee notes, keeping things lively.

🌸 Floral: No flower power in this mix – but who needs it when you've got coffee stealing the spotlight? 😉

🍇 Fruit: Say goodbye to fruity flavors and hello to the robust embrace of Arabica coffee – it's the star of the show!

🌶️ Spice: A gentle warmth and a hint of chocolatey bliss, earning a cozy 2/5 rating. It's like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket of coffee goodness, with a little extra kick for good measure.

🍹 ABV: Clocking in at a perfect 42% vol, it's just the right balance for sipping solo or getting creative with your coffee-inspired cocktails.

So go ahead, raise your glass, and toast to this amazing blend of gin and coffee flavors! Now, go ahead, brew up some fun memories, and savor every sip of this delightful concoction!

Overall Rating: 3.7 / 5

Black Coffee Gin | Wajos

Masterclass: Gin & Food Pairing 🍽️

🍸 Welcome to our Gin and Food Pairing Masterclass!

In this interactive class, we'll explore the fascinating science behind each pairing to uncover why they create such delightful combinations. Get ready to discover the hidden chemistry behind botanical complexity meeting culinary craftsmanship, resulting in harmonious symphonies of taste and texture.

So, grab your tasting spoons and prepare your palates for an immersive experience like no other. From the delicate notes of caviar to the savory richness of stinky cheese, each pairing holds a story waiting to be savored and shared.

Caviar 🍸🥚: The delicate, briny flavor of caviar pairs beautifully with the crisp, clean taste of a gin martini. Salt and fat in caviar activate taste receptors, enhancing the overall flavor perception.
Homemade Simple Syrups 🍹✨: Infused with herbs like rosemary or thyme, simple syrups introduce layers of flavor to gin cocktails. Steeping herbs release aromatic compounds that complement gin's botanicals, resulting in a well-rounded cocktail.
Stinky Cheese 🧀🍹: Strong cheeses like blue cheese or Boerenkaas soften when paired with gin's botanicals and quinine bitterness. The combination creates a rich, indulgent experience.
Mayonnaise 🍹🥚: Creamy mayonnaise complements the gin's botanical complexity, adding depth to the flavor profile. Fats and acids in mayo interact with taste receptors, enhancing flavor perception.
Quail 🍽️🕊️: Tender, succulent quail pairs beautifully with gin's aromatic complexity. Protein-rich meat with botanical-rich gin creates a satisfying experience.
Gin-Cured Salmon 🐟🍸: The delicate, silky texture of cured salmon harmonizes with the botanicals of gin, resulting in a balanced flavor profile.
Rosemary Almonds 🌿🥜: Savory rosemary notes balance the gin's earthy undertones, while almonds' crunchy texture contrasts the gin's smoothness.
Olives 🫒🍸: Briny olives counterbalance gin's complexity, enhancing sweetness and complementing herbal and citrus notes.
Peanuts 🥜: The salty-savory taste of peanuts enhances the gin's sweetness, while their crunchy texture contrasts with the spirit's smoothness.
Limes, Cucumber, Mint, Rosemary 🍈🌱🍃: Fresh ingredients add unique dimensions to gin cocktails, balancing sweetness, refreshing the palate, and adding brightness.

Try them out and tag #TheGin for a feature!

Story: Bathtub Gin 🛁

Picture this: the roaring '20s, an era of jazz, flappers, and... homemade gin. Yep, that's right! Enter bathtub gin, the DIY spirit of the Prohibition era. Back in those days, when alcohol was banned in the United States 🇺🇸, folks got crafty with their libations. They mixed up their own versions of gin using whatever they could find, including cheap grain alcohol, water, and a dash of creativity. 🍸🛁

Bathtub gin refers to homemade gin produced illicitly during the Prohibition era in the United States, which lasted from 1920 to 1933. During this time, the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages were banned by the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Now, you might be wondering why it's called "bathtub" gin. Well, legend has it that people would whip up their gin concoctions in bathtubs – not the most glamorous setting, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures! In reality, though, the distillation process needed closed apparatuses, so the bathtub was more of a symbol of the DIY spirit than an actual distillation vessel. 🛀🍹

Despite its humble beginnings, bathtub gin became an icon of defiance and creativity during Prohibition. It's a reminder that even when the odds are stacked against us, humans will always find a way to enjoy life's simple pleasures – even if it means brewing up a batch of gin in the tub! Cheers to the ingenuity of the past and the spirit of adventure that lives on in every sip of homemade gin. 🎶✨

And speaking of homemade gin, next is a famous recipe from the Pegu Club in New York City 👇

How Gin became the Big Bad Wolf of Spirits

Cocktail for the week: Pegu Club Cocktail🍹

Ingredients:

2 oz Bathtub Gin
3/4 oz orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or triple sec)
3/4 oz lime juice
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash of orange bitters
Lime twist, for garnish
Ice cubes

Instructions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Add the Bathtub Gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, Angostura bitters, and orange bitters to the shaker.
Shake the mixture vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to chill the ingredients.
Strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a twist of lime peel by expressing the oils over the drink and then dropping it in.
Serve and enjoy your Pegu Club cocktail!

This iconic cocktail, named after the Pegu Club in New York City, was popularized by mixologist and co-owner Audrey Saunders. It's a refreshing and citrusy drink with a perfect balance of flavors. The combination of Bathtub Gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and bitters creates a delightful taste experience that is both complex and smooth. Sip and savor the elegance of this classic cocktail, reminiscent of the golden age of cocktails in New York City. Cheers! 🍸🌆