Gin
When it was first produced in Holland in the 1600's, Gin was flavoured only with juniper berries, believed to be good for the bladder and kidneys. Today gins are bolstered by additional botanicals: coriander, aniseed, caraway, ginger, orris root and more.

Plymouth Gin ****½
540682 $22.95 England
A pure beauty, the original dry gin from Plymouth. established in 1793, located on the spot that was a monastery in 1431. Used in an 1896 dry martini recipe believed to be the original one and cited in 27 cocktails is the Savoy Cocktail Book. Favourite of Roosevelt, Churchill, Hitchcock, Ian Fleming and other notables. Distilled in a 155 year old copper pot still using a 200 year old recipe. Base is English wheat distilled five times before the botanicals are distilled in it. Juniper is at the heart with coriander seeds, lemon peel, sweet orange peel, angelica root, orris root and cardamom pods. Use Dartmoor water, considered an important element. More earthy and weightier than traditional London gins it has no bitter botanicals rather it's smooth, creamy, complex, with clean layers of bright distinctive lingering botanicals.

Bombay Sapphire Gin ****
316844 $23.95 England
A London dry gin based on a 1761 recipe. Infused with the vapours of 10 botanicals namely: almonds, lemon peel, licorice, juniper, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia bark, cubeb berries, grains of Paradise. Multiple clean, pretty aromatics in the nose. Silky, fresh and elegant with a multi-play of merged tastes.

Hendrick's Gin ***½
637504 $39.95 Scotland
Infused with coriander, juniper, citrus peel and unorthodoxly rose petals and cucumber. Peppers, flowers and conceivably cucumber too in the bouquet. The taste is peppercorn with tangerine, ending rose water and gentle cucumber juice. Delightfully different though pricey. Garnish with a cuke.