SPIRITS

AS MORE AND MORE GINS HIT LCBO SHELVES, APPRECIATION IS GROWING FOR VARIED STYLES AND FLAVOURS—SO HEREWITH A GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON OFFER AND THE BEST WAY TO SERVE YOUR GIN OF CHOICE.

GINS OF DISTINCTION

By James Chatto

With growing appreciation for gin in all its varied styles and flavour profiles, a guide to what’s on offer and the best way to serve your bottle of choice.

Why has gin become so spectacularly popular in recent years? Perhaps it has something to do with the love of individualization and respect for artisanal quality that is such a hallmark of the millennial generation. Gin is made by redistilling a neutral spirit with various plants, herbs, spices and fruits that add their aromas and flavours to the alcohol. Finding a palatable balance of botanicals is trickier than it sounds, but it allows a distiller to make something unique. The recipe could call for the most exotic ingredients in the world—or for something local that expresses terroir. With so many old and new gins to choose from, we thought it might be helpful to gather them into groups determined by flavour.