AN ELGIN EXCLUSIVE FEATURE
A known bartender, the best host behind the bar counter with entertaining stories and an infectious energy. Why gin, we ask him. “Because it’s versatile,” says Devi Singh Bhati, India’s best bartender, crowned in 2019 at the Diageo World Class (India) competition. “As a bartender, I love a spirit that can be used in multiple ways and enjoyed throughout the day. Gin brings an open canvas to a cocktail, it’s a free ‘spirit’-ed base alcohol. It adds freshness, complexity, and even a touch of spice.”
Image by Goodhousekeeping
Any proportion of gin and tea works with a squeeze of lemon.
The taste of Darjeeling tea is as mysterious as the hill and the Himalayas. The unique flavor of Darjeeling tea comes from its bushes and its intricate harvesting and processing. It is lighter and less astringent than most black tea, but more layered and complex than most greens.
Darjeeling Tea is distinguished by its subtleties of difference, which range from delicate vegetal, mossy, fruity, and citrus flavors to its coveted muscatel, which has -sweet taste notes akin to Muscat wine. That’s what inspired Adrian Gomes, owner of The Tippling House and Rye & Soda, as well as event catering cocktail firm 10 Dollar Shake, believes that the “Champagne of teas” from the foot of the Himalayas will deliver the new gin, Jindea, local and international appeal. “In addition to the delicate flavors of Darjeeling tea, the gin also contains juniper, lemon, grapefruit, coriander, ginger, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon, and angelica.”
Gin started as a medicinal beverage used by Italian monks. Other monks and alchemists across Europe quickly adopted their gin-making techniques. Gin first appeared in England with the introduction of jenever, a Dutch and Belgian liquor distilled from juniper berries and a few additional botanicals. Since the early-to-mid 17th century, they have been marketed to pharmacies as a medication.
Image by Hendrick’s Gin
the craft gin industry is already established. There is a convergence between tea and gin because they are both artisanal in nature.
If you go through the history of tea, you’ll probably come across similar origin myths involving monks and its usage as medicine.
Gin’s brief history explains why it is one of our favorite spirits. Tea and gin are both botanically derived drinks that taste herbaceous, flowery, and piney. We’ve been steeping our teas in gins for as long as we’ve been steeping them in water, but we’ve never committed to trying different sorts of tea in different types of gin to appreciate the difference.
Every proportion of tea and gin tastes delicious which would be the small answer, a lime could always be added for the tanginess.
Notes on using tea in cocktails: Don’t be afraid to experiment with steeping different teas in different spirits. We conducted a deeper look into gin, but if you like vodka, go ahead and try it! Once you’ve found your ideal combination, prepare a complete bottle and sip it all summer long.
