LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2018

DRINK  SPIRITS

G I N S

O F D I S T I N C T I O N

BY JAMES CHATTO  •  PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES TSE

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.

Why has gin become so spectacularly popular in recent years? Perhaps it has something to do with the love of individualization and respect for ar- tisanal quality that is such a hallmark of the millennial generation. Gin is made by redistilling a neutral spir- it 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.

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