Nolet's Dry Gin Silver 70cl

Product Information

Vodka is by definition flavorless and odorless (although the legal definition has changed a bit recently), while gin is full of flavor from the use of botanicals.

Hayman's Old Tom Gin is one of the best examples of this old-world style, though it was only recently launched in 2007. Produced by Hayman Distillers of Witham, England, it is based on a family recipe from the 1870s. I find that years later Nolet still makes a gin as floral and unusual as it was when it first came onto the market— but it’s a relatively easy gin for mixing. Juniper is present, but that floral touch comes through in nearly everything. London Dry might be the choice for the original gin drinker, but it would be a shame to bypass the other options available on the market too. This was in the days before the internet so being a Dutch vodka I called the trade department of the Dutch embassy in London and said we were keen on importing Ketel One and could they put me in touch with its makers. It was weeks later when out of the blue, one morning Bob called me.Up to this time the Nolet Distillery had predominantly made genever, most of which was sold in the Netherlands where it was by far the biggest selling spirit. However, Carolus took over just as a price war was starting with several of the larger producers trying to squeeze out their smaller rivals. Rather than enter this price war Carolus launched a new, premium genever with a much higher price point. Supported by retailers whose margins had also been squeezed in the price war, the new genever, Ketel 1, named after the oldest pot still, Distilleerketel #1, went from strength to strength. Like many other brands, Bols has expanded their genever selection. Beyond the original, you can find barrel-aged bottles, which are rested in French Limousin oak casks for 18 months. Joannes exported his family's genever for the first time. Sharing their success, the Nolets support local charities and became respected citizens of Schiedam. During this period the town itself underwent much change, becoming the centre of Holland's distilling industry. The Nolets become distinguished members of the Distiller's Guild. Build in a Burgundy glass with ice. First add a grapefruit wheel, then ice, NOLET’S Silver and ginger beer. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Add all ingredients except Champagne into an ice-filled shaker. Shake well and strain into a Champagne flute. Top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Once a one-bottle brand, Aviation has expanded its portfolio to include Aviation Old Tom. It's the distillery's take on an old, sweeter style of gin, but they don't add sugars or flavorings, which is customary. Instead, they rely on whiskey barrel aging to bring out an Old Tom taste and accentuate the original Aviation's natural sweetness. There is a beautiful gin inside this distinct green bottle with its red wax seal. Tanqueray's crisp, dry style is the benchmark for a London dry gin without any citrus in the botanicals. It is a standard to which all other gins are compared and contrasted and also sells for a reasonable price. Another big difference is the distillation process. Instead of being a simple distillation, like vodka, botanicals are introduced early on during the process to maximize their flavors and aromas. Terminology: The terms to know when talking about ginThere are several different types of gin including London dry (botanicals are added during distillation, only water and a touch of sweetener allowed to be added afterward); Plymouth (only made at one distillery); and New Western (juniper still present, but other botanicals take centerstage).

Distilled since the 1870s, Tanqueray is now produced at Camron Bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland, one of Europe's largest distilleries. What's most amazing is that this four times distilled gin uses just four botanicals: juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, and licorice. We may be a nation of gin and tonic devotees, but that doesn’t mean that your imagination has to stop at ‘ice and a slice’. Take inspiration from a bottle’s botanicals, and choose a couple of those as a fresh garnish. Our favourites include slices of cucumber, a sprig of rosemary or a wedge of grapefruit, to name but a few. New Western Gin: This is really a catch-all term for newer gins that don’t fit into the previous categories. But the through line is that these gins, while still using juniper as a key ingredient, are flavored with a wide range of botanicals, and often use ones that are grown locally to showcase the flavors of where they are made.

Would you like an online tour of the oldest distillery in the Netherlands?

Jacobus cautiously expanded the distillery established by his father and ensured a reliable supply of malt by purchasing a share in a local windmill.