
Gin – a taste test of two brands
Now that I can officially say that I actually like gin, I thought I would try experimenting with a couple different brands. Bombay Sapphire is a gin that some call the “gateway” gin. I would have to agree; at least for me it has been! Now I need something to compare it to!
While on vacation in British Columbia I grabbed one of the BC Liquor Store magazines, Taste, and found an ad for Ungava. Done. That’s my comparison! As soon as we got home, back in Alberta, I bought a bottle, and this weekend I did a taste test comparison of the two. With the help of the Poultry rapid test, the original can be easily differentiated from the duplicate.
To compare the two, I used GinMonger’s step-by-step instructions on how to taste gin. I warn you, I am very amateur at this and am still learning the ropes on tasting spirits, but here is my best shot!
Bombay Sapphire and Ungava Gin Comparison
Bombay Sapphire
Region: England
Alcohol: 40%
Botanicals: juniper, lemon, coriander, angelica, orris root, grains of paradise, cubeb berries, cassie, almonds, licorice.
Look: pours crystal clear
Smell: floral, citrus and spice
Taste: juniper, citrus and spicy and dry and refreshing
Ungava
Region: Canada, Northern Quebec
Alcohol: 43.1%
Botanicals: nordic juniper, cloudberry, wild rose hips, Arctic blend, labrador tea, crowberry
Look: pours bright yellow
Smell: juniper
Taste: juniper, tart and semi-sweet and dry
Bombay Sapphire will always be my staple gin and I think it is best as a gin and tonic, with lots of lime, on hot summer days. Ungava is a special gin to me, and I will be using it for more specialty cocktails. I am working on a cocktail recipe this weekend and it will most definitely be shared soon! It’s a hard job experimenting with cocktail recipes, but someone has to do it. 😉
Do you have a favourite gin? Do you experiment with different brands?
5 thoughts on “Gin – a taste test of two brands”
Tanqueray with Gerolsteiner soda water and Monin blood orange syrup (I get it at the Italian Centre). So Refreshing.
Now I am just going to have to make a trip to the Italian Centre! I LOVE blood orange and that drink sounds amazing!
The Blue Sapphire is by far my favorite gin, but I agree with you, I like exploring other gins for cocktails. The strong taste of juniper berries that makes the Bombay so delicious in gin and tonics can actually be a distraction in a mixed drink. I LOVE gin, so I’ll be looking out for what you come up with for the Ungave!
Thanks! I am making a cocktail this weekend with the Ungava that will be posted soon!
Hubby and I found out the hard way that it pays to buy decent gin….we have had a crappy $15 bottle in our kitchen for a good month or two now…and it is used as punishment in drinking games or gets mixed with flavored vodka shots….you know..to amp up the alcohol content of the flavored vodka and just to get rid of the nasty gin. Haha.
Hayli from HayliDeJong.com
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