Our subject this week is Audrey Saunders' Gin Gin Mule. This modern refreshment is part Mojito and part Gin buck (before the Moscow Mule came along, ginger ale/beer drinks were called “bucks”). A combination of gin, simple syrup, ginger beer, lime and fresh mint make for a smooth, restoring highball. Over the last week, Ted Perez painstakingly taste-tested this cocktail with four different gins [taking a break on Monday following a foggy 21st for Apprentice Developer Don Francisco] to ascertain which label best compliments the combination of flavors.
Ted Perez's Variation:
¾ oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
6-8 sprigs of fresh mint
1 ½ oz gin
1 ½ oz Bundaberg ginger beer
Aviation Gin
This gin has a distinctive, light profile that perhaps is too much it's own blend than it is a complimentary gin. The ginger beer chosen, Bundaberg*, is tame and as such the character of Aviation is left unchecked. Overall: B
Bluecoat Gin
Compared to Aviation, Bluecoat offers a more traditional gin flavor to the cocktail. Unfortunately it seems our bar keep lost count as he poured thus rendering our secondary ingredients overwhelmed. Overall: B for the gin and D+ for our pourer.
No. 209 Gin
Best overall balance. Has a ‘kick’ without being too strong. Faint citrus from 209 marry nicely with the root flavor of the ginger beer. Overall: B+
Hendrick's Gin
Hendrick's, not necessarily a coy label, rallied for our challenge and, surprisingly, allowed the other players to contribute to the overall flavor. A very respectable combination. Overall: B+
The Verdict:
No. 209 and Hendricks were the victors. They offered the best balance between all the flavors, while not sacrificing the overall strength. Aviation and Bluecoat were commendable, however, the potency of these spirits had a tendency to overpower the rest of the flavors.
*Our apologies both for the limited selection of gins [short week] and ginger beers. We will be revisiting the Gin Gin Mule in weeks to come with second, third, fourth, etc. ginger beer labels.