On the upside I am now picking that ball back up. I begin not with a wine review but with a mixed drink review! In my absence I have discovered the beauty of the classic mixed drink and am set out to share that (as well as the beauty of wine) with all who will listen. What spurred this new direction (well, I prefer to think of it as a diversification!)? Most notably is the fact that the Guild of Master Sommeliers tests on basic mixed drink knowledge and that I have begun reading the James Bond Novels by Ian Flemming. For those of you in-the-know Mr. Bond is rarely found without a cocktail or mixed drink by his side (more on the disctinction between the two later!). At any rate I will hopefully, with time, become both your wine and cocktail hero.
Enough rambling, if you have made it this far I truly commend you. Let's celebrate together with an amazing long drink! A long drink is a mixed drink with large volume, usually served in a highball glass with a large amount of ice. This makes long drinks in general fairly refreshing and particularly well suited to the heat of summer.
Today's long drink is a variation of the Gin & Tonic called the Gin & French. Essentially it is a Gin & Tonic with the addition of dry vermouth.
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Gin & French
- 1.5 oz Hendrick's Gin
- 1.5 oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
- Fever Tree Tonic Water
- Mint Sprig (garnish)
- Lemon Peel (garnish)
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These are the ingredients that I use but feel free to experiment. Quality ingredients are very important for a quality drink. I must say that the Fever Tree tonic is a revelation! I read recently that using a high quality tonic will greatly elevate any drink it encounters and made this drink as a test drive. It is so good that I could drink this stuff straight all day long. Not even in the same camp as generic tonic water or that swill they serve from a soda gun in bars. In the spirit of the Gin & French - Viva La Fever Tree!
