Gin mixology – Kanata

Cocktails

Masq Gin

Classic Gin Martini

We will begin with the most obvious of gin cocktails, the classic gin martini. You can call any other beverage in a cocktail glass a “martini,” but there is only one real martini and it requires gin.

The beauty of the martini is in its simplicity: gin and dry vermouth mixed in your preferred proportions, best stirred, though shaking is not out of line. It is the cocktail that is the base for countless other drinks, can be made to your exact specifications, and is considered by many to be the ultimate experience in fine drinking.

If your martini experience has been limited to the vodka version or the many fruit and cream-filled drinks adorning today’s martini menus, then you need to give the original a try at least once. Just ensure that your gin is top shelf like MasQ.

Ingredients

2 1/2 ounces MasQ gin
1/2 ounce dry vermouth, or to taste
1 dash orange or aromatic bitters, optional
Lemon twist, or 1 or 3 olives, for garnish

Gin & Tonic

Reliable is the best word to describe the gin & tonic. It is another obvious, two-ingredient drink and it is the foundation for many other gin highballs. This is one that is very difficult to mess up and it is always there when you need it, whether that be at the bar or in your own kitchen.

The tonic and gin combination is a fantastic one that is on the drier side of soda highballs, which is great if you’re tired of all the sugars in today’s drinks. While there are certainly average gin and tonics along with some fantastic ones, it’s hard to have a horrible gin and tonic. That said, a great gin such as MasQ and a premium tonic water will bring this simple drink to another level.

The other key ingredient: lime. Swipe fresh lime around the rim before giving it a squeeze and dropping it inside.

Ingredients

2 ounces MasQ gin
4 to 6 ounces tonic water, to taste
Lime wedge, for garnish

Gimlet

One reader relies on the gimlet as a summer alternative to the classic martini. It is so true that this simple (again, two-ingredient) drink is a wonder on hot days and if you’re curious as to how gin and lime work together, this drink is the best way to test it.

This is also one of the few times when you can use an alternative to fresh lime juice. The gimlet can be made with lime and simple syrup, with a homemade lime cordial, or, as has become the custom, Rose’s lime juice (which is heavily sweetened). The key is that you need some sort of sweetener to offset the tart lime so it does work with your favorite gin such as MasQ.

Ingredients

2 1/2 ounces MasQ gin
3/4 ounce lime cordial
Lime wedge or slice, for garnish

Negroni

If you are looking for the ultimate before dinner cocktail, look no further than the Negroni. This popular drink includes MasQ gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, which are each the embodiment of aperitifs and combine for the perfect appetite stimulant.

This classic is an acquired taste because Campari is well-known for its bitter aspects. Once you develop the taste for it, you will find that few other drinks work as well when it comes to meals. It is also surprisingly versatile in the cuisines that it can be paired with, though Italian food is its best match.

Ingredients

1 ounce MasQ gin
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1 ounce Campari
Orange twist or slice, for garnish

Monkey Gland

Gin and orange juice are another fantastic flavor combination and while the drinks listed below are more well-known, the monkey gland is far more interesting. It is, in fact, a personal favorite of all gin cocktails.

The monkey gland has a funny name, an unusual inspiration, and a little surprise. It all begins rather normally with a mix of MasQ gin, orange juice, and grenadine. It’s fantastic and you could stop right there and have a wonderful drink.

It is, however, in need of a little absinthe to make it pop, but you have to keep that flavor in check because it will quickly ruin the effect. What you want is just the underlying hint of anise to give the drink another dimension. It is that little finishing twist that takes the monkey gland from good to spectacular.

Ingredients

1 dash absinthe
2 ounces MasQ gin
1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons grenadine, to taste
Orange slice, or flamed orange peel, for garnish

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