Page 30 - Thirst Magazine Issue 1 (Feb 2017)

VODKA OR GIN?

VODKA GIN
In short, vodka can be Gin, on the contrary,
made out of anything is also a white spirit,
(any starch or but distilled with
sugar-rich plant), is botanicals and always
distilled several times juniper berries to
and mixed with pure get a characterful
water to get a very clear flavour. Basically, it’s
and neutral spirit. vodka distilled with
juniper berry and
other botanicals.

The question of ‘Vodka or Gin’ might have been an easy
choice before, but times are changing.

By Jarl de Vries, Cocktail Professor

definition of gin. Vodka is still the VODKA
his has partly to do with the
clear neutral spirit it always was Going back to vodka, this is the drink of choice
but what defines a gin has changed for many as people consider it clear or maybe
Tin recent years. even flavourless, making it appealing to a large
Vodka is the largest spirit in the business crowd that don’t want that ‘alcohol flavour’.
in terms of sales and has been this way for I like to use vodka in drinks when I want the
a while. Although the popularity of gin is other ingredients to stand out. Specifically subtle
on the rise, Vodka is still the go-to spirit for flavours that I want to let shine and would have
beginner drinker as it is known to impart been overpowered by a heavier spirit like a rye
the least flavour onto a drink in comparison whiskey or a heavy gin. With the more subtle
to other spirits. gins now on the market, these too can be used
without overpowering the other ingredients. At
GIN the same time you can still reach for that juniper
heavy gin for some character in your drinks.
Not long ago, gin was a hefty juniper As a drink maker, I consider myself lucky
packed spirit but now, the range of gins as the array of colours that I can use in my
has expanded. Still featuring the juniper painting, I call cocktail, has grown. Vodka
goodness but with additional characters such or gin? For me it depends on the drink. For
as light florals, fresh citrus, and herbal notes example, if I want to highlight subtle and round
etc. There are even some gins out there with flavour of a watermelon, I will choose vodka. But
crazy flavours like cedar wood infused or sea if I want to bring out the herbal flavour in basil,
salt flavoured to name a few. So with all these I’ll go for a gin that compliments and enhances
new flavours it can be fun finding out your the basil. So think about vodka as a blank canvas
preferred taste. where you can paint anything you like; with
gin, you will have to take into consideration the
Cocktails that can be made with gin or vodka: existing flavours in the spirit and what can and
Martini, Gimlet, Gin/Vodka Tonic cannot go with it.

30

Vodka-or-Gin_THIRST_1.indd 30 1/3/2017 9:36:47 PM