“Of all the gin joints of all the towns, she.....!”

by Carolyn Scott, Twin Liquors Marketplace College Station

“Of all the gin joints of all the towns in the world, she walks into mine!”    -Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca, 1943

In 1862, the first bartender’s guide was published. Since then the world of cocktails has exploded! Mixology has become an art form and since the 80’s, cocktails have become more intricate and more lavish at times requiring more ingredients than the dinner with which it’s being served! Fortunately, since about 2000, classic and vintage cocktails have been making a comeback. Bartenders and mixologists have been focusing on quality drinks and using the best spirits, mixers and ingredients available. People are learning to enjoy cocktails and appreciate the art. Of course it hasn’t always been this way. Even when cocktails were in their heyday, they weren’t always the best. Many vintage cocktails were actually created in order to cover up the taste of low quality terrible spirits that were illicitly made at the time.  

Today, I’m focusing on one of the classic spirits, Gin.  One of my favorite gin cocktails (outside of a gin and soda) is the French 75, named so because it is said to have such a kick to it that you feel like you’ve been shelled by a French 75mm field gun. Made with gin, lemon juice, sugar and champagne, this cocktail is a little bit sassy and a lot of fun, making it ideal for any occasion. I use one of my favorite gins, Citadelle.

Citadelle is unique amongst gins. It is made with 19 different botanicals and distilled in a small 200 litre cognac copper pot still over an open flame. It has a floral and spicy quality to the taste that is displayed alongside star anise, citrus and violet. It has a lingering dryness with a highly aromatic finish that leaves a little tingle in the mouth. This is not a gin to be taken lightly or to be mixed with just anything, if you are making a gin and tonic, spend a little extra and go with either Q Tonic or Fever Tree Tonic; it is well worth the bit extra!

As far as a champagne, I usually stick to a Cava or Prosecco and the drier the better! Natale Verga Prosecco is fantastic for this cocktail. It has a lemony profile with hints of almond and honey that complement the complexity of the gin. This is definitely one of my favorite “girl’s-night-in” or “glamour-night-out” cocktails; it completely embodies old Hollywood and makes for a fun and sparkly evening!

French 75
1 ounce Gin
1 tablespoon Lemon juice
1 dash sugar syrup (simple syrup)
Champagne (or Sparkling Wine)

Shake the first 3 ingredients together with ice cubes and strain into champagne glass; top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon peel. For an added twist, add a dash of grenadine! Sip and enjoy!