New Amsterdam Gin

The journey into gin has proven quite extensive, surprisingly so. The notes of "herbal sweet orange peel" from a friend seem accurate. This gin is sold at 80 proof in this country. It delivers a pleasant sweet impact with a dry finish, making it a very acceptable and budget-friendly choice for gin enthusiasts. It also balances standard tonic water nicely, resulting in a moderately sweet and flavorful beverage. The absence of overpowering juniper and unpleasant anise is appreciated. At worst, it's a step up from certain other brands, which is commendable. If you require a standard 80 proof (which is low for gin) for any reason, it provides an option. It positions itself alongside brands like Beefeater and Gilbeys as a decent, understated selection. Not bad at all. Cheers!

New Amsterdam Gin is practically vodka. After making two gin and tonics, I checked the bottle three times, convinced I had mistakenly grabbed vodka. I then took a few straight sips to verify. It wasn't until then that I could detect any juniper. On its own, it was rather pleasant and mild. However, unless someone dislikes gin but wants to drink it straight for some reason, I would never suggest it. The only person I know who enjoys drinking gin straight is my 94-year-old grandfather. So, needless to say, I will absolutely not purchase it again, not even to save money! I recently discovered something new that I'd recommend. If you're looking for a lighter, smoother, and slightly sweeter alternative to Tanqueray, try Roku, a Japanese gin. I loved it! Give it a go.

While in Orlando for work, I decided to grab takeout Pho. Next to the restaurant in the strip mall was a liquor store. I thought I'd grab a small sample of something, maybe wine, bourbon, whiskey, or gin. The only small size available was Jim Beam "fire" (is that spicy or cinnamon bourbon? Either way, it seemed like something I'd need to be already drunk to handle) and this New Amsterdam gin. It was likely a choice between bad and "really bad". Just as I was beginning to enjoy gin, I encountered this distillery's mistake. It's excessively sweet and nearly "artificial." Where are the juniper and pine? The coriander and grassy notes? Instead, it tastes like Splenda and orange juice. I should have just had the Pho and saved myself $2.50.

Sampled neat. The aroma is significantly sweeter than Bombay Sapphire. This presents as floral and sugary sweet, unlike Bombay's richer, more juniper-heavy scent. There's a noticeable ethanol undertone. On the palate, it's light, not particularly crisp, and sweet, similar to frosted breakfast cereal. In contrast, Bombay offers pepper, bitter orange, pine, and a cleaner finish. This gin is less complex than Bombay, but not unpleasant. In a sour or other mixed drink, this gin is tasty. It's definitely not suited for a Martini. My rating scale is from 1 to 5, where 1 signifies a drain pour and 5 represents a perfect expression of the spirit. Most mainstream liquors fall between a 2 and 3 on a bell curve. This gin is firmly in the average category.

Before understanding what a "modern" gin was, I immediately liked this one more than others I'd sampled. It has a pleasant citrus-forward scent. It's refreshing to drink and tastes like orange zest—bright, with a touch of pepperiness and a mild bitter finish that isn't overwhelming. This is the first gin I've encountered that I would happily sip chilled and neat. If you, like me, have found other gins excessively herbaceous, I suggest trying one of these American-style gins. This one isn't expensive, making it a probable good starting point.

Yes, this really isn't gin. Consider it an orange-infused vodka. If you approach it that way, the flavor is actually quite good. I noted orange creamsicle notes in the New Amsterdam vodka, but this has that flavor in abundance. It's a very one-dimensional flavor profile, concluding with some lemongrass and hardly any juniper. It works quite well in mixed drinks because of the creamsicle quality, as long as you can build around the orange profile. For ten dollars, it's not bad, just be aware of what you're purchasing.