The Liquid Muse

G’Vine Is Simply D’Vine

Gin's French Revolution..

The English and French have been at it for years; battling over land, religion, culture and now... gin. Yes, the good old “London Dry” is challenged by a cheeky French upstart. The United States, the world’s largest gin market, is under invasion by the Froggies… (and, might I say, invasion never tasted so sweet).

G’Vine is the first gin to be distilled from Ugni Blanc grape flowers, grown in France’s Cognac region. Distilled in small batches with nine botanicals: ginger root, licorice, green cardamom, cassia bark, coriander, juniper berries, cubeb berries, nutmeg and lime, it is blended with the flowers of the Ugni Blanc leaves, and distilled again. The resulting floral bouquet delights, first, the nose, and then, the palate. As I swoon, shall I mention it is French romance at its finest?

Delicate and floral, spicy and warm (and strong!) the subtle aromatic vine flower, together with the grape spirit, softens the traditional juniper taste inherent in most gins. For cocktail enthusiasts looking outside the vodka box, G’Vine is smooth, well balanced and lusciously versatile.

I wanted to try the cocktail called the G-Spot (what woman wouldn’t?) but I am out of Chambord! So, I went for the G-Man, which is quite refreshing, though rather strong. (And, we all like strong men, no?) I added a splash of grapefruit juice to it, and it is absolutely perfect, for my taste. Try it for yourself…

G-Spot
1 1/2 oz. G’Vine
1 oz. sour mix
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. chambord
Shake and serve in a martini glass, garnish with lime wedge

G-String
1 1/2 oz. G’Vine straight over crushed ice in a Collins glass
Fill with tonic
Squeeze a zest of lime

G-Man
2 oz G’Vine
Squeeze of Lemon
Dash of simple syrup
Dash of angostura bitters
Serve on the rocks in a low tumbler glass, garnish with a twist of lemon