I'm sure it was all very familiar to you. I had forgotten about the crazy Martin Miller's event until I started doing research for this post. It was a measure of how excited everyone was about cocktails in 2008 that all those people gathered into one room. Nearly everyone at that event went on to a notable career in the bar business.
2009 sounds like it was much more subdued when Miller hosted the blogger meet-up at M.S. Rau Antiques with ambassador Jon Santer (who made gin-Mosel wine Martinis and other drinks that had nothing to do with the Revolver).
The best part about the old deco bottle of Plymouth was the price. It was sitting on the shelves at $16 for a liter around here circa 2006-07 at the one place that carried it (about half of what it is today). I wish that they brought that back for bartenders instead of the tombstone shape that doesn't work in wells great (short neck, too long yet narrow).
Bombay Sapphire has long been my regular gin, which I drink on the rocks - with olives if I happen to have some handy. In recent years, I've been testing the wide variety of locally made Gins in Portland and the surrounding region, but none have displaced Sapphire for me. Now I have a large collection of gins that I don't really care to drink straight, so I'm learning to make all sorts of cocktails with them! I picked up one called Sipsmith recently. Not bad straight, but it's great with Falernum and lime juice.
Even the oddly flavored gins have their uses. Hendricks Flora Adora is certainly fun in a gimlet, for example.
Thank you. I learned my love of gin from my parents - they drank a Gibson every night. I would raid the frig & gobble up those lovely onions when I could. My kids then followed my lead and stole my onions from my Gibson...
I love gin. Particularly Hendricks, Suntory Roku, The Botanist… I obviously skew botanic forward gins. I cannot tolerate Tanqueray original (too many bad college hangovers from that stuff), however, Tanqueray No Ten is different enough to bear.
It has gone from ubiquitous to harder to find in the last several years. I don't think the current bottle is very speed rack, or even back bar, friendly. I found one of the old art deco bottles of the late aughts recently.
Let the Gin Week be-gin! A great slice of history, and that picture from the 2008 Martin Miller's event is priceless. And yes, I remember the bathtub fondly!
Love Gin. Wish I had a Time Machine!
Good grief, what a saga. I was there for nearly all of that. I feel old. And maybe a little triggered.
I'm sure it was all very familiar to you. I had forgotten about the crazy Martin Miller's event until I started doing research for this post. It was a measure of how excited everyone was about cocktails in 2008 that all those people gathered into one room. Nearly everyone at that event went on to a notable career in the bar business.
2009 sounds like it was much more subdued when Miller hosted the blogger meet-up at M.S. Rau Antiques with ambassador Jon Santer (who made gin-Mosel wine Martinis and other drinks that had nothing to do with the Revolver).
Ha! Time for a Martini!
The best part about the old deco bottle of Plymouth was the price. It was sitting on the shelves at $16 for a liter around here circa 2006-07 at the one place that carried it (about half of what it is today). I wish that they brought that back for bartenders instead of the tombstone shape that doesn't work in wells great (short neck, too long yet narrow).
I miss the pre-cocktail boom prices on many spirits. Campari specifically.
Bombay Sapphire has long been my regular gin, which I drink on the rocks - with olives if I happen to have some handy. In recent years, I've been testing the wide variety of locally made Gins in Portland and the surrounding region, but none have displaced Sapphire for me. Now I have a large collection of gins that I don't really care to drink straight, so I'm learning to make all sorts of cocktails with them! I picked up one called Sipsmith recently. Not bad straight, but it's great with Falernum and lime juice.
Even the oddly flavored gins have their uses. Hendricks Flora Adora is certainly fun in a gimlet, for example.
Sipsmith is a great Martini gin. I mention it in the post. One of the best new gins out there.
Thank you. I learned my love of gin from my parents - they drank a Gibson every night. I would raid the frig & gobble up those lovely onions when I could. My kids then followed my lead and stole my onions from my Gibson...
Cocktail onions are delicious.
I love gin. Particularly Hendricks, Suntory Roku, The Botanist… I obviously skew botanic forward gins. I cannot tolerate Tanqueray original (too many bad college hangovers from that stuff), however, Tanqueray No Ten is different enough to bear.
Roku is a solidly dependable gin. I pick it up often.
Personal fave here: Plymouth, which is surprisingly hard to find at bars. My go-to for martinis.
It has gone from ubiquitous to harder to find in the last several years. I don't think the current bottle is very speed rack, or even back bar, friendly. I found one of the old art deco bottles of the late aughts recently.
Great walk down memory lane!
Thanks, Jason! I'm sure you had many of the same first-hand experiences.
Let the Gin Week be-gin! A great slice of history, and that picture from the 2008 Martin Miller's event is priceless. And yes, I remember the bathtub fondly!
That picture is priceless. I'm so glad I took it with my crummy, non-iPhone camera at the time.