Apparently, a scorpion was found in an United Airline flight. If you are keeping count, this is the second instance in one month. (See here)
In a rich irony, now United is having to drag their passengers back INTO their airplanes 🙂
Last night, I tried to play with the Nolet’s gin. If you remember, this has a floral accent and low on the juniper-y pine-y stuff. So, I tried the Blood Orange Blossom which introduces the bitter and orange-y Aperol and some lemon juice and simple syrup. I remember making an Orange blossom before with orange liqueur and sweet vermouth but the Blood Orange Blossom came thru much better. So much so, I made two of them last night!!
If you would like to try out some gin cocktail, this might be a good one to start with.
Sharmila and I cannot remember who introduced us to Nolet’s but I remember we immediately liked it. We were primarily Hendricks drinkers before that. Therefore, I was not surprised to find out later that some gin connoisseurs describe Nolets as Hendricks on steroids.
This evening I opened the tenth bottle of gin this year for my research and tasting and chose the bottle of Nolet. I usually start by trying it neat. When I did so, it immediately reminded me of ESME from France. It had a strong floral nose to it (Esme has rose). A little more research – and sure enough, one of the key ingredients for Nolet’s Silver is Turkish rose!
While most of the botanicals are kept secret, they do let you know that they use Turkish rose, peach and raspberry. As a result, the nose is very soft and the palette is pretty smooth. Interestingly, juniper – the main ingredient in all gins is very understated. Towards the end, in the finish, you will sense something pine-like and my guess is that is the juniper trying to make a brave attempt in making its presence felt.
The base alcohol is made from European wheat which is fermented and distilled multiple times to give a very strong – 193 proof!! neutral grain spirit. The final gin – at 94 proof – is stronger than most gins but it retains its smoothn and soft side due to the botanicals.
The distillery – Royal Nolet Distillery in Schiedam, Netherlands has a very rich history. It was established in 1691 (making it the oldest distillery in the Netherlands) and used to make Genever. (You may remember Genever to be the original grandfather of modern gin). The distillery is still owned and run by the original family – now in its eleventh generation (Carl Jr. and Bob Nolet). If any of you have had Ketel One vodka – well, that is made in this same distillery. The process uses a Copper Pot / Column hybrid still. Interestingly, the distillery is powered entirely by windmills!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this gin. Will see next what a G&T (gin and tonic) would taste like.
FEW is an American Style Gin. If you have followed all my Gin research by now, you probably realize that Genever was the original drink from the Belgium/Netherlands area. Then came Tom Gin and finally London Dry style (which is not aged in a barrel at all). American style Gin is a very recent phenomenon and they tend to be (not always) less junipery and a little more citrus forward.
That said, this Gin is very different. To begin with, there is a distinct wood-y nose. Which is surprising for a gin not aged in a barrel till you realize that the base of this gin is not the traditional neutral grain but more akin to white whiskey. The warm toasty malty nose comes from the base of barley, corn and whiskey used.
In terms of the botanicals, other than the standard juniper, citrus, orange peels, lemon and cassia, you have the interesting twists of vanilla (Tahitian vanilla), grains of paradise and home grown hops.
If you are into brown alcohols and want to try gins, you will like this. If you are not too much into barrel aged alcohols, do not take this straight up or with tonic water. Your best way to try this might be with something that compensates for the woody-ness — perhaps a cocktail like Negroni or a Martini.
FEW is made in an interesting place – Evanston – about 30 miles north of Chicago and very close to the Northwestern University. The real interesting part of this area is that this was one of the areas that inspired the Prohibition area!! The distillery is rather new – only about 6 years in existence.
I would also put this gin on the higher end of price – although nothing like Monkey 47.
