Ransom Gin

This evening I was able to turn on a couple of people to Ransom’s Old Tom Gin which is a pre-prohibition style gin made right here in Oregon.  For those of you who don’t really know that much about gin – here’s a short lesson.

First, gin is vodka…vodka that is juniper flavored.  Distillers then tweak the flavor so that their gin is unique with herbs and botanicals.  Most gin sold in the U.S. is London Dry gin, like Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire.  London Dry Gin tends to have a stronger juniper flavor and be a bit bitter.  Genever Gin originally came from Holland and tends to not have a weak juniper flavor.  There are not a lot of genever gins on the U.S. market.  Bols makes a

Genever gin and Aviation from House Spirits makes a “genever inspired gin.”  This gin tends to drink more in line with vodka with less flavor and a sweeter vanilla finish, light herbs, and botanicals.

But the Ransom Old Tom Gin is something in it’s own rights.  First, Ransom is the name of the distillery and Old Tom is the type of gin.  Old Tom is a style of gin from the 1800’s, which was popular in Great Britain.  It’s always been slightly sweeter than London Dry Gin.  The first thing you will notice about Ransom’s Old Tom Gin is its rose-petal color that comes from finishing the gin in pinot noir barrels.  When you taste it, all the different flavors that pop off of your tongue will surprise you.  You can taste mint, allspice berries, cardamom, and just a hint of juniper.  I totally recommend getting a bottle if you are a gin drinker and you love to try new things, you will be wowed whether you love it or you hate it.

When I’m making Jerry Thomas’s* drinks I have been using the Ransom Old Tom Gin because it was the popular gin when he was mixing drinks.  If you happen to get a bottle, try this little gem.

THE PINEAPPLE JULEP

1.5 ounces of Old Tom Gin

.5 ounce of Maraschino

2 teaspoons raspberry jam

.5 ounces lemon juice

1 ounce pineapple juice

Shake these ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass.

top with an ounce of champagne or another sparkling wine

(Don’t have maraschino liqueur – do without.  Don’t have raspberry jam – try the drink with another flavor of jam.  Don’t have a bottle of sparkling sitting around – this drink is delicious without the sparkle also.)

* If you don’t know who Jerry Thomas is – well he is the grandfather of mixology in the U.S. and published the first cocktail book in 1862.  He was a great showman with a set of sterling silver bar tools and a drink he made where he shot a flame between two metal cups.  Enjoy my blog where I am writing about remaking all of his drinks.

Tagged as: Absinthe, anisette, aviation gin, bartender blog, egg whites, house spirits, Jerry Thomas Bar-Tenders Guide How to Mix Drinks, mixologist blog, mixology blog, ouzo, pre-prohibition cocktails, Ransom Gin, ransom gin cocktails, sambucca, small batch distillery