Summer Drinks: New Amsterdam Gin

We’ve had a brief respite of sun and warm weather in Vancouver, and I’m so very excited. I’m really in my element when the sun comes out. If I had my druthers, I’d follow the sun all year round.

When the sun comes out, I go looking for a warm weather drink. Sometimes, I go for a Hefeweizen (like a good Hoegaarden) or a good crisp Sauv Blanc. Other times, I’m looking for something a little crisper than even that. I head straight for a nice Gin and Tonic with lime.

I just tried a new gin – one that is seriously so smooth, you can drink it straight. New Amsterdam Straight Gin, in it’s beautiful bottle, is amazing. The spirit recently won back-to-back gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

I’m finding the flavour profile is what is really setting New Amsterdam apart. All gins start out with the same neutral spirit base with juniper. New Amsterdam includes a balance of citrus elements with a lighter touch from the Juniper berries, which makes this so much smoother to drink.

My favourite way to drink this gin is with Tonic, as I mentioned above, but there are a few other recipes you might want to try (and I’ll be all over when I get another bottle!):

Lower East Side
2.5 oz New Amsterdam Gin
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz liquid honey

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain and pour into a martini glass or rocks glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

Or Lemonade 485

2.5 oz New Amsterdam Gin
1 oz guava juice
1/2 oz apple liqueur
1/2 oz peach liqueur
1 lemon, cut into pieces

Muddle lemons until juice is extracted. Add all other ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Pour into a highball glass and garnish with a twist of lemon.

These are both fantastic summer drinks! New Amsterdam Gin will be available nationwide on June 1, 2008. (images courtesy of New Amsterdam Gin)