Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin 43% ABV

Being a British born Indian, I'm always someone who wants to champion products that come from my homeland. Over the last couple years I've tried a few gins from India and loved them all for different reasons. Last year at Junipalooza I tried Jaisalmer Gin. I remember liking it however your taste buds during Junipalooza can get questionable due to the amount of gins on show to sample. So I added Jaisalmer Gin to the list of those to revisit.

Now let's fast forward to Diwali: The Festival of Light. An annual rejoicement celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus around the world. I was invited to the iconic Beneres restaurant in Mayfair for Diwali themed cocktails and nibbles. The nibbles were phenomenal (don't tell my mum I said that) and the cocktails reminded me of Indian sweets in a gin sour format. I loved how saffron sugar, mint sugar and saffron were all used to create a sweet and spicy Indian flag on the flagship cocktail: Jaisalmer - Roshanee. Really reminded me of traditional rangoli patterns (think an explosion of chaotic rainbow colour) adorning homes with candles for the festivities.

I got to try Jaisalmer (straight) before the indulgent cocktails to refamiliarise myself with the liquid itself. The upfront citrus and junpier notes conjured up fond memories, whisked me away, and reminded me what I really liked about this gin.

Jaisalmer Gin contains 11 botanicals; Juniper, Coriander Leaves, Lemon Peel, Orange Peel, Liquorice Root, Angelica Root, Darjeeling Tea, Lemongrass, Vetiver (cuscus), Caraway Seeds and Cubeb Pepper. 7 of these botanicals are sourced from across India itself.

Small batch production with an interesting Indian accent, interestingly Jaisalmer is crafted in copper stills in the North Indian region of Radico Khaitan - formally known as Rampur Distillery.

On the nose Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is bright and clean with a multitude of citrus notes. Lifted in character, super fresh in style, with juniper to the fore. Attractive and inviting, in a classic London Dry "ginny" style.

Citrus-lead in the mouth possessing an initial alpine freshness which broadness out into something more textural. Savoury, herbaceous notes come through in waves of flavour on the finish, climaxing in a final explosion of juniper.

This week I got to do my first InstaLive with Kunal Lamba The US Brand Ambassador For Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin. Kunal and I spent 40mins talking all things Jaisalmer Gin. I stirred up a "Meme Negroni" While Kunal talked us through the botanicals that make up Jaisalmer Gin. It was a great casual talk about our love for Juniper.

Here's a link in case you missed my InstaLive

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CB1Ntixgsrw/?igshid=15dkq07oxxqgl

The Maharani Negroni

50ml Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin

40ml Starlino Rosso Vermouth

20ml Campari

20ml Italicus

I found that the Bergamot in the Italicus really complimented the Darjeeling Tea in the gin.

Gulab Basant- Pink Spring

40ml Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin

10ml Lanique

30ml Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice.

20ml Gulab Jamun Syrup (could be replaced with cardamom syrup)

Gulab Jamun as garnish.

The Maharaja

50ml Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin

20ml Homemade Pink Peppercorn Syrup

20ml Freshly Lemon Juice

40ml Fresh Pink Grapefruit Juice

The Maharani

50ml Jaisalmer Gin

25ml Starlino Rose Aperitvo

15ml Homemade Rose & Cardamom Syrup

15ml Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

Overall I really love this gin. It's a classic gin with a Indian twist. It stays true to what a classic gin should be. Not only does it work well in g&t, it's a gin I have enjoyed making classic cocktails with. What I love the most is that its stylish but not too overly complicated.

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin was Gifted

To purchase Jaisalmer Gin head to www.thewhiskeyexchange.com

jaisalmergin.com

#indiangin #jaisalmergin #gin #memelovesgin

lock Down Cocktails #locktails

During lockdown we have all been raiding the kitchen cupboards to find bits and bobs to create meals and make the most of what we had while it was impossible to get an online order in from supermarkets. We all adapted to making most things from scratch. Thinking outside the box for ingredients.

I took this as an opportunity to make no fuss cocktails. Forget fancy garnishes and exotic fruits. For me its been what easily available ingredients can I use. Here are five cocktails or shall I say locktails using less then five ingredients.

His

• 30ml Greensand Ridge London Dry Gin

• 5ml Supasawa

• 10ml Cocchi Americano

• 10ml Luxardo Maraschino

1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice.

2. Stir.

3. Strain into a glass.

https://www.greensanddistillery.com/

Thyme For Pink Pepper

• 50ml Pink Pepper Gin

• 25ml Supaswa

• 25ml Limoncello

• 2 sprigs of Thyme

1. Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake shake shake it.

3. Fine strain into glass.

4. Add sprig of Thyme as garnish.

https://www.audemus-spirits.com/

Barentsz Bee's Knees

• 50ml Barentsz Premium Gin

• 20ml Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice.

• 15ml Honey Syrup.

1. Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. fine strain into glass.

3. Garnish with lemon peel.

I used 2 parts honey to 1 part warm water.

https://www.barentszgin.com/

Lilly Has Landed

• 60ml Lilly Pilly Pink Gin

• 25ml Homemade Simple Syrup.

• 30ml Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice.

• 30ml Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice.

• 1 Egg White.

1. Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker and dry shake.

2. Then add ice and shake some more.

3. Fine strain into glass.

https://manlyspirits.com.au/

White Negroni

• 30ml Gin 1689 Pink Edition.

• 30ml Italicus.

• 30ml Cocchi Americano.

1. Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir.

2. Strain into glass and serve with a chunk of ice.

https://www.gin1689.com/

All these cocktails can be made using any gin.

All five gins were gifted from the distilleries however other spirits were not.

#memelovesgin #gincocktails #locktails #gin

Game Of Thrones

It has been four months since Game Of Thrones came to end. I know some of you disliked the last season, didn't get the answers you were searching for or like me was thankful that the show finally came to an end. Daenerys just became exceptionally annoying if I'm being honest with you all.

However I was that person that re-watched all the seasons before the last aired and the final season I watched each episode twice just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Crazy when you think I spent around 18/19 days of my life watching the show.... Was it worth it? HELL to the YES! The humour is the last season made it all worth while for me.

I did completely geek out and make cocktails in the build of the last season dedicated to my favourite scenes/characters. I've also included some of my favourite quotes.

"Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear." - Sansa Stark.

Battle of the Bastards

• 30ml Brentingby Gin Black Edition.

• 30ml Jim Bean Bourbon Whiskey.

• 30ml Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice.

• 3 dashes of Ms Better Bitters Lime Leaf.

• Fever-Tree Ginger Ale.

Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.

The Mother of Dragons

• The Blushing Monkey Gin.

• Freshly Squeeze Lemon Juice.

• Simple Syrup.

• English Sparkling Wine.

• Cubes of Dragon Fruit.

"when the snow falls and the winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives"- Eddard Stark

Warden of the North

• Frozen Cushiedoos Tonic Water.

• 30ml Porters Gin.

"There is only one that matters. The great war. And it is here"- Jon Snow

Winter is coming

• 50ml Empress 1908 gin.

• Scwepps 1783 light tonic.

"Are you a sheep? No. You're Dragon. Go be a Dragon."- Lady Orlenna Tyrell.

Blood of the Dragon.

• 30ml Sipsmith London Dry.

• 25ml Freshly squeezed blood orange juice.

• 25ml Campari.

• 25ml Vrmouth Di Torino.

"That's what I do. I drink and I know things."

"I'd like to have my own vineyard, make my own wine: The Imp's Delight. Only my close friends could drink it.

"Drinking and lust: No man can match me in these things. I am God of tits and wine"

The Imp's Delight

• 60ml Two Birds Old Tom.

• Angostura orange bitters.

• 20ml Porto Niepoort Tawny Dee.

"Did you bring wine?"- Tyrion

"I betrayed my closest friend. Now Vary's ashes can tell my ashes 'See? I told you?"- Tyrion

"Love is more powerful than reason. We all know that" Tyrion "love is the death of duty" Jon "you just came up with that?" Tyrion "Maester Aemon said it along time ago" Jon.

Tyrion Lannister- The hand to the King

• 50ml Sipsmith London Dry.

• 20ml Simple syrup.

• 20ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice.

• 1 Egg white.

• 25ml Porto Niepoort Tawny Dee.

Maybe in a few years when I can convince Ivan to watch the show I will make a whole new batch of cocktails inspired by my favourite cocktails but until then I may shake these cocktails up everytime I miss the show.

All gins used were gifted by the brands

#gameofthrones #gameofthronescocktails #memelovesgin #gin #gincocktails #fireandsnow #sipsmiths #brentingbygin #twobirdsgin #bloodorange #empress1708 #cushiedoostonic