hello,
@FraGGleR, its known as being "highly functional."
ah, gin.
i started out with Seagram’s Extra Dry on the rocks. i was 19 and it was legal in AZ at the time.
i still only mix booze with ice most of the time. pull the bottle out of the freezer, find a rocks glass, add ice, you're done (doesn't everybody have a bottle of gin in the freezer?) am definitely a London Dry kinda guy.
favorite gin overall: Broker's, classic London Dry, delicious. when i am in the package store it usually is "be happy, buy Broker's."
when i feel like Warren Zevon: Bombay (i don't think Sapphire is worth the premium.)
best cheap dram: Trader Joe's Rear Admiral Joseph's Original London Dry Gin (stupidly long name, stupidly cheap, stupidly good for when you just want to get stupid.)
others in the normal rotation: Crater Lake Gin, Beefeater.
when i can afford 'em or even sometimes when i can't: Bainbridge Heritage Organic Doug Fir Gin (which is more of a wet gin), Voyager Distilled Dry Gin.
when in Orygun: Desert Juniper Gin.
my BFF is not a gin drinker but likes Hendrick's Gin, i am a gin drinker and find it a little strange. i also think Aviation Gin is gawd awful.
if you enjoy the less juniper forward types and want to go cheap, New Amsterdam might be up your alley. also you may want to try Dry Fly but it is not cheap.
gin and tonic? i only use Q Tonic.
from their website:
The Ultimate Gin & Tonic
Fill your best highball glass with ice
Add 2 oz of your favorite gin
Squeeze a wedge of lime
Top with 4 oz chilled Q Tonic
Gently stir
Serve with the remainder of the Q Tonic bottle
or use a BIG highball glass with 4 oz of gin and the whole 8 oz of the Q Tonic bottle.
martini? my vermouth of choice is Vya Extra Dry.
in this recipe:
nick and nora martini
3 parts gin
1 part vermouth
olive for garnish
from "The Craft of the Cocktail" by Dale Degroff
no mixing instructions as i like to "bruise" my gin in a shaker.
review sites that may be of interest (though i should note some are dormant):
http://www.ginfoundry.com/http://www.ginreviews.com/http://theginisin.com/remember, always drink responsibly!
[edit: as if you can't tell, i drink a LOT of gin!]