Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/776532
1 18 / the tasting panel / january/february 2017 GIN-UARY 1 18 / the tasting panel OLD WORLD ORIGINS: DAMRAK AMSTERDAM GIN Damrak Amsterdam Gin (SRP $28.99) is ideally suited for any gin-based assignment. Founded in 1575, the Lucas Bols Company of Amsterdam is one of the oldest spirits distillers in the world. Bols became the spirits purveyor to the Dutch East India Company, which also secured the company a steady source of spices and herbs from Southeast Asia. These exotic flavorings would eventually give birth to Damrak Amsterdam Gin. Introduced in 2001, this ultra-premium spirit is crafted from a proprietary recipe dating back to the early 1700s. It combines 17 fruits, berries, herbs and spices, each individually distilled to lock in its distinc- tive flavor and fragrance. The juniper distillate is blended with the precisely crafted botanical distillates. In total, the spirit undergoes five distillations in pot stills and is bottled at 83.6 proof. Damrak Amsterdam Gin is superb in every respect. It has pristine clarity and a lightweight, silky smooth body. The generous bouquet is a captivating array of floral, citrus and herbal aromas. Initially, the flavor of succulent juniper berries is most prevalent on the palate, followed by a surge of the tart, citrusy flavors of the botanical mix. The gin has an all-world crisp and zesty finish. Orange would be an ideal garnish for a Damrak Gin and Tonic. LUCAS BOLS KING OF KANSAS CITY: J. RIEGER & CO. MIDWESTERN DRY GIN The J. Rieger & Company distillery was originally founded in 1887 in Kansas City's West Bottoms Livestock Exchange District, but was forced to close with the advent of Prohibition. Fast-forward 95 years and the J. Rieger & Co. brand has been re-launched by business partners Ryan Maybee, a noted KC mixologist, and Andy Rieger, the great-great- great-grandson of Jacob Rieger. Among their first orders of business was to create J. Rieger & Co. Midwestern Dry Gin (SRP $29.99), a universally delicious, classically structured spirit reminiscent of traditional London dry gin. The botanical blend features a mix of juniper berries, coriander seeds, dried angelica root, dried orange peels and powdered licorice root. Rieger and Maybee hedged their bet by teaming up with Tom Nichol, retired Master Distiller for Tanqueray, to help develop a world- class spirit. Using the distillery's relatively small 120-gallon still, Nichol relies on only the heart of the distillation, discard- ing a larger percentage of the heads and tails of the distillation run. It's an expensive practice, but one that significantly improves every aspect of this 92.2 proof gin. The result is absolutely sensational. The gin has a lushly textured body and an alluring bouquet of evergreen laced with citrus. Its claim to fame is its full, luscious palate, which has the juniper component in the lead, followed almost immediately by lively citrus. The finish is refreshing and spicy warm. J. RIEGER & CO.