Even with an extra day this February, the month managed to slip away from me before I could make this final gin post.  

Today, though, we are talking about a couple of gin outliers.  To start, Genever.  What is Genever, you ask?  Genever is actually Dutch for "juniper" but don't let that fool you into thinking it is merely Dutch gin.  While Genever does use botanicals (including juniper) it is a malted grain-based spirit made in Holland or Belgium that is really closer to a cross between whiskey and gin.  

Bols describes their Genever as having a "smooth malty flavor and apricot tones with a musky juniper hit. Triple grain made of corn, rye, and wheat. Blended with 22 botanicals, including juniper berries, hops, ginger, coriander, and apricot kernels." However, despite all the flavors described, Genever is very well-suited to being mixed.

Signature Bols Genever Negroni recipe:

Mix equal parts in a high ball glass:

1 oz Bols Genever

1 oz sweet vermouth

1 oz Italian bitter liqueur (such as Campari)

Garnish with an orange twist and enjoy.

And last but not least, Old Tom Gin is a recipe once popular in the 1800's in England that has experienced a comeback of sorts in recent years.  Old Tom Gin is slightly sweeter than London Dry Gin, but slightly drier than Genever.  The reason for this sweetness is that when making London Dry Gin it is strictly forbidden to add sugar or any other additives after distillation (or at all.) But with Old Tom gin, sugar is essential. In addition to the sweetening, Old Tom gin is characterized by its alcohol content, which must be at least 37.5% ABV. 

Old Tom gin is said to have gotten its name after the Gin Act of 1736 which inadvertently pushed gin underground. A majority of pubs and taverns in England were able to continue selling it only secretly. Many of these pubs constructed plaques or statues of a black cat (‘Old Tomcat’) outside their buildings to show that gin could be bought secretly. Patrons could put coins in a slot and a shot of gin would be poured by the bartender inside and flow down a lead pipe so it could be consumed discreetly on the street.  Our favorite Old Tom Gin is Barr Hill's Tom Cat gin made with a touch of raw honey.