Herbs and botanicals are used to create one of my favourite drinks, the eponymous gin and tonic.
Gin is growing ever more popular with discerning quaffers, and we're seeing more choice on the shelves of supermarkets or local wine emporiums to meet this demand.
Producers are always looking for a unique selling point to tempt you towards their product, but I'm here to say let's keep this simple. You don't need a gin that has to be served with cucumber or a slice of red apple. You should serve it the way you want to, the way that you prefer. I happen to like a G&T with a wedge of lime, but that's just me. I also go for ice, a generous measure of the lovely spirit and just the right amount of tonic. You could say I'm quite traditional, but I don't think that's a bad thing when it comes to gin. Broker's Gin uses a centuries-old recipe to create its spirit, and it tastes great.
Here are a couple that are worth checking out. Gin Mare (pronounced ma-ray), (Waitrose, normally £38.35, currently £32.60). This is a Mediterranean-styled gin, infused with olives, thyme, rosemary and basil. You'd be forgiven for thinking it sounds gimmicky, but trust me, it's lovely.
Tanqueray Rangpur (Waitrose, £24.15). The Rangpur is my favourite gin, and there is always a bottle in my freezer. It's infused with Rangpur limes which are huge and incredibly juicy, but with all the citrus character of the limes we get here in the UK. The spirit is just delicious and works as a classic G&T or a very dry martini.
Pete Stewart is Glasgow director of Inverarity One to One, 185a Bath Street, Glasgow.
www.inverarity121.com
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