Mix It Mondays: July Means Gin

I decided there was no way I could let another moment of summer go by without discussing gin, the confusing hero/villain of many an alcohol story.

These days, gin is definitely a darling of the cocktail world. Whether mixed into a martini or nuanced in a Negroni, this juniper-based gem deserves a place on your bar cart.

We have the Dutch to thank for bringing this to our tables, taking a medicinal cure and distilling it. Gin, derived from genever (Dutch for juniper) started gaining a reputation almost immediately. The phrase "Dutch Courage" is supposed to have come from the calm that washed over the soldiers after a serving. It wasn't long before it made its way to England and the distillations you might be more familiar with. Of course, as is the case with many famous alcohols, a lack of regulations gave it a seedy reputation, with "gin houses" creeping up throughout London. This reputation again came around during Prohibition with the infamous bathtub gins. Turns out juniper can mask quite the variety of sins with its strong smell and flavor.

These days, though, gin is experiencing a dazzling heyday! There are the originals Old Tom and Genever, both sweeter gins than you might be used to. Then there are the London Dry gins. These are easily recognizable: Tanqueray, Bombay and Bombay Sapphire, Gordon's. Then there are the newer kids on the block that experiment with different botanicals. The most popular of these that I know is Hendrick's, stretching the limits even to limited edition concoctions, suitable for sipping on their own.

Now that you know where gin has been, let's see where we can take it! Today, I'd like to take you to the sweet tart drink that may well get me through much of the summer: The Gin Daisy.

To make this surprisingly dangerous drink (sipped down before you know it), you will need:

1.5 oz gin (you can use a London Dry or a fancy blend, as I have here)
1 oz. lemon juice

.5 oz. simple syrup

.5 oz grenadine

Club Soda

Ice for shaking and for the glass

You will also need some basic barware. For this, you will need:

A shot glass with actual .5 ounce markings
A cocktail shaker
A tumbler for serving

As always, prep is simple! In your ice-filled shaker, combine the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and grenadine. Shake it up until it's good and frosty, then simply pour into your ice filled tumbler. Top with club soda and plan a simple evening of simple pleasures.