Pantone might have declared “Ultra Violet” to be 2018’s color of the year, but the beverage world is firmly in the throes of a “think pink” moment. “Rosé All Day” has spilled over to a panoply of pink ciders, pink vodka…. And pink gin.
Gin Lane 1751 did not intend to jump on a pink bandwagon but they seem to have grabbed a zeitgeist by the coattails with “Victoria,” a naturally-tinted gin with a decidedly Millennial Pink hue. But you can look back a couple of millennia to find the origin of gin blended, as this one is, with Angostura bitters; the Victorian-era British Navy popularized the practice as a seasickness cure.
Yes, I said the sailors concocted a hard liquor to make you not feel like barfing. Go figure.
Victoria’s a full-throated little vixen of a spirit, no wallflowers were included in this array of botanicals. It has a warm, bitter-spicy character, with the typical notes of juniper and citrus (discernible angelica and a decent ration of star anise and other warm spices are present too). It’s smooth, on the rich end of the gin spectrum, has a hint of sugar to it, and will probably do best in mixed drinks where it can really shine and not be buried under a ton of other ingredients: Think G&Ts, gimlets and Rickeys; it also probably makes a fun twist on the French 75 with a rosé bubbly. (It will most likely mess up the look of an Aviation.)
Gin Lane has the following suggestions for making the most of this robust yet delicately-colored concoction. Perhaps these would be good recipes for your next sea voyage!
VICTORIAN GARDEN
Ingredients
2 parts Gin Lane 1751 ‘Victoria’ Pink Gin
1 part St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur
½ part Lemon Juice
Top with Club Soda
Lemon wedge garnish
Directions: Serve in a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon wedge.
PINK FITZGERALD
Ingredients
2 parts Gin Lane 1751 Victoria Pink Gin
1 part Lemon Juice
1 part Simple Syrup
Lemon twist garnish
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into martini or coup glass. Garnish with Lemon twist.
PINK G&T
Ingredients
2 parts Gin Lane 1751 ‘Victoria’ Pink Gin
4-5 parts Tonic Water
Directions: Serve over ice and garnish with Lemon or Lime wedge.
PINK BRAMBLE
Ingredients
2 oz. Gin Lane 1751 ‘Victoria’ Pink Gin
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
1 oz. Creme de Cassis liqueur
1 Strawberry
1 Mint Sprig
Crushed ice
Directions: Add the gin, lemon juice and sugar to cocktail shaker and stir. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Drizzle the berry liqueur over the top and watch it ‘marble’ through the drink. Top up with more crushed ice and garnish with fresh strawberry and mint sprig. A modern classic.
NEGRONI
Ingredients
1 part Gin Lane 1751 Victoria Pink Gin
1 part Campari
1 part Sweet Vermouth
Orange wedge garnish
Directions: Combine all ingredients in glass filled with ice. Stir well and garnish with orange wedge.
Strawberry Cooler
Ingredients
2 parts Gin Lane 1751 ‘Victoria’ Pink
1 part Cointreau (or other Triple Sec)
7 -10 fresh strawberries cut in halves
Directions: Muddle the strawberries in the base of a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients, fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into an ice filled highball glass and garnish with a strawberry.