We have a friend who never drinks gin — apparently it brings out the no-holds-barred bitch in her. Perhaps that’s just because she can’t hold her booze, but we wonder if it has something to do with the spirit’s sometimes-harsh taste profile. A new gin recently hit the market, though, and it boasts a smoother, more approachable flavor. In fact, it’s being touted as “so good, you can consume it straight.” We shuddered a bit at the thought, but our interest was piqued. New Amsterdam Gin is named for the Dutch settlement that eventually became New York City (it seeks to honor both the spirit’s heritage and the style and sophistication of the modern-day metropolis), and the bottle’s design evokes a sleek city skyscraper. But on to the important stuff: when it comes to flavor, gin is all about the botanicals. They all begin with a neutral spirit base and the incorporation of juniper berries, but the additional botanicals are what truly differentiate one formula from the next. New Amsterdam’s blend emphasizes an element of citrus and downplays the juniper berries, which are often blamed for gin’s harsh taste. While we hate to follow the crowd, New Amsterdam has already won over the experts, taking home top honors from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Taste for yourself at Kappy’s (10 Revere Beach Parkway, Medford, 781.395.8888), where a liter is $15.99. As for that friend of ours? We’ll just match her cocktail for cocktail; if her bad attitude returns, we’ll be too buzzed to care.
