A recent visit to Graphic Bar (Golden Square, Soho) coincided with a Juniper Society event with Broker’s Gin. The Juniper Society is a monthly event, hosted by Graphic, in which different gin brands are invited to talk about their gin. It is also an excuse to try some gin that might not be always be something you would usually choose from behind the back bar.
Broker’s Gin was created back in the late 1990s by two brothers, Andy and Martin Dawson. It’s named after gentleman who would typically have worn bowler hats, such as stockbrokers. This means every bottle is topped with a miniature bowler hat. It’s not quite my style, and I’m not sure if I was to own a bottle how long the little hat would stay on!
Leaving the aesthetics aside I had two drinks with it that night, a plain old G&T and a Winston Churchill style Martini. Both drinks were nice, though one of the signature drinks is for the martini to be stuffed with blue cheese olives, and alas blue cheese is just not my thing.
The drinks were pleasant enough though I do wonder how it would stand up with a variation on a few classics; the one interesting point was that they sell both a 40% and 47% version. It’s an intriguing choice, and I discussed this with Andy:
In gin it is the alcohol that holds the botanical flavours, and by the same token releases the botanical aromas/flavours (a) up your nose, (b) onto your taste buds. Most experts share the view that 47% is about the optimum level for alcohol to play those roles in gin. With lower strengths you don’t get the same richness of character.
Most bartenders select the 47% for cocktails because they want the extra richness of the gin base.
There is also an issue around the taxation of alcohol in different markets, and in some areas it’s more preferable to have the higher strength as that’s what the market expects – in the US alcohol taxation is lower than the UK.
Overall Broker’s is a relatively unknown to the wider UK market, though they seem to be doing quite well in key markets abroad. Certainly one to consider when you next buy a gin. Further tasting notes, and information on the history and key botanicals of Broker’s will be up shortly.
Not surprised it does well abroad. Much of the Americas / Asia and even Europe love anything that has an antiquated, old British feel to it. Rarely hits the spot in Blighty, but almost guarantees success overseas…