As you've probably realized, you can't force maturity. Our clueless kids will get there, but they'll have to discover their own motivation, not the ones we try and pound into them. Right now, our grownup wisdom bounces off them like ping pong balls. One of my sons is talking about saving for a car, but only because he has a girlfriend. There's his motivation. My other son is girlfriend-less and, thus far, motivation-less.
OT: The Food & Drinks Thread
- Thread starter Lafleurs Guy
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- Jun 24, 2012
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Favorite drink: gin and tonic.
Favorite food: a wedge of lime.
That covers it up for me this summer.
Yeah but ... which gin?
And, just as importantly, which tonic?
Here are two of the best tonics from the connoisseurs I've consulted:
The difference?
Ever wondered why premium tonic waters are considerably more expensive than the supermarket own-brand versions? The price gap reflects quality and according to one industry expert, it really is worth splashing out if you're after a great-tasting G&T. ...
Preservatives, flavourings and artificial sweeteners including sucralose can be found in many own-brand tonics, but the worst offender is saccharine.
"It's well known in the drinks trade to be the cheapest and worst tasting sweetener," Warrillow added. "It leaves this bitter back taste in your mouth and we strongly believe that one of the reasons gin and tonic was declining in popularity was because it was this poor tasting tonic water."
There's a clever way to judge the quality of your tonic, too. While larger bubbles suggest it contains a sweetener, smaller bubbles are said to be found in the naturally sweetened products. Something to remember next time it's happy hour...
Why cheap tonic water ruins a G&T
If you're drinking expensive gin, why mix it with cheap tonic water?
These brands are not widely distributed. Fever Tree sells in certain grocery stores. Panache sells directly via their website.
Enjoy.
Grate n Colorful Oz
The Hutson Hawk
Yeah but ... which gin?
And, just as importantly, which tonic?
Here are two of the best tonics from the connoisseurs I've consulted:
The difference?
Ever wondered why premium tonic waters are considerably more expensive than the supermarket own-brand versions? The price gap reflects quality and according to one industry expert, it really is worth splashing out if you're after a great-tasting G&T. ...
Preservatives, flavourings and artificial sweeteners including sucralose can be found in many own-brand tonics, but the worst offender is saccharine.
"It's well known in the drinks trade to be the cheapest and worst tasting sweetener," Warrillow added. "It leaves this bitter back taste in your mouth and we strongly believe that one of the reasons gin and tonic was declining in popularity was because it was this poor tasting tonic water."
There's a clever way to judge the quality of your tonic, too. While larger bubbles suggest it contains a sweetener, smaller bubbles are said to be found in the naturally sweetened products. Something to remember next time it's happy hour...
Why cheap tonic water ruins a G&T
If you're drinking expensive gin, why mix it with cheap tonic water?
These brands are not widely distributed. Fever Tree sells in certain grocery stores. Panache sells directly via their website.
Enjoy.
That makes a whole lotta sense.
- Jun 24, 2012
- 85,239
- 156,123
Love Fever Tree. Didn't try Panache yet.
They're not cheap but Fever Tree is definitely worth it, you can taste the quality.
Also, be sure to match the type of gin with the appropriate tonic.
Example: if your gin is herbal, go for the matching herbal friendly tonic so that it complements the taste even more.
You may not want to stock Fever Tree for a large party, it's going to cost you. Just consider having it on hand for your own private tastings. It's also available in larger bottles, providing some savings.
Grate n Colorful Oz
The Hutson Hawk
- Jun 24, 2012
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If you use Ungava or Hendricks, then the complementary Fever Tree Tonic is either Mediterranean Blend or Indian Tonic Water.
If you use Tanqueray, the best complementatry Fever Tree Tonic is Indian Tonic Water.
If you use Bombay, the best complementary Fever Tree Tonic is Mediterranean Blend.
You can see both products here: Fever-Tree Premium Natural Mixers
My personal favorite is Tanqueray with Indian Tonic Water. Superb.
Grate n Colorful Oz
The Hutson Hawk
- Jun 24, 2012
- 85,239
- 156,123
Welcome.
Someone in my family is a huge gin afficionado and has conducted all of these taste tests. Which saved me from doing it myself. Never thought it would come in handy one day.
Grate n Colorful Oz
The Hutson Hawk
- Jun 24, 2012
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I never mix expensive gin with cheap tonic. Never!
I just buy cheap gin...
Life's way too short for that.
You can always use Schweppes as a baseline -- the version that comes in a bottle and is quite bubbly. It's affordable for a large party, there's that.
I was at a fancy cocktail bar in san francisco and they were mostly using gordon's for their basic cocktails. Of course they had fancier gins but these guys could do a lot with cheap gin.
Hey @groovejuice hows 37 C feeling? I don’t have air con and the fan is just moving hot air around. I’ve drank loads of water that I’ll be up all night peeing I feel but still feeling dry. Will switch to wine soon with the hope I’ll fall in bed drunk and sleep all night probably won’t as it’ll not exactly quench my thirst, any good ideas?
probably won’t as it’ll not exactly quench my thirst, any good ideas?
groovejuice
Without deviation progress is not possible
Hey @groovejuice hows 37 C feeling? I don’t have air con and the fan is just moving hot air around. I’ve drank loads of water that I’ll be up all night peeing I feel but still feeling dry. Will switch to wine soon with the hope I’ll fall in bed drunk and sleep all night
I'm in the basement bedroom staying cool. I am going back and forth outside as I'm bbqing some beets, onions and carrots that I got at the Farmer's Market. I'm doing a nice T-bone as well and I got a beautiful Parisian baguette to have on the side.
I'm used to the late night peeing, but that's due to my age more than anything else.
Enjoy the wine @CalgarySnow!PS. You could always drink cosmopolitans. That'll get you asleep.
Is that like a regular San Francisco cocktail bar but with less needles strewn about?
I'm in the basement bedroom staying cool. I am going back and forth outside as I'm bbqing some beets, onions and carrots that I got at the Farmer's Market. I'm doing a nice T-bone as well and I got a beautiful Parisian baguette to have on the side.
I'm used to the late night peeing, but that's due to my age more than anything else.
PS. You could always drink cosmopolitans. That'll get you asleep.
That tea sounds divine, your partner is very lucky. Late night peeing I understand I’m old too (51 at the end of the month aaaagh! Not sure how time flew this fast). Cosmo is my favourite cocktail have to say my husband does a really good one, only way I can drink cranberry juice
groovejuice
Without deviation progress is not possible
I've a talent for guessing cocktails. A little squeeze each of fresh lime and orange make a cosmo even better. Personally I add some Campari. I love that stuff!
Never liked Campari when I was younger (worked in a bar as an extra job and tried everything) but now I do like it so tastes change, I hated olives too but now can’t get enough of the black ones.
This heat, I was told Canada was a cold country, I did not sign up for 37C, I’m melting, much prefer -37C. You can put clothes on to keep warm but there are only so many you can take off. At least it’s a dry heat, Ottawa is humid and I hate that more, husband has been told if the house doesn’t have air con (and a gas stove) I’m not moving. I remember the first summer I moved here we had a tornado warning, I nearly hyper ventilated especially as it was headed my direction in Somerset
This heat, I was told Canada was a cold country, I did not sign up for 37C, I’m melting, much prefer -37C. You can put clothes on to keep warm but there are only so many you can take off
. At least it’s a dry heat, Ottawa is humid and I hate that more, husband has been told if the house doesn’t have air con (and a gas stove) I’m not moving. I remember the first summer I moved here we had a tornado warning, I nearly hyper ventilated especially as it was headed my direction in Somerset
groovejuice
Without deviation progress is not possible
Never liked Campari when I was younger (worked in a bar as an extra job and tried everything) but now I do like it so tastes change, I hated olives too but now can’t get enough of the black ones.
This heat, I was told Canada was a cold country, I did not sign up for 37C, I’m melting, much prefer -37C. You can put clothes on to keep warm but there are only so many you can take off
This is, as you know, quite unusual here. But we have it so seldom, I'll muddle through. I'm hoping for some rain. My lawn looks like someone set fire to it.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Never liked Campari when I was younger (worked in a bar as an extra job and tried everything) but now I do like it so tastes change, I hated olives too but now can’t get enough of the black ones.
This heat, I was told Canada was a cold country, I did not sign up for 37C, I’m melting, much prefer -37C. You can put clothes on to keep warm but there are only so many you can take off
Its 13C in Saint Anne Des Monts ATM, cold af.
You Calgarians are obsessed with your lawns, in the UK which is an island (if you didn’t know
) we have hose pipe bans, here loads of kilometres from the ocean you just use water willy nilly. Des is always telling his team off for leaving taps on in the kitchen. I look at the kids’ water parks in our communities and I would love to go and stand under it.
It’s the drop in temperature that fascinates me, tomorrow we’ll apparently be 10 degrees lower, we’ll all be freezing
) we have hose pipe bans, here loads of kilometres from the ocean you just use water willy nilly. Des is always telling his team off for leaving taps on in the kitchen. I look at the kids’ water parks in our communities and I would love to go and stand under it. It’s the drop in temperature that fascinates me, tomorrow we’ll apparently be 10 degrees lower, we’ll all be freezing
I dream of that, anything over 20 I’m done, my genetics are Irish and Viking, my internal thermastat is not equipped to deal with anything over 20C
groovejuice
Without deviation progress is not possible
That's crazy man. Over 40° here in the sun today.
groovejuice
Without deviation progress is not possible
Interesting. Gin bars are very popular in HK and it's grown on me, but never realized the importance of tonic.
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