Last Updated on May 10, 2024
Exploring Flavour – an Artisan Gin and Tonic
My drinks shelf is heaving with pretty bottles of artisan gin. I love exploring the flavours that artisan gin makers create – I’m always tempted to buy a bottle when I’m travelling because I know that a good artisan gin will transport me back to a favourite spot. Gin, as I am sure you know, is made by using a second distillation to infuse the base spirit with botanicals. Juniper is a must, but you’ll often find that artisan gin makers draw on local herbs to help create a unique drink that has a subtle but definitive link to the place where it is made. Nordés Gin from Galicia, the north-western tip of the Spanish mainland, is a great example and the first Atlantic Galician Gin.
Named after the wind that signals the arrival of fine weather in Galicia, it’s unusual in that the base spirit used is made from native white Albariño grapes. In the UK, for example, almost all gin is made using a grain-based base spirit which is meant to be ‘neutral’. That’s not to say using a grape-based spirit is unique, but this particular gin, made with a base spirit based on an indigenous variety, takes a very special starting point.
To understand the rationale, it’s worth understanding that Nordés Gin was created by a group of friends that include a renowned sommelier and winner of the Nariz de Oroa awards in 2004, a Galician winemaker and a master distiller.
For the second distillation, Nordés Gin uses a recipe based on eleven botanicals, of which six grow wild in Galicia, sage, bay leaf, lemon verbena, eucalyptus, peppermint and saltwort, also known as sea asparagus. The remaining five are internationally sourced – juniper, ginger, cardamom, hibiscus and black tea. The blend, with each botanical macerated separately before distillation, gives Nordés subtle notes and a well-balanced flavour.
Step back for a minute, if you happen to be lucky enough to have one of their beautiful bottles, inspired by the traditional ceramics of Sargadelos and made in Galicia. What matters, of course, is what the gin tastes like. I’d suggest that with any artisan gin, the first thing you should do, before you try making a cocktail or a gin and tonic, is to pour and taste for yourself. Do, of course, see how the maker recommends serving their gin, but allow yourself the freedom to experiment a bit, based on that initial tasting.
Sitting in my garden this Sunday, I did just that. I’m lucky to have a whole assortment of herbs growing there so I put together a tasting board of possible garnishes – lime, lemon, mint, sage and lemon verbena. It’s easy to use herbs which are already on the list of botanicals, but you may find that some of them are just too strong. And, sometimes it’s good to try something that will complement rather than reinforce an existing flavour. It’s all about your own taste!
When you have a stunning gin, it’s also worth making sure you are using a premium tonic. I picked the Artisan Drinks Company Agave Lemon Tonic which is made from sparkling water, cane sugar, citric acid, lemon juice, organic agave syrup and natural flavours including lime, chilli, quinine and salt. My own choice of garnish to go with that was lemon verbena, a slice of lemon and a little fresh mint. And the end result was an elegant, refreshing and light gin and tonic. Next time, though I will be making the Nordesiño, the flagship recipe from Nordés Gin which is a gin and white wine spritz using Albariño wine. I am quite sure it will be delicious!
Now, if you’d like a chance to try this really special gin for yourself, the makers of Nordés Gin have offered a bottle for one lucky London-Unattached reader. All you need to do is follow through the rafflecopter, remembering to answer the mandatory question. We’ll draw a winner at random in a month’s time.
Meanwhile, if you can’t wait – Nordés Gin RRP from £32.95. ABV: 40%. is available from Amazon and Booths
Nothing fancy. If its good quality gin then ice and a good quality tonic. Thanks
My favourite way to enjoy a good Gin is with bitter lemon or squash and tonic.
Loads and loads of ice and some fresh mint from the garden and I love the idea about trying grapes in it too!
With lots of ice, lime slice and Indian tonic water
With diet tonic and slice of lime
With ice & a lime slice.
On ice with a good quality tonic. I want to taste the botanicals in the lovely gin 😋
With bitter lemon, ice and a slice and great company
with aromatic tonic and ice
With lemonade, not keen on tonic
With a good quality tonic over ice
You cannot beat tonic, ice and a lemon slice.
I don’t. this would be a gift for my daughter in law
With tonic and a nice amount of lime juice, and a gorgeous salt garnish!
With a good quality tonic, ice and lime and it must be in a straight glass
Love a good quality tonic, ice, lime and plenty of gin!
oddly enough, I like cream soda with my gin!
Good tonic, slice or two of citrus fruit (pref pink grapefruit) with a maximum of 2 ice cubes
Quality tonic water with lots of ice and a big squeeze of lemon or lime
Gin, Tonic and a slice of Lime!
With tonic and a slice of lemon or lime
With a splash of good quality tonic and ice x
I love a gin with a good quality tonic, a slice of lemon and ice.
I always have slices of pink grapefruit in the freezer for my gin & tonic. Serve the gin with a slice, LOADS of ice, and Fevertree tonic. – Yum!
Love G&T, ice and a slice. Classic!
Over and ice and with tonic with good company
Simply, with tonic and a slice of lemon
One ice cube, slice of lemon, gin and tonic after work in the garden before I start preparing dinner.
Gin and tonic with a curl of lemon peel
Tonic ice and lime
With a premium tonic and ice
with tonic, over ice, enjoying at our favourite beach side pub watching the sunset.
With fever tree tonic and ice
With Pink lemonade
With friends.
With a splash of tonic over ice 😍
Sparkling mineral water, ice and a squeeze of lemon.
All a good gin needs is a splash of tonic, ice and a slice of lime
Just simply with ice and tonic. Perfect for when we ever get a sunny day! 🙂
With tonic, a slice of lemon and a dash of homemade elderflower cordial.
It has to be served with slimline tonic
Elderflower slimline tonic, ice & a slice of lime
With a splash of tonic and a slice of lemon xx
Tonic and lime for me
Served with a dash of good quality tonic ice and a slice of lemon
Just with a small bit of tonic and 1 ice cube so I still get all the flavour from the gin!
I love a sprig of rosemary and a slice of lime with a plain tonic
With lemonade and a slice of lemon, I find tonic too bitter
In a Pimms cocktail
With a little tonic to taste it properly
Lemon and lime with slimline tonic and lots of ice
lots of ice, light tonic and a slice of lime or lemon
I love a dash of elderflower cordial some tonic water and ice – perfect
With Tonic
With ice and sliced fruit
With Ice and a lemon slice, great company and good weather xx
With a big wedge of Lime, Lots of Ice and Tonic snuggled on the sofe with Celebs go Dating.
If it’s a great gin, I like to enjoy it with a Fever Tree tonic and some ruby grapefruit on ice.
Eldflower, a squeeze of lemon and 3 cubes of ice and a lovely bubble bath
With a flavoured tonic, whilst sat in the garden, relaxing
In a nice elderflower tonic, with plenty of ice
with ice.
With elderflower cordial – absolutely delicious any time of year., though especially in summer.
With a good quality tonic water, a slice of lemon and ice 😋
With a classic tonic and ice!
I like it with a tiny bit of a good quality tonic and over plenty of ice.
Just straight up for me.
I like to try a little bit of it straight/neat before I mix it with tonic. No cocktails, I just want the gin taste!
My favourite way to enjoy an artisan gin like Nordes is on a late Bank Holiday weekend, with friends in the garden. Catching the last of the summer sun.
Good quality ice, Mediterranean tonic, slice of orange and a sprig of rosemary
Simply with tonic ice and good friends
with a flavoured tonic
I love to serve Gin with a ginger ale!
Tonic and ice
With lemonade, ice, & a slice of lime!
Slimline tonic & ice
With slimline tonic water and a slice of lemon and ice
Tonic and ice with lime.
Simple with a good quality tonic is enough for me.
A good quality tonic, ice and a juicy slice of lemon, now relax and enjoy.
Tonic and ice with lime.
With a good tonic, slice of lemon, slice of lime and lots of ice! Senstional
With a good tonic and a twist of lemon
On the rocks!
With ice 🧊 😋 and maybe lemonade if it’s a school night!
Keep it simple with a quality tonic
In the garden with my feet up.
Line and tonic water, lots of ice
Good quality tonic, Fever Tree’s my favourite, and ice
Just ice and tonic
With lots of ice, tonic, and my feet up!
I’m happy with ice, tonic and lime 🙂
I like it neat on a lot of ice as an accompaniment to small toasts with smoked mackerel pate as an evening snack!
I would have it mixed with some orange and lemon with a nice slice of orange in it and would be lush gin.
With tonic, a slice of lime & lots of ice!
With a good tonic and some round ice.
with some cloudy lemonade (on a sunny day!) 🍋
GinSling cocktail 🙂
tonic and lime for me
Soda Water and a Slice of Lemon, some berries or cucumber
Just with lemonade
With lemonade
With dome nice lemon tonic
love it with tonic and a slice of lime xxxx
camping at the end of day after been for a long walk and having the fire in front of me
while reading a good book in the garden
Fevertree tonic
I like it with a good quality tonic water
Fresh with tonic and lemon
Very, very cold!
i prefer to take my gin neat, to bring out all the flavours
On a sunny patio with my partner
With tonic, ice and lemon in a large glass preferably sat outside in the sunshine.
A nice tonic with a slice of lemon or lime.
In peace and quiet and with a good book, out in the sun.
Ice,low calorie tonic, lemon
Fever tree tonic with ice & lime
Ice, tonic and cucumber and a sprig of mint
In the garden with tonic and lime, with a few nibbles.
Sipped neat.
I tried it first by itself with a little ice and was delighted by the freshness on the palate. I have seen one recommended serving is with a single white grape and will give it a try.
With a splash of pink lemonade and frozen lime slice.
with tonic and slice of lime
Tbh I don’t drink gin, I would gift it to my mum as a treat. She’s does G&T but loves to try different tonics with it
Cold tonic water and no ice!
I enjoy mine with a little tonic water
On the rocks!
I like to enjoy it with tonic water and a slice of lemon
With some flavoured tonic and frozen berries
We make our own tonic water, and we have it with the juice and peels of lemon, lime and satsumas!, and spring of rosemary!
I like my gin with orange juice and no ice
I love it with a nice premium tonic
I like to enjoy it with tonic water and a slice of lemon
with tonic water and lemon.
Love an artisan gin with a little water and ice
I like mine served with ice and lemon
Tonic, lemon and ice! 😋
Lemonade and lemon slice
I love this gin! It’s gorgeous with Fevertree Mediterranean tonic and a slice of grapefruit.
Fruit flavoured tonic
With a good quality slim line tonic and ice!
With lemonade and ice
I like it with lemonade as it makes such a refreshing drink
Tonic and Ice!
I love any gin with slimline tonic and ice.
This is something new I saw on the internet today I want to thank you for writing such a great and helpful blog. I really appreciate your efforts.
On ice with a generous squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of tonic.
Elderflower tonic on ice
negroni
Ice a slice of lemon and friends
With a little ice, tonic water and a slice of lemon.
With lemonade in the garden
Served with ice and a slice surrounded by friends and family
With tonic and cucumber,
What is your favourite way to enjoy an artisan gin like Nordes . . . with friends lol
with a splash of ice cold lemonade and a couple of fresh raspberries
With diet coke as a sundowner.
with ice, lemon and a good quality tonic!
I’d enjoy it with ice and a little tonic water.
Love me gin with ice, slice of lemon and a good tonic
With a slice of lemon and a very cold good quality tonic!
With ice and elderflower presse… perfectly refreshing on a warm day
Love to indulge in a glass of Nordés with crisp bubbles of tonic swirling with botanical brilliance. Topped off with a sprig of fresh Rosemary. A gin-tastic tango that tickles the senses!
I love it served with lemonade and very cool and chilled
with tonic whilst lounging in the garden in the sun
With tonic and a slice of lemon!
with ice and tonic
I love any gin with slimline tonic and ice.
naked with ice
With ice, tonic and a slice of lemon, very refreshing
Old school – just with tonic and lemon
With chilled lemonade
Ice and elderflower tonic water
with ice and tonic water enjoying it with my lovely hubby Paul 🙂
I love to enjoy it with ice and lemonade
Indian Tonic Water with Pink Peppercorns
With lots of ice and tonic x
mine is to be served with a little cloudy lemonade
With a good quality tonic and a slice of lemon so the gin shines through
I love gin served over ice with rose and raspberry lemonade
Served with slim line tonic
Served with a nice pink grapefruit tonic and Grapefruit Garnish
Gin, tonic, ice, and a slice of lime
They are best served in a nice cocktail.