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Before I met Eric, I wasn’t much of a gin fan. Like most booze-related stories, this was due to a night of excessive consumption back in my college days. There was plenty of mixing, I’m sure… but the big drink from that night was gin. And it didn’t end well. For a while, I couldn’t even stand the smell of it. The scent of juniper berry gave me an instant hangover.
When Eric and I got together, I quickly learned that I needed to get over my aversion to it. In the summer, his family drinks gin and tonics nightly as they watch the sunset over the lake at the Cape house. So, I caved. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love all over again.
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I have had the opportunity to sample quite a few different gins over these last few years, both locally produced and from all over the world. There are a number that I am fond of, but the gin that I am head over heels for is Watershed Gin in Columbus Ohio. As stated in the description on their website, juniper notes are layered with hints of citrus and this creates one of the most delicate gins I have ever tasted. If you are at all a gin fan, make friends with someone in Ohio and have them ship you a bottle.
Now that I’ve hyped up this fabulous spirit, let me tell you about this cocktail here, which was created by the folks at The Inn At Honey Run (located in Holmes County), which is where I stayed with a few other food bloggers when we toured Ohio’s Amish Country earlier this year. While the inn originally prepared The Tarragon with Watershed Vodka, I requested Watershed Gin and, I have to say, I think I liked it better this way.
These are irresistibly delicious and after your first one, I can promise you’ll be refilling your cocktail shaker. The tarragon simple syrup adds an additional component that brings the flavors in the gin together.
If you can’t get a bottle of Watershed Gin or Vodka, the simple syrup would be great with any other vodka or gin (heck, it even goes well with tequila). Happy weekend everyone! Cheers!
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13 comments
It IS gin & tonic season and I love tarragon… Hmmmm. : )
Bourbon.
Looks fantastic. Love me some gin.
LOVE this. I’ve always been a big fan of gin. I just love the woodsy notes. Perfect with tarragon. Totally making this over the weekend
Looks delish and I love the “action” in the pics
congrats on getting your post done by 5. With that cocktail it’ll be easy to start happy hour now.
Pour me another one, Bartender! I have heard amazing things about this gin; have yet to find it in my neck of the words. I couldn’t agree more with Eric’s family, gin and tonics are perfect during the summer. In fact .. I am going to go make one now!
You know this has my name all over it, right? After being introduced to a local gin from Boulder and touring their distillery, it was one of the most interesting liquors that I had really never put much thought into. Why? Not sure but now know how different they can be depending on the botanicals. Juniper is a given…the others are varied depending on the maker and the notion of citrus? Perfect. Send me some!
Love this cocktail, Brian!! Any gin based cocktails with herb simple syrup is a sure winner. And love the shots! But that goes without saying.
Love this! I enjoy tarragon in my food, but have never had a drink using it. It’s not an herb I really “grew up eating” and I remember during CIA at one of our first classes, we had to ID herbs and the only one I missed was tarragon. Never again my friend, never again!
I actually do like dry gin. Never really drank it before though..
I love an herb inspired cocktail! I can relate to how you used to feel about gin, my bad college memories revolve mainly around tequila, still not my beverage of choice.
The only time I’ll have a cocktail when going to friends’ house who makes cocktails. I agree with Sylvie about the herb inspired cocktail…love tarragon, and I can only imagine how refreshing and awesome this amazing gin cocktail must be.
Even at my daughter’s we just have wine, and an occasional aperitif!
I love your photos, as well…the action shots are great!
Brian, thank you so much for your kind words on my blog. Lora adores you, as well; it’s as if I know you already, myself:DDD
It’s Saturday. It’s hot. I need one of these…
Beautiful shots…so handsome! This is such a perfect summer drink. I’ve never had a tarragon syrup and imagine it must be wonderful. Gin or vodka…I think I’d like mine with gin. I think it’s cocktail time now and I’ll be right over;)