A Spirited Cheese Pairing

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Hayman's Old Tom Gin

Hayman’s Old Tom Gin is a special gin to me. As a gin drinker myself, I like to try the different expressions that are currently out there, and it seems that more and more distillers are starting to think outside of the box when it comes to botanicals. The heavy flavors of juniper, lemon and licorice that are so familiar in a traditional London Dry are much less obvious in this spirit, and I very much enjoyed that change of pace.

The gin is sweet, light, refreshing, robust, crisp and dry. Juniper is present but not too heavy. Flowers, peaches, pears, dried apricots.

Cheese: Rivers Edge Chevre

The Rivers Edge Chevre was not only my favorite cheese of this pairing, but the most interesting. Smoked in maple leaves, this cheese was sweet while also having the salty and slightly nutty qualities of a goat cheese. It went incredibly well with the sweet fruity qualities of Old Tom Gin.

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Comments

gsmantell

440628 2

I wouldn't cook with a wine that I wouldn't drink by the glass.

Jun 07, 2012 at 1:32 PM
bobzaguy

251522 15

It seems that all of the liquors tasted here are sweet.
Except:
"The gin is sweet, light, refreshing, robust, crisp and dry."
It would be helpful then to know the sweetness levels of the liquors.

Jun 07, 2012 at 2:19 PM
opinionate-
dalchemist

506734 22

No - not one of the spirits seen are really sweet. The have sweet notes - thats all - alcohol is definitely in the foreground and the sweetness just comes from the aging [ok there are also other sweetish aromas - however there is no sugar involved - except of the Hayman's which consist traditionally for a Old Tom Style gin a bit sugar.

For me it is though a geeks pairing - a normal customer would not do this... Calvados still would be understandable - however corn whiskey, tequila and gin? Maybe in a mixed drink - but not straight....

And then there is the quality issue: Sauza Gold? Really?
I rather would go for the 100% agave - Hornitos...

Jun 07, 2012 at 9:08 PM
bobzaguy

251522 15

Thanks. I know that isn't what is meant. It's just that all of the comments about the liquors was "sweet". The gin is described as sweet…and dry. A contradiction of alcohol terms.
I think the fact that all alcohol does taste sweet is the real problem for her.
I agree a "normal customer would not do this". People who drink alcohol neat aren't interested in cheese. Nuts. Pretzels. Yes. To balance the salt and "sweet". This whole fermented dairy idea with 80 proof alcohol is a bit of a fetch.

Jun 07, 2012 at 11:08 PM
opinionate-
dalchemist

506734 22

I would not go that far, to say, that people are not interested in cheese, when they are drinking spirits neat. The calvados pairing was interesting. However the pairing with [neat] moonshine, gin and tequila sounds just outlandish and forced. And especially drinking moonshine and gin neat, is a far stretch...

Jun 08, 2012 at 3:19 PM
bobzaguy

251522 15

Never had moonshine. Before my time. And I grew up in Iowa.

Jun 08, 2012 at 6:04 PM