Ahoy there, gin lovers! Are you able to set sail on a high-proof journey? We’re charting a course to the lands of navy power gin—a spirit that’s not for the faint-hearted.
Whenever you see ‘navy power’ on a bottle of gin, you realize you’ve bought the good things. However what’s it? What’s it like? Which of them are good? And most significantly, why drink it?
With its origins relationship again to the 18th Century, this strong liquor has gained a loyal following amongst gin connoisseurs and hospos, but it surely’s nonetheless a little bit of a thriller to most.
So let’s have a more in-depth have a look at the historical past, traits and serving recommendations of navy power gin, and uncover why it’s a must-try for any ‘gin-thusiast’.
Listed below are 7 of our favorite navy power gins and what they style like.
What’s navy power gin?
Navy power gin—in actual fact any spirit that has ‘navy power’ on its label—is a high-ABV spirit. To be legally known as gin, it must be a minimal of 37.5percentABV (75% proof). You’ll often discover gin at 40% as much as the mid-40s.
Navy power—or ‘overproof’ spirits need to be no less than 57percentABV (100% proof), and yow will discover it even stronger than that.
Why is it known as navy power gin?
There are a few theories about why it’s known as navy power and the place the custom began. Each are to do with the truth that at 57percentABV, gin will ignite.
Again within the 18th Century, common sailors within the navy got rum rations and the officers got gin. That custom solely stopped in the midst of the twentieth Century by the way in which.
One story goes that, as a result of the rations had been saved within the maintain of the ship close to the battery, if a barrel leaked and bought into the gun powder, the powder would nonetheless ignite.
It’s yarn.
However extra doubtless is that, again within the 1700s, they didn’t have devices that might precisely measure alcohol content material.
So when naval ships restocked, to make sure the spirits they purchased weren’t watered down by unscrupulous merchants, the quartermasters would check the ABV towards a unadorned flame.
If it was ‘navy power’, the gin would ignite, proving its alcohol stage. If it had been tampered with, it wouldn’t.
That is in all probability the place the phrase ‘proof’ comes from once we’re speaking about alcohol power.
What makes navy power gin fascinating? And what does it style like?
Navy power gin is a formidable spirit. However when it’s made effectively, that additional 17percentABV or so can do unimaginable issues to the feel of the gin and the flavour depth of the botanicals.
Clearly, there’s a danger to creating a high-ABV spirit that it’ll simply style like paint-stripper. And that’s all the way down to the talent of the distiller. Those we’ve highlighted under are exceptionally clean, to the purpose the place you wouldn’t know they’re a lot stronger than common gin.
However other than the facility that you just do get from navy power gin—a type of wealthy heat and all-encompassing, tongue-coating flavour hit—you get to expertise quite a lot of aromas and tastes that go unnoticed in decrease power gin.
Citrus, spice and pepper, woodiness and juniper all shine out in these OP gins.
The perfect factor about navy power gin is its capability to face up in longer drinks. In a G&T, when gin can generally disappear below the tonic, navy power actually holds its personal. However not solely due to its excessive ABV, but additionally as a result of its flavours might be a lot extra accentuated.
Distillers will inform you to attempt it the identical approach you’ll scotch: neat with a drop or two of water to ‘open it up’. And even with a single ice dice.
Navy power is basically enjoyable in a martini, simply watch out when you’re not used to it. You don’t need to be strolling the plank after only one drink!
What are a few of our favorite navy power gins?
Not many big-name manufacturers have a navy power of their repertoire, so you must search for extra craft distilleries for an OP model.
It’s additionally vital to notice that good navy power gin isn’t simply the distillery’s common gin that’s simply stronger; you solely need those which have been made out of a recipe only for that particular gin.
7 Very good Navy Power Gins
Try our navy power gin rundown of our favorite overproof gins right here.
You may as well purchase most of those and lots of extra from the superb Nip of Braveness – a small enterprise that solely shares Australian craft spirits and nothing else. They’re additionally the wholesaler to many bars and bottle outlets across the nation, so that is place to get your gin goodies!
