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You sit down with your someone special for a nice meal on Valentine’s Day and go to pour them a glass of pink rose wine – tasty, looks great with the candlelight and red roses. But they hate wine! That’s okay, because the world of gin has the perfect solution to a themed drink that tastes great and is ideal even if you aren’t a hardcore gin fan. The answer is pink gin and it is also perfect for Valentine’s Day cocktails!
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What’s the difference between gin and pink gin?
Pink gin is a little different from just a gin cocktail that is pink – that’s done easily by adding Angostura Bitters to the drink. Pink gin is a basic gin that has been flavoured with different fruits that give it the subtle pink colour. Favourites are strawberries, raspberries or red currants.
The base of the gin is still the same as normal gin – juniper berries and a range of other ingredients known as botanicals. Which ones are added depend on the gin and what they are using to make it ‘pink’ and what works with it.
What does pink gin taste like?
Pink gin will generally taste a bit like the fruit used to give it the colour. It is also usually sweeter than normal gins due to the fruit component in the mixture. This means if you aren’t a big fan of the classic dry gin because it is so dry, then the sweeter versions could be a perfect solution.
What do you mix with pink gin?
I’m a gin fan and I always start with the same thing when I try a new gin so I can enjoy the different flavour. For me, this is Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic – it isn’t as bitter as a standard tonic but doesn’t have a massive impact on the taste of the gin. Another option can be something like an Elderflower tonic which is a little sweeter, but the floral flavours work well with the fruit.
Lemonade is another option to add with pink gin for a simple drink. Just be aware that pink gin is sweeter than normal gin and lemonade is sweeter than tonic so the overall drink will be much sweeter.
Another option is to mix it with Prosecco – the sweetness works well with the sparkling wine and those bubbles add a lovely effect to the drink. If you like bubbles but want to keep control on alcohol levels, soda water could have a similar impact.
What are the best pink gins?
Because pink gin has become a booming area within the huge industry that is modern gin, there are plenty to try including from some well-known brands and some specialist flavours. Here are a few to watch for.
Gordon’s Pink Gin
I’ve never been the biggest fan of Gordon’s gin as I found it a bit floral but their pink gin version is pleasant. It is surprisingly sweet and is made with raspberries and strawberries, with a touch of red currants. It has a subtle pink shade and you can really taste the fruit in it.
Beefeater Pink Distilled Gin
This is another one in my gin cabinet from a big name and has a distinctive strawberry flavour so is a sweet one but there’s also a touch of vanilla in the flavour. I liked it with a standard tonic like the Mediterranean Fever Tree but think it would be too sweet with lemonade.
Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin
If you are a raspberry fan, you will love this gin. It has a strong, sweet raspberry taste and a smooth gin finish. Perhaps the only downside is that it isn’t really pink in colour – despite that lovely bright coloured bottle!
Malfy Gin Rosa Pink Grapefruit
I haven’t tried this one (yet) but it has a different fruit flavouring than the others – pink grapefruit. It is sweet but not as sweet as the ones flavoured with berries so is ideal if you like the colour but aren’t into sweet drinks.
Edinburgh Gin Distillery Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur
There’s a whole world of difference between gin and a gin liqueur but we won’t go into that right now. This is a gin liqueur and I have it in my miniatures to try. It isn’t as strong as normal gin so works well in those Prosecco cocktails and the mixture of rhubarb and ginger is a popular one for flavoured gins.
Greenall’s Wild Berry Gin
Greenall’s pink gin variation has a range of red berries and a peppery finish that makes it not quite as sweet as others and very tasty.
Manchester Raspberry Infused Gin
Something a little different, this gin contains classic juniper and raspberries but also Parma violets and pink pepper for a tangy and smooth drink with some sweetness.
Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin
Another one I haven’t tried yet, this comes well recommended because it is sweet but also has a citrus flavour to it from the pomelo (a citrus fruit that comes from south Asia and is related to the grapefruit).
JJ Whitley Pink Cherry Gin
I tried this one from a miniature and it was very tasty. It is a sweet gin but not as sweet as some of the raspberry ones and had a distinctive cherry flavour.
Warner’s Raspberry Gin
I have a miniature of this one to try too (Christmas advent calendar, very good fun) and it is a mixture of raspberries and blackberries for a vibrant ‘jammy’ flavour, according to Warner’s.
Pink cocktails with gin?
If you are more of a purist in terms of gin and don’t like the idea of all of those fruit flavoured gins, then you can still enjoy a pink gin cocktail. This is where you mix something with gin that makes the drink go pink and is still perfect for Valentine’s Day cocktails.
The original Pink Gin Cocktail recipe uses 2 ounces of gin with 3-4 dashes of Angostura bitters and is garnished with a twist of lemon. This creates a subtle pink coloured drink that is perfect to enjoy with a meal and you can use any normal gin that you love.
