Gin is one of those drinks with a taste that needs to be acquired. It has a strong flavor and is often described as tasting heavily of pine. With such a strong flavor, it will need to be chased with something to take out the bite so it doesn’t overpower everything else consumed.
Thankfully, clear spirits such as gin are easy to chase and pair due to their versatility. Gin, specifically, is a popular ingredient in cocktails for this reason. This helps figure out good things to pair with it or use as a chaser. Keep reading for some of the best gin chasers.
1. Citrus Juice
When it comes to making cocktails or chasing something as heavily floral as gin, fruit juice, primarily citrus, is a classic route to take. They tend to have enough of their own bite to help cleanse the palate of the heaviness of gin. Be careful of any health issues and medications, as some do not play nicely with citrus.
Here are some popular fruits used to mix or chase gin:
- Orange
- Lemon
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Pineapple (not citrus, but with similar properties)
These fruit juices will all make for a sweeter drink, but opting for fresh-squeezed juice can at least help keep sugar content low. That helps with certain health issues as well as being a little bit healthier in general.
2. Tonic Water
If there’s anything more classic than citrus with gin, it’s tonic. Very little will come to mind faster than a gin and tonic and for a good reason. It lets the flavor of the gin shine while also taking out a lot of that sharp alcohol taste and allowing any flavors afterward not to be muted.
There are different tonic qualities with varying sugar levels to help make the perfect drink.
3. Tea
Tea isn’t necessarily the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about chasers for a drink, especially not gin. However, picking an herbal tea can help play off the natural floral flavors of the gin. Tea can also clean up the palate so dinner can still be enjoyed.
It’s also best when the tea is served hot, making it a good option for the colder season.
Just be careful not to indulge in too much, as mixing stimulants like the caffeine in most teas and depressants like alcohol can lead to significant health complications. Used sparingly as a small, warm treat is usually fine, though. Be sure to contact a doctor if there’s ever a concern about potential health risks for personal medical conditions.
4. Cucumber
Cucumber is a flavor that often gets mixed with drinks due to its crispness. It lets the drink shine and helps remove some of that burning action of the alcohol. This is a necessity for something as strong as gin.
One of the bartenders at Nose Dive in Greenville, South Carolina, also mixed it with some mint to make one heck of a refreshing drink. Be sure to try this flavor for a real treat.
5. Vermouth
Vermouth is a definite choice for martini fans when looking for something to pair with gin. The heavy aroma of vermouth complements the rich floral flavors of the gin. Vermouth packs a punch while also coming off as extremely clean and fresh.
Both red and white vermouth make for excellent choices to pair with gin. You can choose which kind based on what food is being eaten alongside for the perfect pairing.
Final Sip
Popular options that will pair and chase something as strong as gin include citrus juices, tonic water, and vermouth. This is because each of these options plays well with the heavy floral flavors of the gin to take out the bite and complement the drink. Doing so also allows for the best parts of the drink to be enjoyed while not overpowering everything else.
The Nose Dive in Greenville, South Carolina, has an upper floor with a bar staffed with expert mixologists. Just hanging out there for an evening can get some unique mixes they make up on the spot for all sorts of preferences.
So, if you’re visiting the area and would like more suggestions for chasers, please stop by and head upstairs. The guys are great and will be happy to help craft the perfect drink.
For more, check out Top 6 Chasers For Alcoholic Beverages.
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
Anne wants nothing more than to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generations, whether that be family or anyone visiting her website, her YouTube channel, or preservingsweetness.com.