Tanqueray

The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre?

A recent decision by two venerable British brands to drop the Royal Warrants from their packaging has occasioned some hand-wringing in the UK over whether the much-coveted distinction has lost its lustre. The Classicist calls it a tempest in a Royal Doulton teacup; read on to find out why. Only three royals are entitled to grant warrants – the Queen of England, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales – to firms who supply their royal requisites for at least five years, though most warrant holders have ties to Britain's royal family dating back several decades or more. Of course, Prince William will one day be granting his own.

Holders of the Royal Warrant include many of our favorite luxury brands – Asprey, Aston Martin, Bentley, Barbour, Burberry, Fortnum & Mason, Gieves & Hawkes, Holland & Holland, Hunter Boots, Jaguar, John Lobb, Johnnie Walker, Land Rover, Laphroaig, Lock & Co., Swaine Adeney Brigg, Smythson, Tanqueray and Turnbull & Asser – along with a host of lesser names, such as After Eight mints and Jacob's Cream Crackers. It is the latter two that have now decided to do without their warrants – though no insult is intended to the royal family, as it was when former Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed burned his last year. That coupled with the results of a new survey showing that only 13% of respondents thought that warrants make any difference have called their usefulness into question, the London Guardian reports.

However, "It's hard to say that interest in royal warrants is conclusively on the wane," Vicky Bullen, chief executive of Coley Porter Bell, tells the paper, "because there is no existing data with which to make a comparison. However, consumers' apparent indifference to the royal warrants has surprised us. We can only surmise there could be a number of factors at play." Said factors, Bullen says, include "that we live in a less deferential society in which the royal family enjoys less prestige and political support." That of course is not exactly new, though the upcoming Royal Wedding may give them a boost. [cont'd]

Gallery: Holders of the Royal Warrant

Tags: Asprey, Aston Martin, Barbour, Bentley, British royalty, Burberry, Fortnum and Mason, Harrods, Holland Holland, Hunter Boots, Jaguar, John Lobb, Johnnie Walker, Land Rover, luxury brands, Mohamed al Fayed, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Queen of England, royal family, Royal Warrant, Royal Wedding, royalty, Smythson, Swaine Adeney Brigg, Tanqueray, UK

Continue reading “The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre?”

A Touch of Dickens: Tanqueray Finest Gin Punch

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Charles Dickens wrote in 'David Copperfield' in 1850, "Punch, my dear Copperfield, like time and tide, waits for no man ... His recent despondency, not to say despair, was gone in a moment. I never saw a man so thoroughly enjoy himself amid the fragrance of lemon-peel and sugar, the odour of burning spirit, and the steam of boiling water, as Mr Micawber did that afternoon. It was wonderful to see his face shining at us out of a thin cloud of these delicate fumes, as he stirred, and mixed, and tasted, and looked as if he were making, instead of a punch, a fortune for his family down to the latest posterity."

And, in Dickens' "Scrooge," the miser's assistant, Bob Cratchit, is heard to compliment his dear wife's gin punch as the finest in London.

For a Christmas party, a proper Dickensian Gin Punch sets a festive mood.

So, how does one make a gin punch, and should you use just any gin? The answer to the second, for me, is, No. Don't just use any gin unless pressed by budget or circumstances (i.e. you are snowed in, and can't get out of the driveway).

Tags: Bob Cratchit, Charles Dickens, cocktail recipes, gin, gin punch, holiday cocktail, holiday cocktails, Scrooge, Tanqueray

Continue reading “A Touch of Dickens: Tanqueray Finest Gin Punch”

Tanqueray Freshens Up the "T&T"

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Tanqueray, the iconic London Dry Gin with a history that spanning 175 years and a Royal Warrant from the Queen of England, has come up with a number of new variations on the classic "T&T" - i.e. Tanuqeray and Tonic, which we hereby present so you can try them at your leisure:

T&T Refreshed

• 1.25 oz. Tanqueray London Dry Gin
• 1 Egg White
• .75 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 oz. Simple Syrup
• Tonic Water

• Shake all ingredients without ice to aerate.
• Add ice. Shake.
• Strain over fresh ice into a Collins glass.
• Top with tonic water.

Muddled T&T

• 1.25 oz. Tanqueray London Dry Gin
• Tonic Water

• Muddle 3 lime wedges at the bottom of a Collins glass.
• Add Tanqueray London Dry Gin.
• Top with tonic water.

Continued after the jump.

Tags: cocktails, Gin, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, summer cocktails, SummerCocktails, Tanqueray

Continue reading “Tanqueray Freshens Up the "T&T"”

Tanqueray Rangpur Gin

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

We don't hear as much about new gins as we do the other white spirits so news of any innovation in this old standard is always welcome. Tanqueray has come out with a new version of their classic gin. Tanqueray Rangpur is distilled with Rangpur limes for a more subtle gin taste with a hint of lime. A review over on Liquor Snob reports that the gin is very smooth and excellent in martinis. The 750 ml will retail for $21.99 and it should be making its way to major markets soon.

Source

Tags: alcohol, gin, liquor, spirits, tanqueray

Hendrick's Gin

by Gustad Mody (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Hold the lime, make it a cucumber! A cucumber is the best choice of fruit for your Hendrick’s gin and tonic. The cucumber brings out the fortifying combination of infused botanicals. In this old apothecary shaped bottle you will find a gin infused with Bulgarian Rose, coriander, and cucumbers. Unlike most English made gins, Hendrick's is small batch distilled in Ayrshire, Scotland. The lowland Scottish water provides the perfect medium for the grain spirit and the unusual array of botanicals.
I can unhesitatingly say this is absolutely the best gin I have ever had. Feathery, crisp, and a clear essence of cucumber. With it I have made an absolutely prestigious gin martini and gin and tonic.

Source

Tags: bathtub gin, BathtubGin, fine gin, FineGin, gin, gin tonic, GinTonic, martini, spirits, tanqueray, tonic