When James Bond ordered his martinis shaken, not stirred, it goes without saying they were made from gin. Vodka martinis would have done little to sustain the affable spy’s image as a pop cultural weapon in the West’s Cold War arsenal. (Though, to be fair, the Wall came down despite Reagan’s love of the Russian eau de vie in his martinis. Proud side note: The gin-pusher in that excerpt was my Grandpa.)
It’s 007’s love of the famous drink, as iconic as his long list of luxury vehicles, that helps keep gin in the collective cultural mind as quintessentially British. So when an event for a brand of the alcohol is thrown in SoHo’s Classic Car Club (where members pay for the privilege of driving something out of a Bond movie) it’s safe to assume you’ll be speaking the Queen’s English.
Of course, it’s never safe to assume and this assumption, like that James always drove a British car, would prove to be wrong. Apparently gin doesn’t have to be from Britain. Any neutral spirit can be turned into gin simply by distilling it with juniper berries, and the gin being celebrated this past Wednesday at the lofty garage-meets-gallery on Hudson Street was G’Vine Gin – a French brand made from grapes.
G’Vine presented its wares to an invite-only gathering in association with The Sauce, a lifestyle club for food and beverage connoisseurs. The brand, along with The Sauce’s founders Diane Murakhovskaya and Caitlin Heikkila, gathered members in a bar area set up at the venue and after a short stint of networking, a presentation was made on the art of the perfect cocktail, featuring bitters from Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters (which features a sriracha flavor) and June (a liquor made from grape vine flowers). Saxelby Cheesemongers and Despana Spanish Foods provided an array of moreish cheese and charcuterie.
Originating in France’s Cognac region, G’Vine’s grape base gives it a smooth, palatably mouthfeel that means its G&Ts, served with grapes as a garnish instead of the typical lime, went down an exotic treat with the help of high-end Fever Tree tonic (see below for a recipe). G’Vine’s Floraison line was my particular favorite.
The Sauce crowd felt like a mixer of buttoned-down upwardly mobile professionals keen for an opportunity to mingle and talk shop, food and culture. Launched in November, the lifestyle club boasts 150 members and growing. It’s clear from the buzzing group attending that there is a demand for gatherings of this kind – and it’s a nice way to blend the promotion of a spirit brand with a thirsty consumer. As laid-back as it felt on the surface, there was a serious undertone to the evening reminiscent of a speed dating or professional networking event, giving it a slightly less casual feel. What it did feel was very Manhattan – and perhaps a tinge more Murray Hill than its south of Houston location.
Would I have G’Vine gin with my tonic again? Certainly. It was a nice alternative to the typical tipple. Would I join a lifestyle club like The Sauce? Maybe. At $100 to join and another $100 annual membership fee – it’s worth it if mingling and trying new things are really your bag. But if you need an excuse to drink gin with good company, there’s always the bar. Who’s with me?
Want to make your own G’Vine G&T? Here’s the recipe:
G’Vine G&T
1. Fill a large wine glass with ice cubes.
2. Stir the ice and throw the water.
3. Pour 4 cl of G’Vine. You can use the cap as a perfect measure.
4. Top with premium tonic
5. Garnish with 3 grapes
Twisted Talk: Are you looking forward to trying G’Vine Gin? How will you drink it? What are your thoughts on The Sauce? Discuss below!
