101 Gins: To Try Before You Die: Fully Revised and Updated Edition Hardcover – 13 Aug. 2015

Just as one cannot keep up these days with the dizzying array of limited edition releases from virtually every whisky distiller, the same seems to apply to the number of new gins coming on to the market each proclaiming their individuality over competing brands. Mr Buxton refers to this very thing in his opening sleeve notes describing it as a "new Gin Craze" and with that he's hit the nail right on the head. For Gin lovers everywhere the increasing array of brands is great in one respect as there are new and exciting varieties to try. However as with any product, and Gin is no exception, some are better than others. While any rating for taste is down to the individual it is helpful to have some markers and assistance as to what may at least be worth a try first before testing some others.This is where this handy sized little book comes into it's own as despite it's name, there are some concoctions that one may not rush to try before one departs this mortal coil. Yes, it maybe someone else's opinion of a brand, but given the related descriptors and the fact that Mr Buxton does have credibility in knowing his subject (being a judge in recent World Gin Awards among other things) there are some Gins perhaps best left till later down the "must try" list.It must take some stamina to try 101 Gins (plus extras for the ones he doubtless really appreciated) but all are then given a full page devoted to the individual histories, ingredients (personally I thought there would have been a lot more secrecy over what the spirits contained), distillers, tastes and other tit bits of interesting information. Repetition was avoided although it did creep in at No's 23 and 24 when both enjoyed a "fairy tale" beginning but this was acknowledged by the author.Apart from what was inside the bottles, attention was also given to branding and again I found the additional viewpoints and information that accompanied this to be an interesting but important issue when competing in such a busy and competitive market place. Not only that but as in other areas of life we are attracted by style and what appears "different" given that gin appears to have thrown off it's old fuddy duddy image as in " G & T". A short, but eminently integral part of the book is also provided at the beginning where ten pages are devoted to a brief history of gin. Again this just helps to make the book an ideal reference guide to what was a rather neglected spirit with a dowdy reputation to one that has been resurrected. Doubtless had Mr Buxton wanted he could have written the "Essential Gin Atlas of the World" or "501 Gins to try before you die" but instead he has kept to the same formula that has been such a success with his "101" Whiskies series of books.Again it's all down to the individual and that is repeatedly stressed throughout the book. Personally it appeals to me given the compendium of information contained between it's stylish covers and the quirky way in which it is written. To my mind the only thing the book could have included would have been one of Hogarth's engravings or a Gillray cartoon. One wonders what will follow on as the next book in the series?

Gin is a hot topic in bar scenes, craft distilleries, hipsterdom and the drinks press globally. Scarcely a month seems to go by without yet another gin hitting the market. Breathless to keep pace with this eruption, the stately release of books about gin (a topic which has so far claimed much less shelf space than cocktails or whisky) threatens shortly to turn into an avalanche.But meanwhile, this small, elegant book is a brilliant snapshot of the current scene.In one highly readable and often witty survey, Buxton captures and describes – as the title promises – 101 currently available brands of gin (although some are less available than others depending on where you are). Indeed, future historians of consumer drinking trends may well use this book as a benchmark to gauge the evolution and spread of this most versatile of white spirits in the early decades of the 21st century.The reviews here do reflect Buxton’s personal reactions to the gins he has tasted; people are free to disagree, but this makes for an entertaining and engaging narrative. And it is definitely not a merely superficial potboiler: much research and tasting lies behind these pages. Certainly, anyone who aspires to master the technical or legal intricacies of gin distilling may need a fatter and perhaps more pedestrian book. For the rest of us, this one probably gives us all we shall ever need to know

I've been a gin drinker for some time but have recently noticed a bewildering number of new brands and varieties appearing in my local off license and supermarket. Well, I'm glad I let Ian Buxton be my guide before diving in. He concisely sets out the history, distillation process, ingredients and above all flavour behind 101 gins, ranging from the well-known ones we've all tried to a pretty remarkable range of interesting sounding spirits that I had never heard of, but will now seek out. And throughout, the only thing drier than the London gin is the author's wit - he has a great ear for absurd marketing stuff, and practically every review contains a witty aside (I chuckled away at lines like 'there's nothing here to upset your inner colonel...').In short, it's an informative book (I can sound most well-informed about gin distillation now should I need to...) but above all it's an entertaining one, rather the perfect thing to leaf through with a glass of your favourite gin! Only problem is, there are too many for me to reasonably try. Got to start somewhere though, so 'Aviation' gin, here I come...

This is a nice book, full of anecdotes and interesting facts. However, I think I would use Dave Broom's Gin: The Manual to prepare for a Gin Festival (or a gig by the Thinking Drinkers) since it focuses more consistently on the contents of the bottle, the ABV and best use across a representative range of cocktails. That said, this book is a leisurely read and has added to my store of knowledge, especially with respect to the use of corks and the names of various stills.

Nice little gift for yourself or someone special who enjoys gin. There are a variety of gins in this book and each gin has a page of information/facts which are quick and easy to read.

Having read the previous 101 whiskies books and enjoyed them very much, I thought the Gin version had a lot to live up to. How could Gin have the variety and history of whiskey to make it as interesting a read as its predecessor? How wrong I was!! Although aware of the different Gins popping up in the local bars and supermarkets, I was surprised at the enormous renaissance in the drink and this book makes it an adventure to delve deeper into the world of gin and start my new list of gins I have to try. As always the layout makes it an easy book to navigate and dip in and out of and the writing style, as before, is amusing and informative. A must read for all gin lovers.