Based in Lakeland, Florida, Andrew Brendmoen is a bartender at Smokey Bones and provides consistent service in areas such as taking orders and delivering food. Also a mixologist, Andrew Brendmoen excels at creating drinks that reflect customers’ specific tastes and preferences.
One unique spirit used in a variety of mixed drinks is gin. Made from grain, gin is similar to vodka, and unlike tequila or Scotch whisky, in not requiring specific original ingredients. The distinguishing feature of gin is its flavor, which must have a “predominant” taste of juniper berries.
On top of that, cucumber, nuts, citrus, and a diverse range of botanicals are often added to create a unique gin flavor. There are two main ways in which these flavors are added: either into the distilled spirit before bottling, or during the distilling process, as an infusion. The latter process is required for “London” gins such as Beefeater, and is much preferred by connoisseurs.
One unique historical use of gin was in battling malaria, as it was mixed with tonic water containing quinine that was too bitter to drink on its own. Quinine consumption, in moderation, is one way of warding off the parasite associated with malaria in the tropics.
Andrew Brendmoen 