On a recent trip to Spain, I met a delightful man called Stefan Lismond. Lismond is the Co-Founder/Director at BCN Gin, a boutique distillery in Catalunya, named for the abbreviation for the city of Barcelona.
While the spirits are produced about 2 hours away in the Priorat wine region, BCN has a Barcelona office, which occasionally doubles as an underground speakeasy. On this November afternoon, we arrived to sample Dry Gin, distilled from regional Grenache and Carignan grapes rather than grain, and infused with flavors of juniper, pine, thyme, citrus, figs, and rosemary.
While the spirits are produced about 2 hours away in the Priorat wine region, BCN has a Barcelona office, which occasionally doubles as an underground speakeasy. On this November afternoon, we arrived to sample Dry Gin, distilled from regional Grenache and Carignan grapes rather than grain, and infused with flavors of juniper, pine, thyme, citrus, figs, and rosemary.
"The Perfect Serve"
After sampling, Lismond offered to share with us his recipe for the "BCN Gin Perfect Serve" and enjoy a round.
Lismond says what makes BCN so unique, is the combination of the grape base, and their unique blend of botanicals. While most standard gin-tonics require a lot of gin to get that herbal flavor, Lismond uses about 35ml.
The second secret of this "perfect serve" is using a rinse of Priorat red wine over ice to chill the glass, leaving just a hint behind.
Time to Chill
Since in Spain, a gin tonic is typically enjoyed after dinner, save some red wine from your meal to chill your glass. For mine, I use Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat. It's a wonderfully food-friendly wine and is an excellent match for the rack of lamb featured in our February issue.
After filling the glass with ice, add the wine and stir until the glass is well-chilled. Strain out most of the wine. Using wine instead of water adds a subtle aroma of the grapes from the Priorat region.
Building your drink
For the tonic, Lismond uses one 200ml bottle of Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water per drink. Your local bottle shop can walk you through different options since each brand offers unique characteristics. Always make sure to chill the tonic in advance.
Measure the gin into the ice-filled glass. Using a thin bar spoon (or in Lismond's case, a chopstick), gently pour the tonic into the glass. Using the spoon fills the tonic in from underneath the spirit, allowing the effervescence to combine the two gently.
Add some flair
When it is time to garnish, there are plenty of options. Lismond's favorites include citrus and grapes, both prevalent in the Mediterranean. A variety of herbs, spices, and flowers work as well, which makes this a perfect summertime sipper while our gardens are in bloom.
You can go subtle and straightforward, entirely over the top, or somewhere in between.
On a recent trip to Spain, I met a delightful man called Stefan Lismond. Lismond is the Co-Founder/Director at BCN Gin, a boutique distillery in Catalunya, named for the abbreviation for the city of Barcelona.
A little history
A visit to BCN in Barcelona offers a glimpse of the rich history of the Poble Sec neighborhood In 1916, Escofet Tejera & Co. was chosen by the council of Barcelona to pave the sidewalks of the city. The logo on the BCN bottle depicts the four-petaled "rose" which the company selected as one of the six principal designs for the city's pavers. Through the years, that design has become a very recognizable symbol for Barcelona.
Enjoy at home
Now that you know how to create the "perfect serve" BCN Gin Tonic, you can have an excellent after-dinner drink on your own patio.
The gin and the wine, both brought to Oklahoma by my friends Scott, and Kala Large at Provisions Fine Beverage Purveyors can be purchased throughout the state. My go-to bottle shop is located in the urban core. Owners Cody and Savannah Wilson opened George's Liquors in October 2019 at 1020 West Main Street. 405.724.9889
Article by Amanda Jane Simcoe
Photography by Amanda Jane Simcoe
Originally published in Historic District Lifestyle
