Gin in Rome? Brits' comments welcome ;)
Nov 3rd, 2015, 08:01 PM
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Gin in Rome? Brits' comments welcome ;)
A TR from a Fodorite mentioned a bar (Pimm's, which looks fun) and it prompted me to post. I'll be heading back for a 5th trip to Rome in February 2016 for 7 nights and want to seek out some of the gins that are impossible to find in my neck of the woods (Midwest US). I've had about 40 over the last few years, so, not shabby, especially because most are not American gins which I don't enjoy as much as London Dry/international gins.
This trip includes my birthday and all my friends there love gin - in fact, my deep affection for g&t was rekindled on American Thanksgiving 2013 in Rome. The Gin Corner is a natural choice with its extensive and mouth-watering list - we'll be heading there without question.
Have any of you visited any of the following bars and recommend them for cocktails/interesting ingredients, even if the gin list isn't that long?
Caffe' Propaganda (only 5 gins that I haven't tried but atmosphere looks appealing)
Hotel Locarno
Etabli
Barnum Cafe
It won't be feasible to try all - I've looked up reviews of the above and feel contented in trying any of them, but value the first-hand experience of folks here. Perhaps some of the many Brits here
? *Annhig* I always enjoy your contributions to a conversation!
This may be a very narrow question, so please let me know if you have any other cocktail bar recommendations; I'm all ears! Grazie tutti.
This trip includes my birthday and all my friends there love gin - in fact, my deep affection for g&t was rekindled on American Thanksgiving 2013 in Rome. The Gin Corner is a natural choice with its extensive and mouth-watering list - we'll be heading there without question.
Have any of you visited any of the following bars and recommend them for cocktails/interesting ingredients, even if the gin list isn't that long?
Caffe' Propaganda (only 5 gins that I haven't tried but atmosphere looks appealing)
Hotel Locarno
Etabli
Barnum Cafe
It won't be feasible to try all - I've looked up reviews of the above and feel contented in trying any of them, but value the first-hand experience of folks here. Perhaps some of the many Brits here
? *Annhig* I always enjoy your contributions to a conversation! This may be a very narrow question, so please let me know if you have any other cocktail bar recommendations; I'm all ears! Grazie tutti.
Nov 3rd, 2015, 09:45 PM
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Not a Brit, but a somm and ginlover living in Rome, may i answer?
The gin corner is awesome. hotel Locarno's bar is old fashioned and very nice, love the cocktails there. Love propaganda for the cocktails (not the food that much), and their gins are good.. Try also litro, esp on thursday evenings when a great barman (pino mondello) is at work. Barnum is the best cocktail place in the center (in the evenings). Etabli is very much see and be seen. Great cocktails can be had at so.co in pigneto. My favorite gin place right after the gin corner is mazzo - the owner/chefs and the somm are ginlovers and are specialized in gin cocktails and unusual gins. The only drawback might be the location (in centocelle), not a place to drop by casually. But an ideal night for a ginlover could be aperitivi and dinner at mazzo (foodwise one of my favorite places in rome, and the somm can pair every dish with a gin), followed by more cocktails at co.so.
The gin corner is awesome. hotel Locarno's bar is old fashioned and very nice, love the cocktails there. Love propaganda for the cocktails (not the food that much), and their gins are good.. Try also litro, esp on thursday evenings when a great barman (pino mondello) is at work. Barnum is the best cocktail place in the center (in the evenings). Etabli is very much see and be seen. Great cocktails can be had at so.co in pigneto. My favorite gin place right after the gin corner is mazzo - the owner/chefs and the somm are ginlovers and are specialized in gin cocktails and unusual gins. The only drawback might be the location (in centocelle), not a place to drop by casually. But an ideal night for a ginlover could be aperitivi and dinner at mazzo (foodwise one of my favorite places in rome, and the somm can pair every dish with a gin), followed by more cocktails at co.so.
Nov 3rd, 2015, 10:24 PM
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vinoroma yes please! My comment wasn't meant to exclude, more to 'gin up' some responses from the most gin-loving nation on earth 
A somm AND a gin lover? You're my kind of person!
Your response is everything I hoped for and more - thank you I'm glad to hear your good comments on the aforementioned as well as the new ones you mentioned - all are going on my list. Especially your recommendation of Mazzo. Yes, it's is a bit out there - but your high esteem for it makes me very strongly consider it and the bus makes it easily accessible or cab if one must. Perhaps not for my actual birthday, which is a weeknight and would be difficult for those who have class and obligations the next day and would have to cut their time short to get back to their respective homes. But another night for sure!
Do you recall roughly how many gins are on their list? Or is it more so that they have a carefully selected lot and do exceptional things with those?
My Aussie friend and I will be staying in an apartment near the Pantheon so The Gin Corner is a delightful 7 minute walk.
If you're in need of a gin drink the 2nd week of February you'd be welcome to join a couple Aussie and some Americans! Thank you!!
A somm AND a gin lover? You're my kind of person!
Your response is everything I hoped for and more - thank you I'm glad to hear your good comments on the aforementioned as well as the new ones you mentioned - all are going on my list. Especially your recommendation of Mazzo. Yes, it's is a bit out there - but your high esteem for it makes me very strongly consider it and the bus makes it easily accessible or cab if one must. Perhaps not for my actual birthday, which is a weeknight and would be difficult for those who have class and obligations the next day and would have to cut their time short to get back to their respective homes. But another night for sure!
Do you recall roughly how many gins are on their list? Or is it more so that they have a carefully selected lot and do exceptional things with those?
My Aussie friend and I will be staying in an apartment near the Pantheon so The Gin Corner is a delightful 7 minute walk.
If you're in need of a gin drink the 2nd week of February you'd be welcome to join a couple Aussie and some Americans! Thank you!!
Nov 4th, 2015, 12:49 AM
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Mazzo has around 20 gins AND they make extraordinary things with them. I might even be able to get a list of the gins they have at the moment - it is ever-changing, and they have it written on the wall only, but i will ask nicely 
(take tram #5 from termini, which brings you very close to mazzo, and definitely make reservations - they only have 12 seats)
I'd love to join you for some gin in February if I am around!
(take tram #5 from termini, which brings you very close to mazzo, and definitely make reservations - they only have 12 seats)I'd love to join you for some gin in February if I am around!
Nov 4th, 2015, 08:15 AM
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Fantastic! And please don't go to the trouble of asking for the gin list - it was a small curiosity and not knowing doesn't minimize my interest. Thanks for offering though!
Regarding your somm knowledge...
Do you have a recommendation for a wine bar or restaurant with what you would consider the best wine lists by the glass? Good value, selection of reds, diverse range, all that. Most of my Roman experiences have been the house wine so it'd be nice to branch out and you probably have a great pulse for that.
Also I was thinking of going to Costantini to buy a case of wine for the plane ride home (checked as its own piece of luggage). Bought some wine from Vini once (was staying in the area) but never at Costantini. Would you recommend it or another one over it?
--
Regarding your somm knowledge...
Do you have a recommendation for a wine bar or restaurant with what you would consider the best wine lists by the glass? Good value, selection of reds, diverse range, all that. Most of my Roman experiences have been the house wine so it'd be nice to branch out and you probably have a great pulse for that.
Also I was thinking of going to Costantini to buy a case of wine for the plane ride home (checked as its own piece of luggage). Bought some wine from Vini once (was staying in the area) but never at Costantini. Would you recommend it or another one over it?
--
Nov 4th, 2015, 08:31 AM
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I now do have a picture of the gin list. Don't know how to post here (possible at all?).
Wine by the glass is a difficult subject in Rome. Honestly, unless you are drinking alone, do not choose your restaurants according to their btg list, but by their winelist in general. If it has to be btg, then Roscioli (which i have reservations about, read some reports here and on chowhound). Also good is litro (beware, not a full restaurant, but very good at what they do). Also try la barrique on via del boschetto. Don't miss cesare (not for btg) - best trattoria winelist in rome and great traditional roman food, too, especially recommendable if you are with a big(ger) group to allow you to order everything
Costantini has the widest selection and the best prices for buying wines.
Don't know how to post here (possible at all?).Wine by the glass is a difficult subject in Rome. Honestly, unless you are drinking alone, do not choose your restaurants according to their btg list, but by their winelist in general. If it has to be btg, then Roscioli (which i have reservations about, read some reports here and on chowhound). Also good is litro (beware, not a full restaurant, but very good at what they do). Also try la barrique on via del boschetto. Don't miss cesare (not for btg) - best trattoria winelist in rome and great traditional roman food, too, especially recommendable if you are with a big(ger) group to allow you to order everything
Costantini has the widest selection and the best prices for buying wines.
Nov 4th, 2015, 08:48 AM
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Vinoroma is spot on as usual. The blog www.parlafood.com also has a few recent entries on places for cocktails in Rome.
Nov 4th, 2015, 10:14 AM
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Vinoroma - you're quick! Thanks for getting that. To my knowledge, images can't be uploaded. But if you want, I just created an email account (only because putting my personal email online is not quite something I want to do). It's ducinaltum427 (at) gmail (dot) com. I'd even be happy to transcribe it in case any lurking Fodorite has a passing interest.
Great recommendations - I will look into them more later today. I might be inclined to consider Cesare for a birthday dinner. Last year we made a massive meal for 10 of us in a kitchen ill-equipped for such cooking. It was an adventure. Aren't most things in Rome though?
ekc I had found www.parlafood.com through various searches, as well as some reviews on Afar, but thank you for the tip! I'll have to dig deeper into the site and see what else is there.
Great recommendations - I will look into them more later today. I might be inclined to consider Cesare for a birthday dinner. Last year we made a massive meal for 10 of us in a kitchen ill-equipped for such cooking. It was an adventure. Aren't most things in Rome though?
ekc I had found www.parlafood.com through various searches, as well as some reviews on Afar, but thank you for the tip! I'll have to dig deeper into the site and see what else is there.
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