Taking notes...
Gordon's London dry gin
($15 for a liter)
Almost any vodka more than $15 a bottle will be palatable (we're fond of Smirnoff), but gin is different. This one is bright and piney, with a nose-crinkling shot of black pepper — a lot like Tanqueray, its imported stablemate. It's a bit watery, but there's a bite to remind you you're drinking gin.
Why it's cheap: It's 80 proof, not the standard 94 that classic London dry gins are bottled at. Less alcohol, lower price.
What it's best for: Any gin cocktail with citrus. It's a little too thin to make a great martini.
