I think a good cocktail should have depth, be bursting with flavor and feature savory nuances. Using a good flavored liquor as your base can get you to the finish line faster.
However it needs to said that some flavored gins will disappoint in the flavor department. Beyond citrus, conjuring florals and fruits can leave you bewitched, bothered and bewildered.
So while it is an advantage to start with a built-in base flavor, some gins do it better than others. Tanqueray Rangpur is one of the good ones. I’ll show you what it tastes like and how I like to serve it.
And if you’re out of citrus- no problem! Flavored gins can save the day when you find dried up lemons or limes in the place of the beautiful specimens you remember buying just the other day.
How Does Rangpur Gin Taste Neat?
Fans of Tanqueray London Dry will probably recognize Rangpur Gin as part of the family since they share four base botanicals: juniper, coriander, anjelica and licorice. For Rangpur, it’s the addition of rangpur lime, ginger, bayleaf additions that gives it its own identity.
Here is how I like to break it down:
Rangpur on the Nose
The nose is very citrus forward with a nice lime aroma followed by a whisper of grapefruit and a hint of tangy, sweet sherbet.
Rangpur on the Palate
Palate: Rangpur Lime Gin has the classic gin flavor base with lime at the forefront, licorice and some subtle ginger heat. It is mildly sweet.
How Rangpur Finishes
Finish: It has a smooth lemony finish with a peppery ginger heat that won’t leave you gasping.
Is Rangpur Gin Sweet?
Rangpur Gin has a pleasant mild sweetness and not considered dry like Tanqueray London Dry. Its botanicals are zesty and spicy balance it nicely. It has an ABV of 41.3% and I consider it very smooth. Any sweetness does not deter from its applications.
What is a Rangpur Lime?
In case you’re wondering, a Rangpur Lime is a cross between two of the original citrus species, a mandarin and the citron, an enormous, thick-walled fruit weighing 8-10 pounds. So, it is not at all like the lime you have in the fridge. You will also notice that its flesh is orange, not green and sometimes has a yellow exterior.
The flavor of a Rangpur Lime is problematic since it is highly acidic. It has nice floral aromas but needs to be blended with other juices in order to enjoy as a beverage. It is also sweetened and made into preserves and candied peels.
Where does this lime grow?
It is native to Bangladesh but grown in other parts of the world, notably in California.
Good Rangpur Cocktails
Rangpur Lime Gin shines when used for citrus forward, shaken cocktail. Here is a list of 6 classic cocktails that I would not hesitate to make with it.
- Tom Collins
- Bees Knees
- Corpse Reviver No. 2
- Gin Sling
- Gin Fizz
- Gimlet
Drink Experiments using Rangpur
Along with the classics above, let’s see how Rangpur Lime does in some old favorites and an experiment.
Rangpur Gin and Tonic
I was extremely pleased with the Rangpur Lime Gin and Tonic. As always, I mixed it with Fevertree Light Tonic as not to overpower or mask the gin. Even without garnish, it made a great gin and tonic which was smooth and thoroughly refreshing. I recommend.
Rangpur Last Word
Rangpur Lime made a good Last Word but I didn’t notice a fortified lime flavor. I wasn’t surprised or disappointed because Chartreuse and Maraschino Cherry Liqueur are both very strong. So, it works well by not interfering with the result but won’t necessarily improve it.
Spicy Rangpur Gin Margarita
The Rangpur Lime makes a very good Margarita! This was a cocktail where the Rangpur Lime base definitely accentuated the cocktail. A word of warning though- don’t skip the lime juice because it adds necessary volume and great freshness.
Rangpur Lime Cocktail with Mango, Cherries and Cream
I’m not typically a fan of creamy blender drinks but I wanted to see how Rangpur mixed beyond the citrus. The lime base flavor worked well with the mango and coconut but I found the cherry component was the most flavorful and delicious.
I think Rangpur Lime would be a good start to any frozen style cocktails you might want to whip up. Here’s my recipe if you want to try it yourself.
Summary Opinion
Unlike many flavored gins, Tanqueray Rangpur is good neat and easy to mix in everything.
I say yes to having Rangpur Gin on your bar. Just like its orange counterpart, Tanqueray Sevilla, Rangpur Lime gives you the advantage of really good citrus flavor and let’s you skip the sweetener that so many cocktails call for.
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