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Many folks think I'm a beer and wine only guy, but I'll drink anything, as long as it's good. I'm fussy about spirits in the same way that I mainly only drink traditional (usually microbrewed) beer and balanced wines, not those high alcohol, goopy-sweet wines that go terribly with food. Unless I'm in a pinch "" any Port in a storm and all that.

I tend to only drink "slightly premium" spirits, not the basic bar stock level, but also not the super premium. Whether it's vodka, rum, whisky or gin, I usually find that the mid-price brands satisfy me. Of course, for one spirit versus another, mid-price could be very different. Single malt whisky, for example, seems to need $40-50 to make the grade, whereas I'm happy with $25 amber rum, gin and vodka. Tequila isn't a regular in my cabinet, although we have gone through margerita phases, where we use basic big brand stuff, like Jose Cuervo Gold. I have tried the super premium tequilas, and loved them, but I find it difficult to justify over $45 for tequila. Cognac, well...that's a whole other matter. Much as I love it, my XO tastes are too expensive for my $00 wallet.

We're starting to get some hot and sunny weather these days, and that means more cocktails. I decided to try out two new (new to me, anyway) gins in the basic G&T format.

First, though, how do I make a G&T? I'm not a certified bartender, but I'm pretty anal retentive in my cocktail mixing. I put four or five ice cubes in the glass, then squeeze in 1/4 of a fresh lime's juice, and throw in the spent lime.

Next I put a splash of tonic water in, then the shot of gin, then I fill the tonic to a carry-able level.

By the way, if you think tonic water is in any way healthy, forget it; it's loaded with sugar. I know this first hand (first foot, really) because I dropped a can this week while unloading groceries, and it blew a hole when it hit the kitchen floor, spinning like a pinwheel, emptying its full contents in a millisecond. I was covered, the cupboards were covered, the floor was covered; it was a difficult cleanup. That stuff is sugary-sticky! As I walked through the kitchen my shoes went "tack tack tack" as they unstuck from the floor. 'Tonic for the sole'.

Anyhoo, back to the G&Ts.

I tried the newly listed New Amsterdam straight gin, from California, $27.99, up against Canada's own Iceberg gin, $23.49, bottled in Newfoundland, but produced elsewhere, and made using real iceberg water.

I used my standard mix for each cocktail, then sipped them side by each, going back and forth. It's important when doing this to sometimes start with one then go to the other, then wait a while and do it the opposite way.

Why? Well, the flavours of one may be so strong they make the other taste bland or odd, or you might miss the subtle, delicious nuances of the better drink if you start with the brash and bitter one.

The results? I enjoyed both G&Ts - it's a pretty easy drink to like, regardless of the gin brand - but they were VERY different.

The Iceberg makes a softer, sweeter, fruitier drink without all that aggressive, refreshing bitterness that we associate with London Dry Gin. The Iceberg G&T reminds me of gin and lemon-lime pop. Meanwhile the New Amsterdam makes a classic British style G&T: bitter and citrus-laden. They're both good, but the brand you choose will depend on your taste, or your mood.

Craig does NOT think New Amsterdam has become much too much. Visit Craig at www.frogspad.ca.