Top Gear trio in gin battle as Hammond launches own brand
Posted by TimesandSundayTimes@reddit | thegrandtour | View on Reddit | 118 comments
Posted by TimesandSundayTimes@reddit | thegrandtour | View on Reddit | 118 comments
tallypwner@reddit
Can Ratio London Dry be found in USA anywhere these days for MSRP or not too much over?
Another batch coming in ETA?
jrhooo@reddit
James gin is good. I suspect Jeremy’s beer and cider are good but I don’t expect much special for their gins.
Basically, James Gin = private project by a legit foodie.
Hawstone beer = beer by a guy who likes beer, carefully crafted to showcase his farm
Clarkson and Hammonds gins : (guessing) “all the celebs are making their own liquor labels. How hard could it be?”
TanMan166@reddit
Maybe they should do a show to argue which gin is better 🤔 seriously though.....they really should come back to relaunch of grand tour, even if it's to just do the studio portion and leave the extreme driving/adventures to younger hosts! This is who they are.... friends and rivals for life!
jackofallcards@reddit
I finally finished, “The Grand Tour” and James May seemed to be the most done with the whole thing by the end. Clarksons demeanor kind of lazier and sloppier (love Clarksons farm but can see it there too) and Hammond the middle child. I think they’re just kind of “tired” of each other
7148675309@reddit
Hammond could have continued - he’s 10 years younger and you can tell from when he talks about it on Drivetrive he misses it - but Clarkson and May were probably done.
grubas@reddit
And after 5 or 6 years on their own, who knows what they'll want or what shape they'll be in.
That's part of why they called it. They knew they needed a break but they couldn't guarantee that they'd ever get back or even do this again.
Throwaway259307@reddit
The new Grand Tour needs to succeed on its own merits and the strengths of the 3 new presenters.
Not constant reminders to the previous iteration.
TanMan166@reddit
As much as I agree with you, look at what happened to top gear. The fan base they built over the years, it'll be very difficult to shift them to new presenters. And believe me, I genuinely want the show to be successful without the legends.
Achayan1@reddit
The issue with top gear was the fact most audience felt that the BBC wasn't being fair. Sure Clarkson did wrong but they didn't sack him they waited till six months later whilst his contract is coming to end and refused to extend it while refusing to let him come back to finish the series in the studio.
The end of trio felt incomplete and then they tried to prevent the trio from doing the format they created and tried to manufacture the chemistry by getting three host just because they were well known
Throwaway259307@reddit
Top gear was different because most the original fans were more interested in watching the trio continue with the new show on either Amazon or Netflix. That watching Chris Evans be insufferable.
A new grand tour doesnt have the competition to worry about.
I dont know if you watched the first few seasons of the revamped top gear in 2003.
But it took a few seasons to really get good.
WySLatestWit@reddit
I think the major difference, and the reason I'm willing to watch and see what happens with new Grand Tour compared to new Top Gear, is that Grand Tour ended on Jeremy, James, and Richard's terms. Top Gear feels as though it was taken away from them by force.
Throwaway259307@reddit
Yeah feels like people are less emotionally invested in whether it is good this time.
I'll probably watch it, and if its good then great. If not then not the end of the world.
Same with the Reboot of Top Gear originally, it had run it's course in the 90s and was time for a new direction.
WySLatestWit@reddit
How about a race in unusual cars held in an exotic locale across multiple types of terrain and the loser has to advertise for the other two Gins.
Virtual-Half-2399@reddit
Can't wait for James's reaction video.
Agloe_Dreams@reddit
What would be absolutely hilarious would be for him to try it and then say “oh…huh it’s actually okay” and then let Jeremy fume.
StuffedTigerHobbes@reddit
He actually will rate celebrity’s spirit in his review videos. Unless if it’s a gin, which hilariously he’ll spit out.
Tea_Fetishist@reddit
Iirc he seemed quite fond of Bryan Reynolds' gin
Cipher1991@reddit
James has reacted to Jezza's Gin twice actually, one of Hint o' Hot, and one just recently of Gin in a Tin.
outoftimeman97@reddit
He'll probably spit it out as soon as it touches his mouth which he seems to do to every gin that isn't his
djseifer@reddit
"Rubbish."
"You haven't even opened it yet."
Virtual-Half-2399@reddit
Honestly "Ambitious but rubbish" was what I hoped James would say to Jeremy's Gin attempt.
Still my favourite TG T-Shirt.
Eamo1997@reddit
And on that bombshell
NicheAlter@reddit
They never drank gin much in the show, why did they choose this particular type of liquor to sell?
svmk1987@reddit
They do. There's only so much drinking you can show on a televised show.
NicheAlter@reddit
They showed them drinking plenty, I've just not seen/remember gin in particular.
I agree with _RandyRandleman_ reasoning that's it's easier to make than say wine or rum.
PRSArchon@reddit
Hammond has very often been shown drinking gin, just not so much in TG where they were abroad in countries where gin is less readily available
ccReptilelord@reddit
Gin is very popular in England and it's one of the easier spirits to produce requiring little to no aging.
Clegko@reddit
Just like all British food, it has basically no flavor and is easy to make.
NicheAlter@reddit
I see. Thanks.
Lady-Seashell-Bikini@reddit
Well, except Hammond.
_RandyRandleman_@reddit
they drank plenty of gin and hammond is notoriously a gin drinker. it’s weird he didn’t make one years ago.
it’s also easy to make (especially in the UK) and people love it.
NicheAlter@reddit
It's always beer/lager as far as I remember, even in their top gear days.
_RandyRandleman_@reddit
hammond always had gin the others dabbled in beer/wine, but given how much hammond drinks there was always a mention of gin in some form.
StepYaGameUp@reddit
Genuinely curious of those that have had two or all three which they like the best.
James has a number of varieties and I would imagine I would find one of his the best with tonic.
rawautos@reddit
I’ve only had James Gin, but I can tell you, it’s fantastic. I am not a gin person at all, but I could seriously sip on it like it’s a bourbon.
ABigPairOfCrocs@reddit
As you'd imagine, James has done things properly
Camburglar13@reddit
But he’s also laid out and named all his tools and spanners
xCAPTAINxTEXASx@reddit
Doesn’t mean he’s Finnish
Iamjimmym@reddit
According to Finnish rally legend, it does.
THE_GR8_MIKE@reddit
JAMES
STOP FILING
opensea96@reddit
This one’s Jeffrey, this is Ian, this is Stephen…
cyanide@reddit
On the way home, the cork/cap leaks and half of the gin pours out. He stops to make a rudimentary cap and sets fire to the driver’s seat. Meanwhile, Clarkson has been caught by a cop for doing three times the speed of sound while trying to search for a pot to piss in after drinking 18 gallons of his beer, and Hammond crashes into a shed because he used some of his gin as brake fluid, which set fire to his car’s brake lines.
Horvo@reddit
Ginuinely curious
opticalshadow@reddit
I've only had James gin asian parsnip, but it's pretty dang good
OnePercentVisible@reddit
My money is on James gin being the best , he seems the most selective and the one I could see drinking the most gin. I Richard likes gin but I think he has too much going on to actually work close with the distillery.
WySLatestWit@reddit
Yes. I don't think Richard or Jeremy are likely to be very involved in the process. Richard will likely be more involved in the taste testing and approval process, though probably won't have the time to be involved extensively. Jeremy I imagine just said "make me a Gin with X product that comes from my farm" and that was about as involved as he is in the entire process. James seems to be very involved and has a lot of investment in the overall quality of the product in general. Plus it seems like JamesGin has become James' primary career now, where as the others are just doing it as side projects as far as I can tell.
If I had to guess they'd be ranked
JamesGin (I have had the California one and it's very good).
Ratio (that's a bad name for a Gin in my opinion but okay)
Hawkstone Gin.
I joked about it elsewhere but I genuinely suspect that packing his gin in a can as a gimmick could have a negative effect on the flavor.
WhatRUaBarnBurner@reddit
My acetone on my work bench is in a can similar to Jeremy's gin.
WySLatestWit@reddit
I think that's literally the point.
OnePercentVisible@reddit
When i first saw the can, I thought it was olive oil!
WySLatestWit@reddit
at the risk of sounding like a stuffy old fogey not only does packaging the gin in a can feel like it could ruin the flavor of the thing...but it also just feels kind of tacky selling gin in what looks like a paint thinner can.
Lady-Seashell-Bikini@reddit
Same. James' main focus right now is his gin brand, and he has the social media knowhow and the creativity to make a successful gin brand. I mean, he created a gin based on a British rainy day. Who else would think of that?
josherman61791@reddit
Asian Parsnip by James instantly became my favorite Gin. I love Gin too
StepYaGameUp@reddit
Are you usually a G&T drinker or do you have another preferred method?
josherman61791@reddit
I just like a couple ounces over a large Ice cube.
dat_zan@reddit
The Asian parsnip James Gin is excellent indeed, makes a great gin and tonic with some fever tree tonic water and lime
I would love to try the other two’s but I think James’ is the only one readily available in store in the US at the moment
WySLatestWit@reddit
It wouldn't surprise me if JamesGin remains the only one readily available in US Stores for the foreseeable future. Hard to say for Richard as his brand is just starting it's launch, but I suspect James is much more invested in his Gin as a successful ongoing product than the other two are.
Old_Noted@reddit
James gin is very good.
WySLatestWit@reddit
I tried some JamesGin not too long ago at my brother's house, just a quick shot of it no tonic or anything, and it was very good. I suspect that of the three his is almost certain to be the best. Especially since as far as I can tell his has existed the longest. And doesn't come in a can, which is helpful for flavoring. /S.
mnewberg@reddit
Why doesn't he just make Olives, and call it Olivers Olives (Small and Salty). Clarkson can make Dry Vermouth. (Bitter, Dry, and only good in small qualities, but sold is a large bottle for some reason).
DJCane@reddit
Plot twist: They’re all the same they’re just having a competition to see who is more popular.
No-Poem-3773@reddit
Hammond’s just comes in a much smaller bottle
porks2345@reddit
And it has a propensity to fall off the counter and crash.
___po____@reddit
If his commercial/advert doesn't show him picking up a shooter size and it becomes normal sized in his hands in the next clip, I'll play in traffic.
b1ack1323@reddit
What are you cyclist???
dog-yy@reddit
Cyclists, work harder. Get a car.
EclipseIndustries@reddit
Dunno about gin, but tequila from Mexico all has the distillery registration number on the bottle.
It's rather surprising to see the brands that share a distillery.
itshighnoon94@reddit
Such as? I’m interested
EclipseIndustries@reddit
Casamigos is the same NOM as Clase Azul. NOM 1416
Sea-Frosting-50@reddit
they can still use different recipes though?
EclipseIndustries@reddit
I mean, to a point. It's all agave, the only real differences come from the climate of the agave plantation, the roasting style of the agave, and the barrels.
The major thing is that distilleries tend to use the same plantation, roast, and barrels for every brand. They might sort the leaves by grade or barrels by age and type, but the differences are so minute when it comes to a Reposado vs a Reposado that it may as well be the same if it's from the same tequilera.
Story time:
I used to work at a local small liquor store. Maybe 750ft². The owner ordered a custom 1/2 barrel of Dobel Anejo, one he and his daughter chose based on taste down in Mexico, and the delivery was running late.
He got it eventually, but there was a major issue. We had no bottle #1, but we had bottles 140 thru 152.
Issue? It's a half barrel with only 128 bottles. I started pulling a few out of the box and noticed a color difference between bottles. It was a mixed barrel and they likely sold his barrel already.
Let's just say Dobel had to come pick up the entire delivery, and any time a liquor rep comes in with Dobel, the pitch is stopped and it's just the casual business conversation or on to another brand they're out to sell that day. He carries cheap Dobel only now, nothing high dollar after that.
Catshit_Bananas@reddit
Clarkson tries Hammond’s gin
“This is brilliant.”
points to his own brand
“But I like this.”
Iamjimmym@reddit
May tries Clarkson's gin
vomits
points to his own brand
"This won't make you vomit"
adavis463@reddit
If Clarkson sells the most, he'll deploy the smug face.
Cipher1991@reddit
Don't forget the smug L on the forehead Clarkson always does too. LOSER!
Filmore_Watches@reddit
Brummie’s Ruin
Battle-Individual@reddit
I'd you like gin tales try the YouTube video of them playing chess
ArthurWellesley1815@reddit
Reminds me of when on Top Gear they would put small ads in the paper and see who got the most responses
Step_7@reddit
Call it “Teeth Whitener” 😂
Lewinator56@reddit
Top Beer
The Grand Pour
Educational-Bit-145@reddit
Bring on the gin box set!!
CartographerNo7848@reddit
Mix them together and call it a good lap from stig
Nabehkanasai@reddit
Put videos about their gin on YouTube themselves but post as anonymous account.
See how many people liked the video and we will have a winner.
TechnologyInside@reddit
Labeled “Gassed & Burgled”
metal_jester@reddit
They're going to merge into one brand arnt they. The jeremey, James or Richard gin. Trio-booze ltd.
iuselect@reddit
May probably wouldn't want to work with them because they would all do things very differently.
Lady-Seashell-Bikini@reddit
Considering that James has had his gin brand for years, I'd say he has the most practical experience. It's like how I enjoy coffee, but I know nothing about producing a coffee brand.
JDMWeeb@reddit
Throwback to air tank scene
15-99@reddit
Can’t wait for them to reunite and have a Grand Pub Tour.
Gramerdim@reddit
does hammond own one?
15-99@reddit
He doesn’t have his own pub like James and Jeremy do as far as I know.
bobj33@reddit
I got a 3 pack of James Gin.
Asian Parsnip is great and unique
American Ramstud is interesting and good
London Drizzle is good but not really special
I have not dried California Dreamgin
MithrandirLogic@reddit
Sipping on some London Drizzle as I read this
FBIAgentCarlHanratty@reddit
I'm sure Hammond's will be good. He has drunk alot of it, but James Gin is legit my favorite gin, so it's going to be tough to top.
OHoSPARTACUS@reddit
Of course they stop doing top gear but can’t resist competing and bickering amongst each other over their retirement hobbies
SopaDeKaiba@reddit
They should combine forces and sell boxed sets of the three gins during the holiday season. Maybe even throw in a set of collectible cups.
existential_chaos@reddit
So it’ll be in short supply then?
Szalkow@reddit
Don't drink too fast or you'll flip upside down.
PetatoParmer@reddit
Is it called Oh No He Didn’t
DryProgress4393@reddit
I wonder if James will pretend to vomit Hammonds up as well ?
Virghia@reddit
TopGin
KremlinCardinal@reddit
Is it called Gas?
SpankyArbuckle@reddit
James' California Dreamgin was one of the WORST gins I've had in my life. The oregano (or whatever the hell it was) was so overpowering that it was extremely unpleasant. I also found London Drizzle to be meh. The Asian parsnip was really good, though. I got to meet him a few months ago when he was at Total Wine in Newport Beach, so that was cool.
KloppersToppers@reddit
Only thing we need is a scoreboard to determine who is the winner.
MeTimbers@reddit
They should sell a pack with all 3 gin brands in it. Call it Top Gin or The Gin Tour or something.
TheMonkFeesh@reddit
Ginius!!
kuang89@reddit
They’ll do a video where they travel to Uruguay where the 2024 best gin winner is with a bottle of their own gin from their homes to let the master distiller to rate.
Then their shenanigans follow but now lubricated with alcohol along the way.
Then when they reach the place, they progressively were unable to present said gin either because they broke their bottle or drank it or used it to clean something.
And on that terrible disappointment, it is time to end the show.
marc512@reddit
Clarkson, may and Hammond travel the world and get pissed.
84Windsor351@reddit
I love that they are still doing stuff
PaleShadowNight@reddit
We need to know which bottle makes the finest Dildo.
WySLatestWit@reddit
I just watched a video literally yesterday with James and Richard drinking Gin in which Hammond complains that he's going to have to come up with a drink but doesn't know what it would be because James and Jeremy have already cornered the markets on his two favorite drinks, Gin and Beer. Guess he decided fuck it, just do the Gin.
KebabGud@reddit
ahh, another Gin for James to get sick from instantly
Mclarenrob2@reddit
Gotta make that money back Mindy stole from him
MooseFar7514@reddit
Holy Trinity gift set out just in time for Christmas.
DefinitelyBiscuit@reddit
Jinn/Djinn/Gin does have 3 forms...wings, snakes & dogs and travel & rest.
Seems apt.
Trekgiant8018@reddit
I was surprised Hammond, the notes G&T fiend during the shows, didn't have one already. I figured he'd be offered it as soon as he quit BBC. Cannot wait for the side by side tasting. Hopefully Captain Slow doesn't fake puke Hammond's too.
jerryjerusalem@reddit
I'd go with Hammond's, I think he has the most gin experience of the three
thatautisticguy@reddit
I wander what flavour Hammonds Gas will be? 🤔
bbpr120@reddit
arrives on the store shelf upside down and on fire...