Dill Gin & Tonic

Most gins clock in at somewhere between 40 and 45 percent alcohol. Navy-strength gin, however, is distilled to a boozy 57 percent. Named for the British Royal Navy, to which the style was first supplied by distillers like Plymouth, its alcohol content is said to have been boosted to a level sufficient for ships' gunpowder to ignite in the unlikely event that it got soaked in the spirit. It adds explosive potency to drinks like this riff on the gin and tonic, which is spiked with dill pickle juice and garnished with citrusy verbena leaves. This recipe, which comes to us from bartender Jordan Gold of L.A.'s Ray's and Stark Bar, first appeared in our June/July 2014 issue with Camper English's story "Miracle Cure."