the Gin is IN

Gin from an American perspective, since 2009.
Bottles of Gin

Ridge Distillery Silvertip American Dry Gin

May
16
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Lots of anise, and a fair amount of juniper. Pleasant and gin like. Not for folks who don't like anise. Floral hints. Decidedly contemporary, but altogether pleasant and flexible.

Kalispell, Montana. I visited Kalispell just a couple of summers on my cross-country voyage. The scenery, the place, those mountains and that sky. They’re inseparable in my head. So when I hear the word “Kalispell” I immediately think of these things. And when I think of Ridge Distillery Silvertip American Dry gin, I think of northern Montana. On Perceptions So like I said, I’m looking for glacial coolness. Mountain air. Fresh mountain flowers, and spry juniper. That sounds like a review already, right? I like to try and do these reviews in isolation. I don’t want to read what my colleagues have [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Karner Blue Gin

May
14
Posted in Bottles of Gin 3
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Lots of floral on the nose, but exceptional balance on the palette. Juniper and Cubab berries add peppery notes and help it stand out.

 Karner Blue Gin is the flagship gin of New Hampshire’s only in-state distillery at Flag Hill Winery in Lee, only a relatively short drive from the oft traveled I-95 as it hugs along the coast of the state. Flag Hill Winery was founded in 1990 and has been distilling spirits using local ingredients since 2004. Probably best known for their General John Stark vodka, they launched Karner Blue gin in Fall 2011. I had heard good things, so during my brief sojourn up to Maine last month, I made a point of stopping at the state liquor store just off I-95 [...]

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Nils Oscar Tärnö Gin

May
02
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Balanced and contemporary but without paying respect to the roots of the classic style. A solid gin.

This is the first Swedish gin I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. And if all Swedish Gins are this interesting, it is a country whose gin culture I desperately need to spend more time getting acquainted with. Jag Dricker Gin! Jag Kommer från New York City! [and that is the end of the Swedish I know. To all of my Swedish friends, please forgive me for this brief aside] Experiencing Swedish Gin The nose has a floral and fruity hint, with just a hint of juniper. The taste is a bit fruity, but with plenty of juniper. There’s a bit of [...]

Tagged , , ,

Edgerton Pink

Apr
29
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Fruity on the nose, but very hot on the palette. Unbalanced, overwhelming with the sour and fruity notes. But it does make a decent gin and tonic.

Colors sometimes carry preconceived notions with them. With something brown, you might expect something to taste complex and harsh. But with Pink? I know that I expected Edgerton Original Pink Dry Gin to taste “easy,” “smooth,” and a bit “fruity.” Boy was I wrong. One out of Three isn’t bad, right? Not every guess can meet the Meat Loaf Standard. Nose/Palette The first thing you notice when taking a sniff of Edgerton Pink Gin is that it smells of sweet fruit, largely owing to the Pomegranate added post-distillation. The scent lures you in. Sweet, appetizing. So you go in for a [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Oliver Twist Gin

Apr
27
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Juniper and Citrus forward, with a smooth character. Not a lot of heat, a lingering bitter, but not unpleasant finish.

Simplicity and Novelty both have their virtues. Simplicity can be a great introduction to spirit tasting for novices. With only a few ingredients thought and care can be put into picking out each one. Simplicity can often time shift the conversation to quality. Some gins have 30+ botanicals, but how can you tell if they’re all good if at most you can pick out 10? Novelty is what makes the recent gin explosion fun. Looking for a gin with Lavender? Dislike neutral bases and want to taste a gin made on the same thing as your bourbon? Prefer Nutmeg with [...]

Tagged , ,

Tesco Gin

Apr
25
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A little harsh, notes of juniper and citrus in the classic style. If you're looking for a cheap gin, here it is.

Cheap Gin. I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by many bottom shelf options I’ve tried. New Amsterdam is a bargain. Rather inexpensive but a good gin on its own. Not just for the Price. So I have an open mind. I’m not biased against a gin which is cheap for cheap sake. “Supermarket gin” is not inherently bad in and of itself. So of course when David at Summer Fruit Cup told me this gin had a Molasses base, I was pretty excited. Experimentation with bases (things other than neutral grain) are among [...]

Tagged , , ,

Ish Gin

Apr
23
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Nevermind the advertising. A solid traditional styled gin which would have no problem winning fans among your grandfather's gin buddies on taste alone.

I like to downplay marketing as much as possible. I’m one of those people who like to believe that I buy absolutely nothing simply because I was marketed to. But there are sometimes that marketing is almost inseparable from the product. Sometimes this is a good thing: how can you have had Hendrick’s even once without noticing their expansive advertising campaign and overuse of the word Peculiar. Other times, and Ish’s case this can be a bad thing. The assaulting music that explodes through your speakers when you visit the website and the seemingly out-of-nowhere fetish oriented promotional shots (handcuffs anyone?) [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Cold River Gin

Apr
11
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Very juniper-y, and to me, very cardamom-y and herbal.

People of the gin world, hello! I am here to give you the Gin Wife’s Take™ on some gin. Now the Gin Husband here, he loves gin. He looks at a gin bottle and says, “Let me love you.” I know this because I hear him say it to our massive collection in the kitchen that has taken over our counters and all my secret yarn spaces. Now, when I look at a bottle, I say, “Why are you looking at me?” and then, “Get off my counters,” and finally, “You’ll have to work to make me love you because [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Waterloo Handcrafted Texas Style Gin

Apr
08
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Bold and juniper forward, uses Texas-sourced botanicals to create a classically styled gin with just enough point of difference to stand out.

I find that “sense of place” is among the most important things that affect the way people perceive something new. Considering that so many new microdistilled gins proudly advertise their place on the label; so many gins proudly source their botanicals locally [Waterloo Gin is no exception there], it makes sense that we’re not just talking about a drink: we’re talking about a drink and a place. First, a Gin is In informal perception survey conducted on friends™ The other night my friends and I were enjoying some Adult Beverages™ containing everyone’s favorite [my favorite, and perhaps the only liquor that I [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Greenhook Ginsmiths’ American Dry Gin

Apr
02
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Floral and Spicy, with enough juniper to taste like gin, and enough cinnamon, chamomile and elderflower to stand out among a crowded Contemporary gin market.

You’ll have to excuse me, if at first I seemed a bit skeptical of “vacuum distillation.” My previous experience with a gin extolling the virtues of its lower temperature distillation process was the estimable Oxley Classic Dry Gin. And although Oxley was an alright gin, I thought that the emphasis on process was disproportionately to justify what I felt was a rather exorbitant cost (~60 dollars). So naturally, when Greenhook Ginsmiths’ American Dry Gin hit the market at half the price of the market’s biggest name in vaccum distillation, I was intrigued. When I saw the botanical list, I was even more intrigued. [...]

Tagged , , , , ,

River Rose Gin

Mar
19
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A rose forward gin, with hints of anise and juniper and a warm rush of citrus. A gin that despite sharing botanicals with other mainstream gins that differentiates itself clearly with a taste that is unique and very much its own.

When I first drove across Iowa, I found it a state that confirmed my expectations while simultaneously defying my expectations. My family never took long car trips. In fact, before I was 22, the furthest west I had ever been was Erie, PA. So let me just say that I had this impression that all I would see upon entering Iowa were field of corn and an unending flatness. Well firstly, it was May, so the corn was naught but a gleam in a farmer’s eye. But also, who could have thought that moment where the horizon explodes and unravels [...]

Tagged , , , , , ,

Pinckney Bend Gin

Mar
12
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A very hot citrus forward gin that backs off on the juniper and coriander a little bit, but keeps its focus on a small selection of well-selected and nicely highlighted botanicals.

Organic gin is something that we’re seeing more and more of, especially within the American microdistillery scene. Pinckney Bend has nine botanicals, each of them certified organic and all of them including the wheat in the gin’s base are American grown. In fact everything about this gin, right down to the glass of the bottle is made in the states. Additionally, Map geeks such as myself will likely appreciate the beautiful map on the label as well showing those of us unacquainted with Missouri geography (myself included) where exactly Pinckney Bend is. Now on to the gin: First Impressions The [...]

Tagged , , , , ,

rereview: G’vine Nouaison

Feb
28
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

We’ll G’vine, we meet again. again. Long time readers of the Gin is In will know that this was the first gin I officially awarded five stars too. A lot of what I wrote about Floraison  is equally true about Nouaison, so let’s get on to the actual tasting notes, shall we? The Scent The smell is a more muted variation on Floraison. A subtle floral bouquet, but no intimations of its strength (44% vs Floraison’s 40%) nor of its more juniper-like stature. On the Tongue There’s some warm citrus notes a  powerful note of cassia. The floral notes are [...]

Tagged , , ,

rereview: G’vine Floraison

Feb
26
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Bold and satisfying, but puts all of its eggs in the "Floral" basket. Hints of other flavors are very quiet.

I would never turn down a chance to revisit some of my oldest gin commentaries. I think my knowledge of gin and my gin experiences have expanded greatly since that time back in winter 2009 when I decided that “since I had five gins in the apartment, why don’t I start reviewing them?!” Both varieties of G’vine’s gin were among those initial five. Although my initial review of Floraison was posted in August 2010, it was one of the gins that inspired me to take on this journey. Now, while well known, and having been reviewed by so many others, [...]

Tagged , , ,

Farmer’s Botanical Organic Gin

Feb
21
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

“Organic,” for a while I thought was going to be the next BIG thing in spirits. It seemed all at once that vodkas and gins were appearing on the shelf at my local liquor store advertising that the botanicals, the base, everything was organic. So slowly, it seemed an inevitability that the USDA label would start appearing on liquor bottles, proclaiming (legally) that at least 95% of this beverage’s components were produced in accordance with USDA’s guidelines for calling something organic. Well, I won’t turn this into a referendum on the “organic” label, nor on the USDA’s guidelines. Let’s get [...]

Tagged , , ,

Smooth Ambler’s Greenbrier Gin

Feb
17
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Warm and balanced with notes that warrant comparison to Genever and Old Tom style gins.

West Virginia is a place that I mentally associate with whiskey. It may be that border with Kentucky. It may be the mountains and the inseparable notions of Appalachia and barrel-aged spirits. It may also be a reality: there’s more distillers making Whiskey in West Virginia making bourbon and whiskey (Smooth Ambler included) than there are those making gin. But nevermind the stereotypes and ignore the preconceived notions. Although Greenbrier gin comes from the heart of moonshine country, it stands on its own while retaining a little bit of those bourbon roots. Getting down to the Base Where are these bourbon roots? [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Back River Gin

Feb
07
Posted in Bottles of Gin 6
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Strong aroma of Cinnamon with hints of floral. Lots of sweetness and blueberry, with a pleasant juniper heat at the end.

There are only a small handful of states that I’ve never visited: Alaska (hard to get enough time off work to drive there), Hawaii (I’m not a fan of flying), Michigan (I don’t know, always just seemed a little out of the way) and Maine. My reasons for not visiting Maine aren’t for lack of trying. My wife and I once attempted a weekend drive to Kittery. But that drive came up short as we spent the weekend wandering the Green and White mountains respectively (beautiful, of course). So I’ve never been to this state, but if the botanicals of [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Darnley’s View

Feb
05
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Takes the traditional London Dry formula done right and adds a balanced floral note to create a balanced gin which can stand out among its competitors.

Darnley’s view gin (alike many other gins on the market) desires to create a sense of place on your palette. We’ve covered many gins that accomplish this to varying degrees. Caorunn worked to create that vision by choosing a whole slew of native botanicals; Seneca Drums, whose distillery is located in wine country created that vision by stacking traditional gin botanicals on top of a grape spirit base, and yet others (and this is where Darnley’s view come in) take a more abstract approach to that sense of place. Though one of the non-traditional botanicals (Elderflower) does grow wild on [...]

Tagged , ,

Gale Force Gin

Jan
30
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Versatile gin with a fair amount of heat, juniper forward nose and a citrus forward palette. Not much earthiness but a spicy and pleasant finish.

Gale Force is Triple Eight Distillery’s flagship gin. Although Triple Eight Distillery is a microdistillery in the United States, its founding predates many others in the distilling hotbed of New England. Founded in 1997 on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, it was the first microdistillery in the region. Though Triple Eight Distillery is probably best known in the region for its flagship self-titled vodka, Gale Force Gin is a worthy addition to their line that could make more waves (get it?!) with gin’s rising popularity. Bad puns aside, let’s get on to the gin. Gale Force Gin is a throwback of sorts. In [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Schlichte Gin

Jan
22
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Very strong juniper flavor with relatively minimal heat. Very simple flavor profile. It's juniper and all juniper.

Some gins are the perfect examples of their style. Plymouth is the classic example of Plymouth style gin and Schlichte is the classic example of the Steinhäger style. If you’re curious about the style’s baseline, we covered that a short while ago. This review is just about Schlichte. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful earthenware bottle. It stands out among the other glass bottles in any gin section where it appears. It seems distinctly “old world” and “throwback” just as itself. I opened, and the first thing I noticed was nearly nothing. No powerful aromas, just a subtle hint of [...]

Tagged , , , , ,

Seagram’s Extra Dry

Jan
18
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A toasty juniper gin with a powerful sweetness and smoothness; some of which comes from the classic London Dry botanicals, and some which comes from 3 months in an oak barrel.

Seagram’s Gin is the best selling gin in America; therefore it warrants a closer look. I know that immediately it embodies one American virtue: thrift. This may be the only gin I review that I can tell you with confidence, “yes, they do sell it at Walmart.” In fact, this gin could be the next entry in my “It came from the Bottom Shelf” series. But although widely available we’re interested if the taste lives up to the hype. Does it warrant being the best selling gin in America. But first, an Experiment! At a recent party I held a [...]

Tagged , , , , , ,

Greenall’s Gin

Jan
16
Posted in Bottles of Gin 3
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A mild London Dry gin with a smooth profile but very little spice. Nicely balanced with a distinct subtle profile.

There are some common gins that have escape my careful eye over the years. And although I’m going to keep the focus on primarily gin innovation in America in 2012, I’m going to take an early year detour to Warrington, UK and look at a 250 year old gin: Greenall’s. A little about Greenall’s I usually try to go easy on the history section because this is available on every other cocktail review site and the product’s own personal website. But Greenall’s has a couple of very interesting notes in its history. 1761 was the first year that gin making [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Carnaby’s Gin

Jan
05
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Mild and slightly metallic. A little bit of juniper and not much else.

I wanted to title this feature “IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF.” You know, give it a bit of a “B-Movie” sort of feel. But in retrospect I was uncertain whether or not that may be fair. I want to be a neutral reviewer of gin and give all gin an equal chance. There’s a whole lot more than just quality that goes into shelf position. Sometimes the big brand names get the prime real estate. Sometimes its simply about price. Other times it alphabetical, promotional, capricious, etc. There’s no reason, so I want to come and approach Carnaby’s gin [...]

Tagged , , ,

Nolet Silver Gin

Nov
21
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A fruity and floral, non traditional gin that is much smoother than its proof might indicate.

I’m not a big fan of secrets. You know, sometimes its a little cold, – you’re on the outside looking in. So Nolet, what gives? You have some obscure botanicals: that much I’m certain of. The given list includes only Peach, Raspberry and Rose. I’m not going to claim that I can reveal the underlying secrets with my well-developed gin-tasting ability (I’m going to try though), but these three “known” ingredients are so obvious on their own, so overpowering and at the forefront- whether by suggestion or intention that they remain the focus of many reviews of this bold new [...]

Tagged , , ,

Bulldog Gin

Nov
07
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Hints of warm spice, a balanced juniper gin with some exotic floral notes that stand outside the gin canon.

First, I want to thank Billy Silverman over at Bulldog Gin for sending us a bottle. I’d seen the subway ads around New York City, but I’d never quite got around to buying a bottle. I’m glad he did, because I think Bulldog Gin does a lot of things very well. Now I can see what I was missing. Bulldog gin hails from London, and that designation alone carries a lot of baggage. London Dry is the classic style of gin; the style which embodies everything that gin is supposed to be: the prickly juniper, the fresh citrus. When I [...]

Tagged , ,

Caorunn Gin

Nov
03
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A little more juniper than you might expect. Notes of vanilla and caramelized sugar, in addition to juniper and a subtle earthiness.

Caorunn gin captivated me from the first time I heard about. Exotic botanicals are nothing new in modern gin. With Big names like Bombay getting into exotic ingredients designed to invoke a certain region, it shouldn’t be surprising that a gin coming out of Scotland would attempt to do something that invokes a certain vision of the pastoral and idyllic Scottish countryside. The 5 Unique Botanicals (w/ Wikipedia references for those who are unfamiliar with the Botany of the Northern United Kingdom) Coul Blush Apple: The UK telegraph reports that native apples are making a comeback, after being obscured beneath [...]

Oxley Gin

Oct
31
Posted in Bottles of Gin Comments Off
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Lots of lemon and juniper notes up front and plenty of heat on the palate and the nose.

Oxley gin holds a special place in this blog already. It was the gin we chose to take on vacation with us, which means that from the outset it met a very specific set of criteria. Firstly, we wanted something that was classically styled, and capable of “tasting like gin” in any cocktail it was put in. Second, it had to be versatile and capable of doing many things well.Finally,we wanted a gin that was capable of keeping gin devotees interested. Oxley accomplished all of these things and was a good companion on this trip. We put it to work [...]

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Oliver Cromwell 1599

Sep
29
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Lots of juniper and only faint hints of citrus and intimations of other gin spices. Warm on the palate but not fiery.

The little bottle of Oliver Cromwell 1599 Gin that I had the pleasure of tasting was again thanks to the kindness of the kind gin-loving compatriots over at Summer Fruit Cup. Spirits competitions remind me a bit of beer competitions. For example, let’s take the example of Budweiser or Pabst Blue Ribbon. Most beer connoisseurs would probably be reluctant to say “those are great beers” (given the array of complex craft brews out there) but they are stellar examples of that style. A lager is supposed to be clear, uncomplex, yawn-inspiring. So naturally when I heard an inexpensive gin from Aldi won [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Old Raj (55%)

Sep
27
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Warm and nicely balanced even if the Saffron is a background player here.

This review is only for the 55% ABV version of Old Raj.I have not had the 46% version. Though the 55% shares much in common with its lower ABV sister, they are different products. This one is the blue one, the other one is red. Now that we’ve cleared that up…. Old Raj begins with a classic set of botanicals among which are juniper, citrus, coriander, cassia, and other classics. But what really sets it apart is is slight golden tint, which is a result of the post-distillation addition of saffron. This isn’t the first saffron-infused gin that we’ve reviewed. [...]

Tagged , , ,

Bombay Sapphire East

Sep
23
Posted in Bottles of Gin 7
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Peppery and only slightly citrusy. Plenty of juniper and mellow earthiness combined with some floral and herbal notes largely owing to the Lemongrass.

 Let’s start at the very beginning. I was taught at a young age that it the most logical, and perhaps “best,” place to start. There once was a time in my life where gin at the bar was limited to the standards. The junipers. The burning sensation of a foreign beverage. One I didn’t quite understand. It may have been my predilection for the color blue. It may have been pure chance, that my eye, wandered to that shelf in the back and saw the blue bottle- faintly illuminated from the back-bar lights. It was Bombay Sapphire. and it was [...]

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Spring 44 Gin

Sep
19
Posted in Bottles of Gin 4
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A harmony of the floral and the juniper with intimations of the classic London Dry spice profile.

Spring 44 Gin is very on point with some of the more recent trends in gin and liquor overall. It uses several locally sourced botanicals  and Rocky Mountain Spring water that bring to mind Cottage Grove Distillery’s location at 9,000 feet elevation in Roosevelt National forest. Sure, the vision I get in my mind is idyllic. A road that can only be accessed by four wheel drive; seeing the milky way from the backyard, the entirely-off-the-grid production process using solar panels (see the Spring 44story from their website for more). But how does the gin actually hold up? Firstly, the [...]

Tagged , , , , , , ,

DH Krahn Gin

Sep
14
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Notes of lemongrass and ginger compliment the complex citrus blend of flavors that dominate the palate.

Krahn has been on the lower shelf of my neighborhood liquor store for a long time. And for some reason I was always reluctant to try. It was the last gin that they stock that I bought.  And once I had it at home and began mixing with it, I was not sure why I had taken so long. It was actually quite excellent. First a bit of background on DH Krahn gin. Its an upstate New York microdistillery founded by two graduates of Cornell University. They do a few things to distinguish themselves from the outset. Firstly, the user [...]

Tagged , , ,

Tub Gin

Jul
25
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A powerful London Dry style punch with a nice balanced base.

“We kindly invite you to shut your questioning trap, and enjoy,” says the movie one sees if they click on the ingredients link on the Tub Gin website. Well, if you’re going to be so confrontational about it, I might as well just up and review it and tell you what I think of the gin that you say is made from “fresh Colorado juniper berries and a few other things we found lying around the place.” But first, let me tell you the story of how I found Tub Gin. Of all places, in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania state run [...]

Tagged , , , , , ,

Berkshire Mountain’s Ethereal Gin Batch No. 4

Jul
16
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A peppery juniper punch with a mellow anise aftertaste.

Berkshire Mountain Distillers are best known for its mainline of gin known as Greylock Gin. And although I went to Astor Place Wine and Spirits looking specifically for Greylock, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the green label and a name like “Ethereal Gin.” The Ethereal Gins are small-batch, handcrafted, and limited edition. Other versions exist such as #3 in a yellow bottle, #2, in the pink bottle, and #1 in a green one.  Each one is a limited batch and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Fortunately, it seems every year they Berkshire Mountain releases a new one, and if [...]

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Plymouth

Jul
10
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Strong lemon with a clean smooth juniper flavor. Nice citrus and juniper on the nose and a very hot but balanced palate.

I have covered American Dry and London Dry styles of gin at length. I’ve talked about Genever. So that really leaves Old Tom and Plymouth as the two types I haven’t covered. Today, we’re going to fill in one of these glaring omissions: Plymouth Gin. Plymouth Gin is a combination terroir/trademark. Only one maker is permitted to use the term “Plymouth Gin” and that is the distillery Plymouth, Coates and Co. which is located on the port of Plymouth on the English Channel. Plymouth gin is one of those odd examples where the brand and the style are one and [...]

The Botanist

Jul
05
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A complex gin with a lot going on that blurs the lines of distinction between the various elements.

Another of the wonderful gins sent to me by David over at http://www.summerfruitcup.com/ was one gin in particular which I had wanted so very badly. 31 Botanicals! and 22 of which are native to the island of Islay. The Botanist comes to the bar with an impressive resume to begin with: It’s a limited run (only 15,000 bottles) , is very much a part of the “locally sourced” trend in food and drink (see: Death’s Door Gin), and it is distilled at the well known and respected Bruichladdich distillery in Islay which is best known for its whiskeys and the [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Uganda Waragi Gin

Jun
09
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A mild gin with hints of juniper but not much else.

It’s not often that I get to try a gin (or anything for that matter) that is made in Uganda.  Uganda Waragi is a commercially distilled gin distributed by East African Breweries Limited. The term Waragi however, is used to refer to any local Ugandan distilled beverages. This distinction is important to note. Many news articles have been published about deaths from Ugandan Waragi. The Waragi in these articles is the generic kind- the moonshine, not the kind we’re sampling here. Special thanks goes out to the fine folks over at Summer Fruit Cup. I’ve never seen Uganda Waragi commercially [...]

Tagged , , ,

Bols Genever

Feb
21
Posted in Bottles of Gin 6
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A smoky and complex genever very heavy on the traditional flavor elements.

Way back before this American Dry/London Dry business, there was Dutch Genever. and things were good. Genever is truly a throwback in gins, with Bols’ recipe going back to one created in 1820. Genever is a legally protected name, so alike real champagne, the origins are certain. As a protected name it implies its origins in Belgium, Netherlands, or a couple provinces of Germany or France. Bols is from the Netherlands where it has operated at the center of the Dutch distilling industry since the early 17th century. On to the drink. I’ve read many descriptions of Genever, but the [...]

Tagged , , ,

Aviation Gin

Feb
16
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A sippable gin with overt floral notes with a balanced citrus and juniper timbre. Hints of spice come to the surface more when sipped warm.

I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I cracked open the bottle of Aviation gin. The bottle, the name, the styling: it all said “classic, London dry” to me. For those of you in the know already, it’s truly one of the new breed of American Dry. It is big and bold, but with the juniper in the background. It’s more of the bassist in this band. The citrus and the other flavors are in the front. I opened the bottle, and was struck by how floral it was. It reminded me of G’vine Floraison; however, upon tasting [...]

Tagged , , , , , ,

Magellan Gin

Jan
29
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

The iris infusion gives it strong floral notes which is deceptive, as the taste is warm and spicier than the nose might indicate.

The first thing I thought upon seeing Magellan’s blue gin was that it was a gimmick. Blue gin? C’mon people. color gin? Gin drinkers are classier than Vodka drinkers. We don’t need fancy colors to tell us a gin is good. If it’s good we’ll drink. Hell if it’s good, we’ll get two. Magellan gin taught me an important lesson: don’t judge a gin by its color. Blue or not, it stands up as a solid gin. Sidenote: Magellan Gin had a “new coke” like experience in the mid 2000s when they changed their recipe and became just another clear [...]

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Seneca Drums Gin

Jan
21
Posted in Bottles of Gin 5
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A floral gin that makes uses its grape base to compliment notes of clove, coriander and of course, juniper.

New Years Resolution: Maybe a bit more personal photography. At left, we have a lovely picture of Seneca Drums gin, a bottle that I purchased while in Buffalo celebrating the holiday season with family. I bought it because it was “local:” the Finger Lakes Distillery is about 45 minutes south of Rochester near Burdett. NY. I’d never seen it at my usual liquor store favorites in New York City, so I gave it a shot. I’d never had a gin from upstate, but considering how good the one from downstate was, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. The first [...]

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Breucklen Gin

Nov
12
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A relatively smooth citrus forward gin that have a more floral nose than the taste may suggest. Nice balance, although a bit sweeter than most.

I have been excited to try this gin since the day I read that two gin distilleries were opening in Brooklyn, NY.  The New Yorker in me was thrilled that a craft, seemingly regulated out of existence in urban areas, was coming back to the city I lived in.The gates opened this past spring, and a short couple of weeks ago I finally picked up a bottle. The first thing I noticed was the lovely bottle complete with a classy wax-sealed top. Anxious to try, I  grabbed a knife, slit the wax and poured myself a gin and tonic. The [...]

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tanqueray w/ Rangpur Lime

Oct
30
Posted in Bottles of Gin 0
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A hot gin with an emphasis on citrus and spice, and juniper as a background note.

First we reviewed Tanqueray’s entry level gin. We then reviewed their top shelf version called Tanqueray No. 10. We now are going to take a look at Tanqueray w/ Rangpur, one of the earliest craft variations from a major distiller. (Beefeater just seems to be getting into the game in 2010, but this was out in 2006) Question 1: What is a Rangpur Lime? This is an excellent question. Firstly, it’s not a lime. It’s a hybrid of a lemon and a mandarin orange/tangerine. (picture at right). Also, it doesn’t even really taste like a lime, although it has a [...]

Tagged , , , , ,

Tanqueray Ten

Oct
27
Posted in Bottles of Gin 1
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

The citrus forward take on the Juniper base manages to disguise a bit of the classic formula while maintaining all of the heat of the original.

I reviewed Tanqueray’s mainstream offering earlier this week. Now we’re going to take a step up the ladder to their top of the line quadruple-distilled gin, aimed specifically at the martini market. This is indisputably a step up. Despite the higher proof, the gin is much smoother than its older brother. There’s no longer the vague intimation of fruits but a robust grapefruit and lime citrus tang. There’s still plenty of juniper and hints of coriander in the mix, but the smooth citrus finish is what makes this gin. The higher proof means it stands out more strongly in any [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Tanqueray

Oct
24
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A gin with a very hot juniper foundation that dominates on the nose and the palate.

Let’s be honest. You’ve probably heard of this gin before. If you’ve ever had gin before you’ve probably had this gin before. If you’ve been to a bar, you’ve seen this gin before. The tell-tale green bottle is usually what I scan a bar shelf for to find their gin selection. (This and the shimmering blue of Bombay Sapphire are among the most distinctive bottles at a bar). Among all gins, Tanqueray I think is the one with the most wide-scale advertising campaign- but despite its commonness, it somehow slides below the radar of most liquor review sites. Tanqueray first [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Death’s Door Gin

Oct
13
Posted in Bottles of Gin 2
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Narrow list of botanicals focuses flavor very tightly on a Coriander spice and fresh juniper. Very mild on the heat.

The Botanical Gin revolution is alive and well. I applaud it. Anything that gets people out and talking about gin, or better yet— experimenting boldly with gin is a good thing. Generally, I think a lot of good things have come out of these experiments. There are more delectable varieties of gin out today than I’ve ever seen before. But every now and then, I taste a gin that doesn’t work. Death’s Door is another gin from the United States, made in Washington Island, Wisconsin (map here, because I didn’t know where that was either) entirely from native botanicals grown [...]

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Bluecoat Gin

Oct
11
Posted in Bottles of Gin 6
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Among the most citrus forward of all gins, but nice hints of other earthy botanicals keep it from becoming a one note affair.

The case of Bluecoat, the “American Dry Gin” is an interesting one.  It comes in a bright blue bottle and is sure to stand out on your shelf— one might say it is beaming with American pride. It’s made in Philadelphia and has a four grain base which includes corn, wheat, barley and rye. But really, all of this information isn’t going to help you. Let me some up this gin in one word: Citrus. You can taste the prickly warmth of the Juniper, but it is above all a citrusy gin. The strongest tasting notes are orange, orange, and [...]

Tagged , , , ,

Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength London Dry Gin

Sep
11
Posted in Bottles of Gin 3
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A well balanced London Dry style gin that brings the heat and the flavor, but still remains very smooth despite its higher proof.

It’s Miller Time. No, not the  Miller that advertises during football games, nor am I talking about Sabres starting goalie Ryan Miller. It’s Miller’s Gin Time. Let me begin by getting this out of the way. This is my favorite gin. Hands down. The Miller’s regular strength (80 proof) is a solid choice, somewhat more inexpensive ($31-35 for 1 L) and while it still has all of the outstanding features, they’re just a little less pronounced, and a bit more subtle. Miller’s gin balances a crisp clean Juniper flavor with a  hint of Citrus sweetness. These two flavors are in [...]

Tagged , , , , , , ,

G’vine Floraison

Aug
28
Posted in Bottles of Gin 4
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

Bold and satisfying, but puts all of its eggs in the "Floral" basket. Hints of other flavors are very quiet.

I’ve reviewed Nouaison by G’vine previously, but my first G’vine gin love was Floraison. There is no more fragrant gin on the market. When you open the bottle of gin or take a sip of a drink with Floraison in it, the floral and fruity aroma hits you in the face. No, I’m serious. Its unmistakable- the blend of scents that reminds strongly of grapes (which is not coincidental, as the base is made from distilled grapes) and the taste hints of sweet baking spices and spring flowers, that linger. Floraison has a long refreshing finish that is unique among [...]

Tagged , , , , , , ,

New Amsterdam

Aug
25
Posted in Bottles of Gin 3
Juniper Spice Heat Citrus Floral
Gin Flavor Profile

A mild, slightly sweet gin that goes light on the juniper and citrus, but goes easy on the intensity making it very easy to drink.

I don’t want to give the impression that I have a “top shelf” bias. I do drink all gin. This gin was lovingly brought to me by a friend who brought it for a dinner party we had a few months back. Thoughtfully, she brought the 1.75 liter bottle because a lot of us drink gin. The taste of New Amsterdam is surprisingly clean. It may not be as smooth as some of my favorites like Miller’s, Hendrick’s or G’vine; it is smoother than Beefeater or Tanqueray. It goes perfectly well in a gin and tonic and is complimented nicely with [...]

Tagged , , , , ,