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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.
Tasting Notes
The first thing I noticed about Seneca Drums Gin was the floral scent. Upon opening the bottle, I immediately drew a parallel to G’vine’s Floraison. Both use a grape spirit base in addition to neutral spirits to create a more unique and distinctly American style gin.
The juniper is subtly there, as is the citrus- perhaps a bit of orange and lemon, in addition to an assortment of herbs. Seneca Drums claims there are 11 different herbs in their gin. There were hints of clove and coriander, but none truly stood out above all the others. It was a well blended gin that exudes and exotic flavor distinct and different from most other gins.
Cocktails
Because of the grape base, and the floral bouquet, I recommend Seneca Drums Gin strongly for standards like Gin and Tonics and Martinis, but find it does not work as well in Aviations, Tom Collins or other drinks that require a co-star. Seneca Drums Gin does not “play well with others” and is recommended strongly for drinks where gin is the one and only star.
Overall
An excellent craft gin that distinguishes itself readily from its peers. Very much recommended.
Testing
Love this gin. Just purchased at Union Square here in NYC. Agree with your notes on it. In fact I’m having a martini right now with a squeeze of meyer lemon in it. But I have to say it’s a very unattractive and cheap lookin g bottle that perhaps stands out on the shelf. But if they had not been having a tasting of it I would nlot have purchased it. I know I know you can’t tell a book by its cover but…
I’m really glad to hear that you enjoy it also. The bottle really doesn’t do the gin justice. Sometimes I think the bottles from smaller distilleries look a little less dashing, but fortunately in many, especially this one, the gin is definitely worthwhile.
Cheers my friend, enjoy!
PS, really like the idea of the Meyer Lemon in a martini.
One of my favorite gins, especially for Martinis (which I don’t much like with a lot of gins, though I love gin cocktails); i like the legginess of the gin which I am thinking comes from the grape spirits. Anyway, I am in NYC, and it is DAMNED hard to find! Please post where you find it in NY! Also, completely agree on the label, which is truly awful. A better bottle and label and this stuff wold be much more popular, I am sure.