Flavor Profile
Uncle Val’s Zested Gin is one of many gins in the Uncle Val’s product line. Similar to their others, it begins from a base of corn and is compounded with a set of botanicals, including bergamot orange, coriander and malted barley.
Tasting notes
Aroma: Chocolate covered orange, intensely citrus with layers of cocoa nib and toasted lemon zest
Flavor: Somewhat roasted, with surprising earthiness at first— it doesn’t remind me of barley, it comes across again as cocoa nibs, bitter chocolate. The vivid orange zest, very oily with some hints of orange blossom. A touch of piney juniper in the background, but it’s mostly about the citrus and chocolate notes
Finish: Hints of malty chocolate, reminiscent of Ovaltine, and surprisingly robust bitter orange. Moderately long finish, with moderate warmth.
Cocktails and suggested serves
Uncle Val’s Zested Gin is a good candidate for dessert type cocktails. Add it to a Grasshopper for a citrusy gin riff on the classic. But beyond that, try it in a Gin Alexander.
It pairs well with tonic, though I don’t prefer the chocolatey-notes alongside of it. If you like the citrus, you might pair it with a citrus tonic water— but that’s ultimately the challenge of mixing with this gin. You’re always looking for something to balance it.
Bartenders be advised, it’s a challenging gin to mix with and one that is not advised to be used as a plug and replace in classic gin cocktails. If you design drinks around it, it can work, but otherwise be prepared for things to feel a bit off.
Overall, Uncle Val’s Zested Gin
Regardless of how they are made, many of Uncle Val’s gins are nicely balanced and vividly flavored. Uncle Val’s Zested falls a bit short as a citrus flavored gin, because of the additional malted barley and the intense, almost too-oily citrus flavor.