Flavor Profile
G & J Greenall expanded their gin offerings in the early 2010’s. When launched, Berkeley Square was the yin to (the quite excellent) Bloom Gin’s Yang. In other words, Bloom Gin is marketed towards women and this gin is designed to be appeal to men.
Production wise, the gin is produced using an unusual variation on maceration. If you’ve ever made a soup with a large quantity of fresh herbs, you sometimes place them in a small “tea bag” of sorts, called a bouquet garni. Berkeley Square Gin macerates their botanicals, including Makrut Lime Leaves, sage, lavender and basil.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Bright lemon, some juniper and a touch of floral sweetness, violets and lavender. Smells contemporary with a couple of classic botanicals making their appearance.
Flavor: The taste is quite nice and brings it back a few steps towards classic. Juniper and robust earthiness up front, quiet and never sharp. There’s a bit of heat in Berkeley Square Gin’s middle notes, but fades gently. A touch of herbal citrus on the close, crisp and refreshing. And this is just neat. I’m quite impressed.
Finish: Moderate warmth with a touch of herbs.
Cocktails
Mixing Berkeley Square Gin with tonic, a bit more or the herbal and floral notes come out. I’m a touch surprised at how varied the tastes can be. Sage, lavender but only a hint of juniper. This is quite nice, remarkably accessible.
I mixed it up in a martini, and the flavor was a bit spicier, a touch more heat coming through. Juniper predominantly, but again hints of herb on the close really set this apart. Highly recommended martini and one that I could quite see myself enjoying on a regular basis.
I thought again these herbal characters came out when mixed in a Negroni, but they were harder to detect in this drink. Perhaps altering the sacred ratio north to 2 parts gin, you get a little bit more, with the juniper coming out. But for the most part it’s a good Negroni with not a lot of the gin character really shining through the noise.
Overall, Berkeley Square Gin
Berkeley Square Gin is versatile, has a nice juniper forward flavor, but also a unique touch that sets it apart from other juniper forward gins. I wouldn’t say it’s quite an opposite of Bloom. It’s more or less a halfway point between the punch of Greenall’s classic gin and Bloom.
I’d easily recommend this to any gin fan in search of a smooth, easy to drink gin that puts the juniper up front but embraces some of the creativity of contemporary styles.
I totally agree with you on the gender specific marketing of gins. It’s a poison that is affecting not only gins. I’m working on a review of Langley’s No. 8 Gin at the moment, and it’s the same thing there. A gin for the sophisticated man, the gentleman. The gin is great but the gender specific marketing doesn’t do it any good. It becomes a cliche.
I really enjoyed the Berkely Square on ice with a lime twist. I was quite suprised how smooth it was. The juniper was prominent but not overpowering. I don’t, however, agree with you about gender and tastes. Surely marketing can and will be over simplified but there really is a difference (culturally created and genetic) in the way men and women experience tastes. Yes there are women who drink single malt but aren’t they the exception?
Is Berkeley Square available in the U.S.? I am in the Chicago area, and even Binny’s, our superstore (which carries Greenall’s and Bloom) can’t get it.
Sadly, it’s not. I wish I could say it was. UK Only [as of now].