Flavor Profile
Picture courtesy of SummerFruitCup.com
Blanc Ocean Gin is one of the earliest gins to embrace Seaweed as a botanical. Though now the list seems long. Big names from Japan, the UK, Australia and Canada are among many— it’s worth pointing out though that Blanc Ocean Gin might have been the original. One of the first gins when it entered the market in 2012–13 to embrace the seaweed botanical as a marketing cornerstone.
Tasting Notes
Blanc Ocean Gin is unusual at very first scent. A bit of orange, but the distinct aroma of dark cocoa. The nose reminds me a lot of orange chocolate, the Easter candy. Not much juniper on the nose, and definitely not much to tell you this isn’t a chocolate vodka. Wow, not gin like at all.
That name Salicornia on the front of Blanc Ocean Gin isn’t just a name from another language that you’ve never heard of. In languages that you might be familiar with it goes by the names: samphire, St. Peter’s Herb, Beach Asparagus, Glasswort, or Sea beans.
Widely eaten throughout the world Sea Beans are stringy, very salty, and have a flavor somewhat like asparagus or spinach.
Although the bottle says “Seaweed,” Salicornia isn’t probably seaweed in the way you’re thinking of it. It grows in marshes, mangroves and other watery areas. But it’s not quite an underwater plant.
Cocktails
In a Blanc Ocean Gin and Tonic, more of the cocoa notes come out again. There’s a little bit of bright citrus, not much juniper. The tonic doesn’t do much to change the flavor profile of this gin. As for a martini, I’m not liking the way these notes blend with the flavors of a vermouth. I mixed up a Negroni and I was disappointed that the chocolate and citrus notes didn’t come through as strongly as I had hoped. They’re here, but more on the close.
If you want to get more obscure, I’d suggest making up a 20th Century Cocktail with this gin. You get a hint of cocoa even before the Creme De Cacao enters.
Overall, Blanc Ocean Gin
So it doesn’t do much that you might expect a gin to do. That’s fine. It’s boldly unique, wildly unlike anything else I’ve tasted in terms of gin thus far. It may not be for anyone, but I think its worth seeking out for its unique qualities alone.