Edinburgh distillery’s Christmas Gin is a London Dry Gin flavored in the style of Christmas with baking spices like nutmeg and ginger, alongside the traditional Christian Christmas Gifts of the three travelers— frankincense and myrrh.
Tasting notes
Color: Perfectly clear
Aroma: Delicate ginger and spice with a hint of piquant celery root and piney juniper. Frankincense adds an Oriental (think the class of perfumes) note that adds some exotic color.
Flavor: Heavy with Christmas spice. Frankincense adds a lot, especially upfront with some woody and balsamic color. But as an uncommon flavor on its own, most will pick up on the way it strongly lifts the ginger and nutmeg. Sweet spices dominate early, but mid-palate Edinburgh Christmas Gin adds some juniper.
The back of the palate is again sweetly spiced with hints of molasses and gingerbread cookies, vanilla custard and orange chocolate.
Finish: Sweetly and moderately warm with pleasant baking spice. Hints of cloves, earthy dry cassia and some more nutmeg.
Cocktails and suggested serves
Edinburgh Christmas Gin is at its best in cocktails. The sweet spice pairs nicely with sweet vermouth. Try a Martinez or Negroni. Most of all it makes an excellent Hot Toddy with the heat lifting those sweet spices even more on the nose. Try it with dark honey, fresh lemon and a cinnamon stick or star anise.
Overall, Edinburgh Christmas Gin
Some will find Edinburgh Christmas Gin a bit light on the juniper. It can come across as a spiced flavored vodka. But that’s no sleight. The botanicals are beautifully expressed. The flavors are bright and Edinburgh Christmas Gin tastes like Christmas.
Overall, it’s a worthy holiday inspired gin that will work great in a warming winter cocktail.