Entropia Gin

Flavor Profile

We have another bold colored gin from the Galicia region of Spain. Entropia Gin’s golden color isn’t from aging, its actually from the post-distillation infusion of the two botanicals most prominently called out on the bottle. Guarana and Ginseng. I know, it’s hard to not think “energy drink” considering I’ve seen those two ingredients prominently called out on the labels of everything from Sobe to Vitamin Water to Red Bull over the last decade.

Ginseng is often considered a natural boost for one’s mental acuity, sexual drive, or mood, science thus far has only been able to find weak evidence to associate it with boosting one’s immune system. Not exactly unabashed support, yet some claim to experience these benefits.

Guarana has been associated with a whole host of supposed boosts, everything from weight loss, to mental sharpness, to sexual stamina and really everything in between. Science remains unconvinced.

But we’re not here to try the botanicals’ medical properties. We’re here to try their flavor. And on that matter we feel like we’re qualified to pass judgement.

Tasting Notes

Entropia Gin has a golden color, similar to that of a lager. It has the hue of bright hay or goldenrod. It looks similar in color to a gin rested for a short period of time.

The nose is woody, spicy and somewhat sweet. A hint of ethanol heats the nostrils. Notes of oak, angelica, cinnamon, and citrus.

The palate reveals a great deal of complexity. Woody, spicy, with a flavor profile that really calls to mind chamomile tea. Bergamot oil, spicy cinnamon, angelica, nutmeg and ginger. This actually reminds me of a much milder take on Tru2 Organic gin () [characterized as a bathtub gin, with many aromatic spices added post-distillation], although somewhat more subtle. There’s a good deal of warmth as the finish comes, a little oily, strong on cinnamon with a floral hint [probably the hibiscus?], fading into spices with a hint of buttery vanilla. All in all, quite complex, and quite nice.

Cocktails

I’d say I think it has a really strong profile that warrant inclusion in drinks such as the Negroni, where It would definitely bring a nice spiced hint to the table. Recommended,w with that bergamot note coming through cleanly. I thought it was a little too loud for drinks like the Tom Collins or the gimlet. Although the citrus rounds out the spice notes, it was not quite what you might expect. There wasn’t enough juniper, and the earthy notes just kind of clashed. Clove and licorice came through most strongly here.

In a Gin and Tonic, I was surprised at how nicely Entropia Gin came across. This is one of those moments where although it doesn’t really call to mind the Platonic “ideal” of a gin and tonic, it captures something new and quite different. The quinine adds a nice counterpoint, and although I’d say it resembles a “spice and tonic” more than a “juniper and tonic,” that’s not necessarily something I’ll hold it against it. Quite nice, and very interesting. The finish is vanilla, cinnamon, citrus and licorice, while finishing crisp and bitter. Gin purists may decry the lack of juniper here, but I’d suggest giving it a second sip- because while not traditional in terms of palate, it does take cues in the way it is meant to work in harmony with the tonic.

Overall, Entropia Gin

Gin purists might not like the background juniper, or the post distillation infusions, but I think that Entropia Gin is on to something. It’s a spice forward, very contemporary gin that challenges the notion of what gin can taste like, and challenges the drinker to find gin cocktails that suit it. It may not work in everything, but what it does work in, you just may find yourself looking East to the Wild West of gin.