Ish Gin

Flavor Profile

I like to downplay marketing as much as possible. I’m one of those people who like to believe that I buy absolutely nothing simply because I was marketed to. But there are sometimes that marketing is almost inseparable from the product. Sometimes this is a good thing: how can you have had Hendrick’s even once without noticing their expansive advertising campaign and overuse of the word Peculiar. Other times, and Ish Gin — this can be a bad thing. The assaulting music that explodes through your speakers when you visit the website and the seemingly out-of-nowhere fetish oriented promotional shots (handcuffs anyone?) are almost off-putting to me. Clearly, I’m not their target demographic. Which is too bad- because behind all of the pomp and handcuffs. there’s actually a pretty decent gin inside.

Tasting Notes

Lots of pine and juniper on the taste. Rather sharp, but not too harsh.  The Juniper gives way to a sharp orange note. Ish Gin has hints of a coriander on the nose and taste. The palate is remarkably traditional, and actually rather pleasant. The finish is bitter and a tad dry, with lingering hints that bring to mind comparisons to Myrtle Orange.

Though the official list contains some novel botanicals: Almond and Nutmeg, they don’t really shine through on their own. The power of suggestion caused me to ponder the beginning notes rather carefully, but I just wasn’t getting them. This isn’t to Ish’s detriment- it still is a rather nice classic styled gin, but I hesitate to find anything which really sets Ish Gin head and shoulders above the competition— or to find any reason why this is clearly a step up from Gordon’s for example.

Overall, Ish Gin

Ish Gin is classic styled gin that executed the style well

International Gin Exchange 2012 

Thanks to David over at Summer Fruit Cup for helping  make this tasting possible. Because the bottles are small sample bottles, this review is not as thorough as my normal gin reviews. There’s only enough for some tasting neat and no more than one normal-sized cocktail. Although I do my best to give as full of a review as possible, complete with ratings, the tasting is not as complete as I would normally want to do.