Jack Rabbit Gin

Flavor Profile

When you think of Utah, you probably think more about the picture below than gin. It can be understood, after all when one thinks about alcohol and drinking, Utah is closer associated with the opposite. Beehive Distilling is doing their best to dispel entirely the notion that Utah and good spirits are opposites. Jack Rabbit Gin is “small batch” and “small scale” featuring local touches (Sage for example) that give it a distinctly regional flavor profile, and floral touches such as rose, which give it a unique and bright flavor with mass appeal potential.

Tasting Notes

Bright rose hits you right away. Unmissable. But there’s much more happening beneath the surface that keep it from becoming a one-note bomb. Coriander, camphorous juniper and mint background notes, with even lower a touch of orange and citrus in the lows. The rose note immediately draws a comparison to Hendrick’s, but it really might have out-Hendrick’sed even Hendrick’s with the rose.

The palate surprised me initially, taking an almost left turn. The camphorous mint-like low notes are bright and clear as day on the palate as sage. Juniper is present as well, with rose rising to dominate the middle, turning somewhat less sweet and more pungent in the late-mids as background spice notes rise to compliment and balance out the flavor. There was a bright citrusy dash of coriander, basil/sage vegetal notes, with orris root and violet poking their heads out on the finish. Bright and exuberantly floral, Jack Rabbit gin is the gin renaissance’s response to the rose in Hendrick’s. They push it forward, but not at the expense of balance. The bright sage comes to the rescue and deliver a really bright, and very unique gin.

My only critique might be that in between the initial taste and the finish, there’s a bit of a lull where neither of the dominating botanicals come to the fore. Perhaps something like a little bit more juniper could fill that gap? Overall, this is merely a small critique, as overall Jack Rabbit Gin is quite nice and a gin you can definitely drink on its own.

Cocktails

In a Gin and Tonic, we had an even more amplified floral profile, which led to a dry finish as if a rose perfume. Clean and short, hints of “fresh sun-dried sheets,” and “piney-wet juniper” as well. Very clean and very smooth.

The Martini brought with it a few surprises: the Dry Vermouth delayed the onset of the rose notes, allowing a touch of citrus-brightness to come through, along with sage and wet pine needles. The mids were rife with rose and sage oil, leading towards a distinctly drier-than-on-its-own finish with a requisite bitterness. Nice heat, sharp and direct, somewhat less floral than on its own, but modern and bright. I quite like this drink. Recommended

The Gimlet was herbal with a lime spike, similar to “thyme-rosemary infused lemonade.” Sweet, but with a transformative complimentary savoriness. Clean finish, with a slight note of “clean linen” and “dusty rose perfume.” Fades after the tart lime cordial note that lifts at the very end of the taste.

Overall, Jack Rabbit Gin

Bright and exuberantly floral, Jack Rabbit gin is the gin renaissance’s response to the rose in Hendrick’s. As good mixed as on its own. Gin drinkers who like the floral notes in their gin will find a lot to like here, those who don’t might be best advised to look elsewhere, or at least give it a try. Floral-forward contemporary gins have arrived.