Flavor Profile
20,000 acres of the state of Michigan are devoted to growing nearly 92 million pounds of blueberries annually. In celebration of one of the state’s most important agricultural products, New Holland Spirits (part of New Holland Brewing Co.) expands on their flagship gin with Knickerbocker Blueberry Flavored Gin.
Tasting Notes
Color: Despite the sapphire hued bottle, Knickerbocker Blueberry Flavored Gin is perfectly clear.
Nose: Dried blueberry with hints of herb and spice.
Flavor: A bit of spice led blueberry comes through early. Mid-palate the blueberries become less powdery and begin to take on a deep concentrated, dried berry flavor.
Coriander and fennel begin mid-palate, but later amidst hints of resinous juniper, clove and ginger provide grounding.
Finish: Mildly warming with predominant spices amidst a faint, floral berry-kissed glow.
Cocktails
Knickerbocker Blueberry Flavored Gin is a beautiful mixer. Unlike other blueberry flavored gins, the clear color allows it to sub into cocktails easily without deleterious impact on hue.
Ideal for gin and soda, gin and tonic, or even gin and lemonade— the blueberry flavor comes through clearly and beautifully. The juniper is subtle and sedate, largely concentrated on the finish as it is sipped neat.
For fans of flavored vodka, you could sub it in for a berry-forward Martini. Though even gin fans will appreciate the balance of spice and juniper.
I generally don’t mix extensively with flavored gins. Knickerbocker Blueberry Flavored Gin doesn’t pair as well with savory ingredients like Chartreuse. I’d suggest looking elsewhere for a Last Word.
Mixed, it is an upgrade for the ubiquitous flavored and heavily sweetened Pink Gins. That being said, while it may appeal to fans of that style, Knickerbocker Blueberry Flavored Gin has been around and predates the Pink Gin trend.
Overall, Knickerbocker Blueberry Flavored Gin
A beautiful, blueberry forward gin that is closer to the blueberry note in Back River Gin than a berry-forward gin. Crisp, distilled, and balanced— this gin is recommended to gin fans who like blueberry.
It might be among the best berry flavored gins on the market today.
Highly recommended in its category.
Awards
I’ll be searching for this.