Beginning from the base spirit of Madison Park London Dry Gin distilled from local corn, their Bergamote Breakfast Gin adds Bergamot via distillation and then infuses a “blend of teas.” While not specifically and only an “Earl Grey Gin,” 1769 strongly invites comparison to that flavor through their use of black tea and bergamot.
Tasting notes
Color: Unclouded, clear, chestnut hue.
Aroma: Zesty bright lemon oil, Neroli and lots of black tea. The tea notes are bold and slightly earthy.
Flavor: Piney juniper— hints of lavender and chamomile along the edges. The palate is bold and tea forward. Notes of Earl Grey, but also Oolong and spiced herbal tea. Cassia and a touch of coriander.
Clear gin presence beneath an assertive and dominant tea top note.
Finish: Warming and dry with cassia, oolong tea, and a touch of lemon zest. Only slightly astringent, Madison Park Bergamote Breakfast Gin finishes with a pleasant dryness and moderate warmth.
Cocktails
Madison Park Bergamote Breakfast Gin is ideal for citrus forward cocktails, especially ones that accentuate lemon. I recommend the Tom Collins or Gin and Lemonade.
Beyond some of those— I think Madison Park Bergamote Breakfast Gin is a more difficult mixer because of its bold perspective. I’m not sure it works as well in a Negroni or Last Word. I’d probably avoid the tea notes in more bright floral drinks like the White Lady or Aviation.
Overall, Madison Park Bergamote Breakfast Gin
For what it is— a tea flavored gin— Madison Park Bergamote Breakfast Gin is quite good. There’s a nice balance of gin character, tea and citrus. I like the way it adds bold tea notes without losing the underlying juniper. The addition of Bergamot via distillation makes for a more subtle Bergamot note— the lemon and orange are the more dominant citrus facets.
It’s not going to be a gin for every cocktail— but enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a Lemonade— Madison Park Bergamote Breakfast Gin is a good gin that tells you exactly what it is (and delivers).
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