Flavor Profile
Martin Miller’s Gin was my first favorite gin, and remains an excellent option today. Like many esteemed and long lived brands, they’ve expanded the product line with some seasonal offerings.
Martin Miller’s Winterful Gin begins life as their flagship gin. Inspired by Jólaglögg, a traditional mulled wine popular in both England and Iceland, the gin is re-distilled another time with mandarin orange peel and cinnamon.
Tasting notes
Aroma: Spicy, piquant and cinnamon heavy. Juicy orange rind sits underneath, lending some aroma of marmalade. Martin Miller’s Winterful has a very literal nose. It strongly accentuates the two new botanicals from the third distillation, and it does so in such a way that I think anyone would be able to pick out.
Flavor: Jammy marmalade leads into a beautiful expression of true cinnamon spice. Slightly sweet, but not at all like cinnamon candy. It’s woody, balsamic, and has hints of ginger and a touch of nutmeg. It’s one of the most beautiful cinnamon expressions I’ve tasted in gin.
Later, jammy orange marmalade comes through. Candied, unctuous and delicately sweet it marries with some subtle juniper, cardamom pods and a touch more baking spice.
Finish: Warming with delicate true cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and a hint of clove. In other words, the mind can paint a vivid picture of mulled wine with any spice you might want to use.
Cocktails and suggested serves
I can think of few more appropriate uses for Martin Miller’s Winterful than a Hot Toddy. But beyond that, it’s not a one trick pony. The beautiful bright, true cinnamon flavor makes it ideal for a Martini— though I don’t think anything other than a twist might do. Further, it’s bright and flavorful enough to stand out in a Negroni, though you’ll likely be getting mostly cinnamon as the juniper is somewhat low and quiet.
Try it in a Gin Alexander or other cream cocktails also. This is the right cinnamon to elevate a dessert drink.
Overall, Martin Miller’s Winterful
Cinnamon is a hard botanical to do— many distillers have tried, and quite a few have ended up with the spicy, cinnamon red hot note. However, Martin Miller’s Winterful walks a careful line and in their handling of cinnamon they’ve created a beautiful, woody expression that is nearly without peer in the gin space.
Some might find the source Material a bit shy— it doesn’t read as Martin Miller’s Gin so clearly that you’d recognize it without reading the label. The new botanicals are the stars.
If you can forgive the quiet, almost background treatment of juniper— Martin Miller’s Winterful Gin is a beautiful celebration of its signature botanicals, and an especially fun winter mixing gin.
Recommended.
Awards
