Flavor Profile
The little bottle of Oliver Cromwell 1599 Gin that I had the pleasure of tasting was again thanks to the kindness of the kind gin-loving compatriots over at Summer Fruit Cup.
Aldi has won many awards for their Oliver Cromwell 1599 Gin.
Recognized time and time again, Oliver Cromwell 1599 Gin is an example of how a good price and a product which pulls-no-surprises can beat some of the world’s most notable gins.
Tasting Notes
Aldi is a classic example of a juniper forward classic style gin. It may be classic to a fault, as it is a one note performance. I think there might be some coriander, as there were hints of an underlying spiciness to it. But really, let’s be honest- unless you’re drinking it straight you probably won’t be detecting anything but the juniper.
Cocktails
As for drinking it straight, I’m not sure I can recommend that whole-heartedly. Its a little rough, it lacks the smoothness that I’d expect from a gin which I would work well in a Churchill or similar strength martini.
What it is, and what it excels at is being an inexpensive mixer that brings classic juniper weight to the table but little else. Drop it in any cocktail, and it will do- it will be (for better or worse) undeniably gin.
Overall
A juniper heavy gin that does a lot of things that gin is supposed to do very well. But it comes short in some key areas such as depth, smoothness and balance. That being said, I would not hesitate to buy it for a party.
Having finished my last bottle of 47% Bombay Sapphire (purchased duty free at the airport), I purchased Aldi’s own label gin. At only 37.5% strength, it is one of the cheapest dry London gins available in the UK. Despite the low strength, it is excellent in a G&T – Pronounced taste of juniper, well balanced with hints of other flavours. I am not surprised that it beat premium gins in recent competitions.