Botanery Barn Distilling designs their spirits through the lens of ethnobotanical traditions, such as spiritual, medicinal, and regional culinary cultures. Revivalist Garden Gin works with a narrowly focused group of botanicals and is built upon a base of French wheat spirit.
Let’s talk about some of the unusual botanicals that Revivalist Garden Gin features. Hemp nuts (or hemp seed, as it is more commonly referred to) were common ingredients in Asian medical traditions. They are also rich in nutrients and have been eaten for millennia. Hemp is not the same as marijuana, which contains THC and psychoactive properties; however, American prohibition did not make this distinction. Fortunately, we’ve moved past that, and hemp seeds can once again be used in gins like this.
If you’ve had any “functional” beverages, you’ve probably encountered Ashwagandha root. Prominent in Ayurveda and Indian medical traditions, it has gained popularity in recent years for its anti-stress, anti-anxiety, and purported cognitive-enhancing properties.
The Revivalist tells a story through these botanicals—along with a couple of other ingredients, such as lemon verbena, roses, and plums.
Tasting notes
Aroma: Soft and green, with hints of leafy verbena imparting a gentle, slightly citrus note. I detect aloe, a hint of dry apple, and rose—the rose seemingly blossoming further as it sits.
While I would say it’s on the lighter side, it is confident and clear.
Flavor: Revivalist Garden Gin is soft on the palate, but with a long, evolving flavor. The botanicals remain at a lower volume than many modern-era gins, but the tenacity and length of the flavor are worth noting.
Early, soft juniper with a slight citrus lift is accompanied by notes of black peppercorn, crisp apple, and rose. Mid-palate, some of that earthy spice recedes, revealing a hint of licorice root and honeydew. Piney juniper joins alongside the rose hips here—I detect a certain deep, oily pine note as well as a light Douglas fir needle note. A trace of citrus, while not listed in the botanical bill, is present in the background—a subtle hint of orange and limonene provides balance.
Finish: Quite long, with a lasting crispness. Hints of honeydew linger alongside a bright note of pine needle and juniper. It’s never hot—the mouthfeel and softness stand out as one of this gin’s best qualities.
Cocktails and suggested serves
One consideration for bartenders working with The Revivalist Garden Gin is that it can be overpowered. I found it to be a subtle but delicious ingredient in a Negroni. Some of the more delicate botanicals may fade, but the juniper and rose still come through beautifully.
One of my favorite drinks with this gin was the Martini. It is soft and complex, and its refined botanical bill leaves space for a high-quality vermouth to shine.
Because of its confident yet understated profile, I find this gin works best in a gin and soda or a gin and tonic (with less sweetening). Anything heavier, such as lemonade or cola, might overpower it.
Overall, The Revivalist Garden Gin
Confidence can be, and sometimes is, quiet. Revivalist Garden Gin takes some less common ingredients and combines them to create a gin that is both familiar and unusual. The surprising hints of citrus throughout lend a welcome balance to the earthiness, pine, and floral flavors.
Fans of contemporary-style gins will find much to like about Revivalist Garden Gin. At the same time, the strong juniper presence is likely to please fans of classic-style gins as well.
Overall, this is a beautiful and distinctive gin with wide appeal—both at home and behind the bar.
Recommended.