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As That Boutique-y Gin Company releases some of their gins in multiple batches, we occasionally will review the same gin twice. Check out our review of Batch 2.
Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin hails from That Boutique-y Gin Company’s line of one-off and limited-edition gins. David T. Smith (author and writer for Summer Fruit Cup) describes its origin: “During the second Golden Age of the cocktail ,liqueurs and cordials were all the rage, as were fruit gins […] That Boutique-y Gin Company have resurrected one of the fruit gins and given it a 21st century twist.” [source]
This gin is a standard distilled classic-style dry gin. Then pineapples, which have been peeled, covered in sugar, are then roasted over a flame until the sugar and natural pineapple sugars have caramelized. The two are combined. Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin is sweetened and has an unusual deep golden hue to it.
At first look, That Boutique-y Gin Company Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin reminds me of Seagram’s Pineapple Twisted Gin. Well at least in concept. The latter is flavored with artificial pineapple flavor. The former uses the real fruit. Both are sweetened. But you’ll notice a huge difference in ABV. Although is a sweetened, flavored gin it’s still over 40% ABV. Seagram’s Pineapple is only 35% and many other cordial and sloe gins are south of 30%.
Tasting Notes
The nose is viscerally pineapple-esque. It smells like the syrup at the bottom of a jar of canned pineapple.
The palate is far more complex. The spirit is thick and sweet, especially as it enters the mouth. But Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin has notes of grilled peach, citrus and a hint of spice.
It’s mildly sweet but somewhat drier than expected on the finish. It holds back, and it allows you to appreciate some notes of juniper and baking spice notes, like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin is dangerously quaffable. The viscosity reminds me of lower proof spirits. The thickness and heavy body suggest a cordial. But this is as strong as a standard gin. At 40.1%, it has the strength of the spirit. I found myself downing this easily. Of course, that’s a testament to the lovely flavor of this Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin. But it’s also a warning. You could easily end up toppled and have to tell your friends, “I swear it was a pineapple gin!”*
Cocktails
A solid pineapple gin like this one opens up a whole world of unusual cocktail choices. First, let me start with the opposite. It’s a bit too sweet in a Gin and Tonic, unless you can find a stark, lightly sweetened tonic water. Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin is designed for cocktails. I didn’t have enough of a sample to make it, but I think a Ramos Gin Fizz with this gin would be unusual and amazing.
Try making a variation of the Royal Hawaiian [source: Imbibe]. I suggest replacing the gin and pineapple juice in the recipe with 2 oz. Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin and keeping the other ingredients the same*. My other suggestion would be the Pineapple Gin Daiquari [recipe: via David T. Smith] The Rhum Agricole brings a pleasant tiki-like funk to the drink.
Bartenders with ambitious tiki programs would likely find That Boutique-y Gin Company Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin a welcome addition to their bar program. It has some potential for creative mixing. Home drinkers should know whether or not they like pineapple: if yes, you want to try this.
Overall
This pineapple gin is a lovely revival of a lost style that the gin community didn’t know it needed.
*Always drink responsibly, please.
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