Flavor Profile
Wiggly Bridge Gin begins as the same sour mash base that Wiggly Bridge Distillery uses from their award winning whiskeys. All the spirits are distilled on the father and son distillery’s hand built 60 gallon copper still.
Tasting Notes
At first nose, there’s a lot of licorice and anise at first, but also Wiggly Bridge has a slight underlying note of hay and corn. The licorice nose with grain underneath is extremely similar to some genevers.
Sipped the spirit is a bit thin, it rinses over the palate rather quickly, but it has a pronounced and rather warm, long finish. Botanically, early there’s a hint of licorice. Then Wiggly Bridge Gin shows some piquant juniper, and a mellow bitter orange zest note. Towards the finish, there’s some muskiness, characteristic of angelica. Then a long, warm, slightly peppery and licorice-tinged finish.
Cocktails
Given some of its white whiskey character and powerful botanicals— Wiggly Bridge Gin may be a tough mixer. I suggest looking at cocktails that will play to its aromatic strengths. Try Hemingway’s Death in the Gulfstream or an Improved Gin Cocktail.
While you can mix a Gin and Tonic or Gin Fizz with Wiggly Bridge, the result isn’t quite what you might expect. It’s more of a Holland-style contemporary gin.
But what I really like about Wiggly Bridge Gin is the balance of the flavor and the way it works just on its own. Neat is perhaps the best way to appreciate the balance and flavor that father and son have created.
Overall
Wiggly Bridge Gin is not traditional— but it does exhibit some of the best qualities of gin: balance and remaining true to the style’s origins.
My only critique is that I wonder what this spirit might taste like bottled at 47%. Gins with bases like Wiggly’s tend to have a bit more texture. But overall, this is a small quibble— Wiggly Bridge Gin is a well made and nicely balanced gin that I would recommend to fans of the style.
Recommended in its category.
Made possible through the New England Gin Exchange
Special thanks to John at Foodie Pilgrim. Since 2012, John has shared and sourced gins from New England and nearby that we at The Gin is In haven’t tried yet. This gin sample was shared by John, who is also a big fan of gin. So check out his New England Gin Reviews as well.
Awards
I find it has a musty taste. I agree that it has a thin taste at the beginning—an odd characteristic. I’ll try it again with something to offset that mustiness, but it may just be a gin that doesn’t appeal to me.
My mother and sister procured this gin thinking of supporting the local economy. They are gin drinkers.
They said it was a poor choice; I laughed. Having been a gin drinker most of my life, I must say this is the worst gin flavor profile ever crossing my palette.
The juniper is over the top. There is no good reason to enjoy the back of tongue flavor.
Gordon’s, Seagrams, and the like are superior – even neat.
How could you sell this as liquor with a straight face?
The best I could recommend would be antifreeze in wiper fluid; lawn mower fuel; fire starter; wound cleaning.
I’ve never written anything this negative in the past much less regarding alcohol.