Flavor Profile
Seville Orange photo from K.B.R. on Flickr.
Not just any orange gin, the Seville Orange is worth a closer look as its not the orange you’re probably thinking of. But this kind of orange often does appear in gin.
Let’s begin: there’s a large class of oranges known as “bitter oranges.” These include the Chinotto [yes, the beverage], the Bergamot, and a famous variety known by its hybrid name which is also the signature orange/citrus flavor of Grand Marnier. The Seville Orange is one of these.
Known for their excellent quality essential oils, these oranges are often used for perfumery, spirits, and marmalade. Proper marmalade isn’t made from sweet oranges, the kind you get on the Florida freeway, but instead these bitter, small, fruits. Their cultivation history is quite long and they’ve actually been an important part of herbal/traditional medicines. Native to Asia, varieties of bitter orange were growing in mainland Europe as early as the 11th and 12th centuries. While its advised that users don’t consume wild oranges in large amounts because of health risks, this medical heritage is the reason why they’ve made their way around the world and a big part of why the sat alongside gin in apothecary shops and followed gin out from behind the counter into mainstream consumption.
The Seville Orange is a specific cultivar grown in Seville, but whose chief use is primarily marmalade and large numbers of the fruit are exported to Britain every year.
Williams Chase Seville Orange Gin is an ode to the journey and the very British fascination with this particular variety of bitter orange. Made on a base of their potato vodka, it is also based on their gin which includes juniper, orange, licorice, elderflower and almond in addition to the bitter orange added via infusion.
Tasting Notes
The nose of Williams Chase Seville Orange Gin bright and quite citrusy, but with lemon zest, hints of sweet lime, and some juniper notes in the background. Its incredibly citrus forward on the nose. Truth in advertising here.
The palate is much drier than you might expect from a citrus gin. Fruity/floral at first, there is certainly notes of marmalade, but also a pleasant juniper spice in the background. The citrus oeuvre fades towards the finish where you’ll get notes of coriander, bitter orange zest, and a faint backing of licorice/anise type notes.
The finish of Williams Chase Seville Orange Gin is very warm, with a long dry finish that’s really squarely in line with a good classic gin. The citrus notes are loud at the fore, while Chase Distillery is confident enough into their gin to let it still carry the overall missive.
Though orange gins are sadly out of vogue these days, citrus flavored gins are certainly all the rage. Fans of Bluecoat ([icon name=”star” class=”” unprefixed_class=””][icon name=”star” class=”” unprefixed_class=””][icon name=”star” class=”” unprefixed_class=””]) will likely find this to be right up their alley.
Cocktails
Overall, I quite like it and think Williams Chase Seville Orange Gin has a ton of merit on its own or neat. If I had to put my stake in the ground, I’d say this spirit excels in any citrus lined gin cocktail [ho! that’s like what, all of them?]. Make a Gimlet, Tom Collins, or Bees Knees and the bitter orange notes absolutely dial up the citrus and add some darker hues. The drinks feel fuller and more robust. I love them. But I have to say, my pick might be the Martini. Done with a touch less Dry Vermouth than usual [Blaspheme! 8:1 in this case], it really allows the bitter citrus to take over and add that Vermouth-like kick. Excellent product, and highly recommended. It is what it is, and it is… really good.
Overall
Williams Chase Seville Orange Gin is a stellar flavored gin that takes the traditional British marmalade orange and puts it at the center of something which relies on an excellent gin just as much as it does what is infused. Fans of classic style gins will find this to be an excellent flavored gin: a really classic background profile buoys the orange here. Fans of citrus forward contemporary style gins are going to find a new best friend. This is an excellent gin: whether it needs to say the word flavored or not is another story altogether. But it’s a great citrus forward gin. We’re quite a fan of it.
Awards
Aaron,
Sometimes we might occasionally disagree with findings on a given Gin but this is one where I can see we are both in clear accord. What a fantastic orange forward Gin, even traditionalists should like this and while I liked it in a range of different drinks, like you, it stood proudest of all in a Martini. Shame it can be difficult to source outside of the UK but it seems Williams Chase are keen to get their products to the US and other countries too, so let’s hope we see it filter through in the months ahead.
Yet another great review…keep it up please as I find myself wondering what Gin will appear next on your amazing site.
Regards, David.
We have an abundance of Seville oranges and only make Marmalade. I was very interested to read all the information available on these oranges. Can be poisonous……oh! My Marmalade is quite sort after as it’s made with a deal of care, no pith, very finely shredded skin, no centre core or pips. We are in Australia in a relatively hot summer and cold winter area known as the Southwest Slopes of New South Wales.