Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers have recently entered the American market with their line of canned cocktails. Their Black Cherry and Cranberry begins with their Dillon’s Gin— distilled from a base of Ontario Rye using vapor distillation.
Beyond that they add blackberry, lemon, elderflower and soda— it says right on the can “not too sweet.”
Tasting notes
Color: Perfectly clear
Aroma: Citrus and berry forward— I’m getting blueberries, sweet summer cantaloupe with hints of orange and watermelon Jolly Rancher. It’s inviting with an impression that signals sweetness and a touch of candy.
Flavor: The palate is a bit more closely aligned with the name— early hints of currant and blackberry ease into a lemony mid-palate. A bit tart, it reads a bit like candied lemon rind. Moderate sweetness.
Good effervescence, though largely concentrated up front. It dissipates somewhat quickly.
Finish: Hint of watermelon candy— mostly the tartness and flavor, not so much the sweetness.
Overall, Dillon’s Blackberry, Lemon and Dash of Elderflower Cocktail
I enjoy the Dillon’s line of cocktails as flavorful, spirit based cocktails in the spirit of gin and soda or a vodka and soda. But having tried eight of them— including four of their vodka canned cocktails— and the thing that disappoints me is that the gin doesn’t stand out in the gin versions. I’d love more gin, or some concentrated juniper flavors so that it read more as a gin drink.
I’m left looking for the gin. Which is disappointing because Dillon’s makes good gin.
Overall, Dillon’s Blackberry, Lemon and Dash of Elderflower Cocktail is a flavorful drink that is easy to enjoy but ultimately needs more gin flavor to differentiate itself.