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 strawberry, rhubarb, lime and soda— it says right on the can “not too sweet.”
Tasting notes
Color: Perfectly clear
Aroma: Strawberry leaps forward from the cup when poured, with a hint of kiwi and lemon. It has a sweet nose, but it’s not necessarily candied— it reminds me of a strawberry compote.
Flavor: It builds somewhat quietly at first— before culminating in a strawberry peak at the end.
Medium, tight fizz, largely concentrated up front. Notes of citrus skittles— especially lemon and lime. Some tart rhubarb begins to come on a bit more mid-palate. Strawberry begins to build from here, with the tartness manifesting with a hint of cranberry and blackberry.
Moderate to high level of sweetness.
Finish: This cocktail is peak summer in a can. While the sweetness is moderate to high on the mid-palate, the finish doesn’t leave the palate coated in sweetness. It’s mild, lasting with a hint of those sugared strawberries. Here is also the only point where I can taste that this might be a gin drink, in the moment between the crescendo of sweetness and the note of berry on the finish— there’s a touch of indistinct gin. Not enough to pick out any specific notes, but it’s there.
What I think I’m missing? Some of the gin that this drink is built on.
Overall, Dillon’s Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Cocktail
I really enjoy the gin that Dillon’s produces. Which makes it even more of a shame that nearly none of it comes through in here, outside of the finish.
Let’s talk about what’s in the glass— it’s a delicious 5% ABV drink. The strawberry walks the line and comes out on the side of real and sugared.
However, I’d love some more juniper, or anything more from the gin to come through early or on the mid-palate.
Fans of gin RTDs will probably be left looking for the gin.
But to others just looking for a pleasant, sweet, and summery RTD— this is worth seeking out. I’m left wondering if this was canned at 8% instead of 5%— or if the source gin was even more concentrated, so that it brought more gin flavor at the 5% ABV— this might be even more successful. It’s a great starting point that just needs some more juniper.