Redsmith Distillery (Nottingham) Gin Tasting Notes

Redsmith London Dry Gin 43%

Batch 57

9 Botanicals including: Juniper, sweet orange, coriander, cassia bark and cinnamon

Tasted: Mar 2018

The nose is soft and slightly starchy with smoky juniper, lemon and sweet orange. There’s a subtle note of coriander and liquorice root, along with a slight tea leaf note.

The palate is slightly starchy with sweeter juniper, lemon, orange and coriander. Very bold and flavourful with a long, slightly bitter spice finish with peppercorn and lingering juniper. I have to say it’s a very impressive finish!

Harrogate Distillery Company Tasting Notes

Whitakers ‘The Original’ London Dry Gin 42%

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, angelic root, hawthorn berries, bilberries, bog myrtle, garden thyme and lemon.

Tasted: Mar 2018

The nose is quite pungent and slightly oily and earthy with a wild, undergrowthy-like character. The botanicals are pleasantly intense with bog myrtle, lime, juniper, thyme and coriander coming through, all balanced by the subtle berry sweetness.

The palate is not as oily as the nose suggests and thus feels crisper, but still full of character. Undergrowthy bog myrtle, juniper and coriander mingles with a slight woody bitterness. Lovely intensity and length with a fresh juniper finish and spicy after-taste.

Whitakers ‘Navy Strength’ London Dry Gin 57%

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, angelic root, hawthorn berries, bilberries, bog myrtle, garden thyme and lemon.

Tasted: Mar 2018

Quite smoky and oily on the nose with plenty of earthy juniper and more of the coriander. The bog myrtle and thyme notes are present but sit in background. With time the lemon emerges.

Intense and powerful on the palate with a lovely combination of earthy and sweet juniper. Like the nose suggests the coriander is very noticeable, but it doesn’t overwhelm the berry bog myrtle and thyme. Long with a very lemony and juniper finish.

Whitakers ‘Pink Particular’ London Dry Gin 42%

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, angelic root, pink peppercorns, pink hibiscus, cardamom and lemon.

Tasted: Mar 2018

The nose is slightly smoky and peppery with very subtle juniper and loads of sweet hibiscus. Hints of spice and earth.

The palate is crisper and fresher with more juniper noticeable. There’s a touch of pink peppercorn, which starts to bitter a little but the lemon offsets. and the juniper returns on the middle. Long and peppery with a slightly bitter bite at the end.

Whitakers ‘Clearly Sloe’ 42%

Sloes are soaked in the Original gin for no less than 6 months, then laced with liquorice for 24 hours and re-distilled, resulting in a clear sloe gin!

Tasted: Mar 2018

Earthy marzipan on the nose with hints of slightly bitter sloe. The liquorice is quite prominent, but there is a very slight soapiness to the spirit.

The palate is smooth and opens with some slightly sweet sloe and marzipan notes. Very herbal on the middle with the thyme juniper and liquorice jostling for attention! Again there is soapiness but the finish is long with lingering liquorice and berries. Quite smoky after-taste.

Cheshire Distilleries Tasting Notes

Cheshire Grins Gin 40%

3 times distilled by Cheshire Distilleries Ltd from bought in grain spirit.

Botanicals: Juniper, Cheshire blueberry, cucumber, sweet orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, orris and lemon.

Tasted: Mar 2018

The nose kicks off with fresh juniper and a touch of barley-like spirit character. Very harmonious with slightly earthy berry, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon and sweet orange peel.

 

The palate opens like the nose with the fresh but sweet-ish juniper and softly bitter spice notes. Powerful but rounded with hints of berry, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon. Long with the barley spirit lingering.

Manchester Three Rivers Tasting Notes

Three Rivers Gin 40%

Botanicals: Juniper, oats, orris, coriander, almond, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, orange peel and black pepper.

Tasted: Feb 2018

The nose is full and creamy with oats and vanilla. Slightly earthy and smoky juniper follows, along with a slight perfumed citrus and cardamom.

Like the nose, the palate is full and creamy with oats and vanilla to begin with. Subtly spiced with coriander and cinnamon coming through on the middle. Good length with a cardamom, orange and black pepper finish. Lovely progression.

The English Drinks Company Tasting Notes

The English Drinks Company Cucumber Gin 40%

Distilled at Langley’s in Birmingham

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander seed, orange peel, angelica root, cassia bark, orris root, lemon peel, liquorice root, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Tasted: Jan 2018

The cucumber is very noticeable on the nose (which is good I suppose!) However it doesn’t dominate and hints of juniper, cassia, sweet lemon and coriander can be detected.

The palate opens with a pleasant combination of sweet and spritzy lemon with cucumber and juniper. Very lemony on the middle with a touch of cassia and coriander. Long and remaining fresh and citric.

The English Drinks Company Pink Gin 40%

Botanicals: Pomegranate, chinchona bark, juniper, coriander seed, orange peel, angelica root, cassia bark, orris root, lemon peel, liquorice root, nutmeg and cinnamon

Tasted: Jan 2018

A pleasant, fresh and citric nose with slightly sweet juniper and hints of berry and pomegranate fruit, , rose petal and pink grapefruit-like notes.

The palate is like the nose, fresh and citric with juniper, pomegranate, cassia bark, rose petal and dusty spice. Good intensity and sweet/ sour balance. Long, slightly peppery spice finish.

Lincoln Imp Sprits Company Tasting Notes

Dam Raider Gin 40%

Botanicals: juniper, angelica root, coriander, lemon peel. liquorice bark, orange peel and orris.

Tasted: Jan 2018

A heavy, oily nose with subtle juniper, citrus and earthy notes. There’s an almost cardamom-like note and a good degree of wheaty spirit.

The palate is quite oily and wheaty with plenty of sweet, spirit character. Hints of juniper, orange, earth, coriander and barky spices follow. Long, slightly bitter finish with lingering spice.

Blackdown Distillery Tasting Notes

One Gin 43%

Distilled at Blackdown distillery, Sussex for Global Ethics Ltd/ The One Foundation.

Distilled in two batches: Batch 1: In a London dry style, using angelica, cassia, sweet and bitter orange, coriander seed, juniper, orris, lemon, liquorice and nutmeg.

Batch 2: Purely with sage.

Tasted: Oct 2017

The nose is fairly juniper heavy with sweet orange, sage, earthy coriander and liquorice root. Pleasantly balanced, quite full but fresh too.

The palate is subtler, opening with the oily spirit and hints of sage, nutmeg and coriander. The juniper is a little hidden and a touch bitter on the middle. Good length, continuing oily with a slight pepperiness and lingering liquorice root. Although the nose has more botanical intensity, the palate sort of grows on you.

Bottomley Distillers Tasting Notes

Pin Gin 40%

10 botanicals including: Juniper, Liquorice, Rose, Black Peppercorns, Lavender, Cucumber, Lemon and Orange Peel and Ground Almonds.

Tasted: Aug 2017

A good balanced nose of juniper, crisp lemon, almonds and oily, almost wheaty spirit notes. With time the rose and black pepper notes appear.

The palate is quite oily and nutty with subtle notes of juniper, pepper and sweet spirit. Rounded and mouth-filling with a balancing citrus character. Long and spicy with hints of cucumber and lavender in the after-taste.

 

T.E.A Tasting Notes

TEA Jasmine Gin 42%

The base spirit is made from East Anglian sugar beet by the English Distillery Company. The botanicals are macerated in the spirit before being re-distilled. Also some of the Earl Grey tea is vapour infused as well. Botanicals include: Jasmine Silver Tip Tea, English Rose Petal, Bay Leaf, Seville Orange Zest, Juniper and Coriander.

Tasted: Feb 2016

A lovely, pungent nose of slightly oily spirit character. Quite natural, creamy and earthy with subtle juniper, jasmine, coriander and orange.

The palate is soft and oily, opening with un-sweetened rose petals, jasmine and hints of juniper, earth and bay leaf. Wonderfully herbaceous with an almost minty freshness on the middle. Lovely balance and a long jasmine finish.

TEA Earl Grey Gin 42%

Botanicals include: Earl Grey Tea, Natural Bergamot Oil, English Rose Petal, Bay Leaf, Seville Orange Zest, Juniper and Coriander.

Tasted: Feb 2016

Pungent and oily with plenty of earthy spirit character. The bergamot and Earl Grey notes are quite subtle and delicate with a touch of orange and coriander coming through.

Soft and oily with plenty of bergamot to begin with. Gently sweet but earthy with bay leaf and coriander. The rose petal notes come through quite strongly on the middle and linger along with a touch of sweet-ish orange on the finish.

Abelforth’s Tasting Notes

Abelforth’s Bathtub Gin 43.3%

Re-Tasted: Mar 2017

Subtle but pungent aromas of juniper. Subtly smoky with hints of cinnamon, cardamom and clove. Good balance and intensity.

The palate is not as sweet as previous bottling and shows a more crisp, fresher character. Quite citric with sweet juniper, cinnamon and lightly bitter cardamom. Good length with the sweet juniper lingering.

Abelforth’s Bathtub Gin – Old Tom 42.4%

Sweetened post distillation with cane sugar

Tasted: Mar 2017

A big, mentholated juniper nose with a subtle sweetness. Lightly creamy and rounded with a touch of citrus.

The palate is powerful and sweeter than the nose suggests. Lightly smoked juniper, menthol and subtle spice follow. Lightly herbal with a pleasant spicy grip in the finish.

Abelforth’s Bathtub Gin – Sloe Gin 33.8%

Almost half a pound of the finest Sloes are used to produce every bottle of this cold-compounded Sloe Gin.

Tasted: Mar 2017

A huge hit of marzipan and almond on the nose with berries in syrup. Rich, sweet and almost liqueur-like. I suppose you can’t complain that it’s not expressive!

The palate shows more of the bitter/ sweet sloe character with subtler marzipan notes. Better balanced with hints of herbs, spice and juniper. Long with a pure berry sweetness and lingering marzipan. 

Abelforth’s Cask Aged Bathtub Gin 43.3%

Aged in first fill American oak oactave casks for 3 months, then a further 6 months in refilled casks

Botanicals: juniper, orange peel, coriander, cinnamon, clove and cardamom

Tasted: Dec 2016

Nose: Plenty of toasty oak and burnt wood. Very subtle juniper plus hints of lime. Quite smoky with time and develops warm cinnamon and white pepper.

Palate: Quite sweet with oak and juniper but some balancing crisp lime on the middle. Lightly mentholated herbal notes appear with time.

Finish: A little hot, citric and bitter.

Conclusion: Great nose, slightly disappointing palate and I’m not a fan of that finish!

Abelforth’s Bathtub Gin – Cask Aged 43.3%

Aged in ex-Few Spirits American oak first fill Octave casks for 3 months, then six months in second fill.

Re-Tasted: Mar 2017

The nose opens with no shortage of sweet vanilla, but the pungent juniper character stands up to it well. Pungent, expressive with a subtle mentholated note.

The palate is elegant and displays more juniper. The smoky vanilla oak is subtler, but still noticeable. Hints of orange rind, herbs and lightly bitter cardamom come though. Medium length with a bitter spice and oak finish. 

Abelforth’s Cask Aged Bathtub Gin, Navy Strength 57%

Tasted: Dec 2016

Nose: Mint, juniper and saffron? Along with hints of cinnamon, coriander seed and subtle vanilla oak. Slightly mentholated an toasty with developing granulated sugar and pepper.

Palate: Pleasantly soft with juniper, pepper, coriander seed and well integrated oak.

Finish: Medicinal and peppery with an almost savour character.

Conclusion: Dangerously easy to drink neat!

Abelforth’s Bathtub Gin – Cask Aged, Navy Strength 57%

Re-Tasted: Mar 2017

Powerful, smoky oak and smoky juniper aromas. Everything seems amplifies, the citrus, the spice, the juniper and the oak. The oak, however displays less of the vanilla character of the standard bottling and more of the oak char.

The palate shows more sweet vanilla along with the charred oak. There’s also with plenty of mentholated herbs, juniper and spice. A gentle sweetness balances the bitter spice on the finish.