Whitley Neill Handcrafted Dry Gin – 70 cl

Whitley Neill Gin is slightly softer and much smoother than traditional gins, with rich notes of juniper and citrus, pot-pourri and exotic spices. The finish is a long one, with a subtle fade of herbs, cocoa and candied lemon peels, while the nose is both citrus-sweet and peppery, with a distinctive floral aroma. This exceptional gin was created by Johnny Neill, a direct descendant of a long line of distillers. Inspired by his family's sense of adventure, Johnny strove to create his own signature blend of gin. The result is a tribute to his English distilling heritage, and a homage to the enigmatic beauty of his wife's African homeland.

Whitley Neill London Dry Gin; a balanced, distinctive gin that blends classic gin botanicals with exotic African botanicals to create a liquid with a flavour as unique as its heritage.

BOTANICALS Juniper, Coriander Seed, Cassia Bark, Orris Root, Angelica Root, Sweet Orange, Lemon, Gooseberry, Baobab

Gunpowder Tea is so called because each tea leaf has been rolled into a small ball, reminiscent of gunpowder. It’s usually made with green tea leaves and it’s that special ingredient that gives Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin its name. But beyond that, Gunpowder Gin is a complex array of botanicals from a number of traditions.

Three kinds of citrus fruit: grapefruit, lemon and makrut lime join the tea and are vapor distilled. The remaining ingredients, including Macedonian juniper, are macerated and distilled in a pot still. There’s the legendary American Jackelope on the bottle; Chinese tea as a signature botanical, but Gunpowder Gin is made in Drumshanbo, Ireland.

Tasting Note:

The nose is light and citrus-forward. The more delicate handling of the citrus ingredients is quite evident here. Fresh lemon zest highlights a subtle herbaceous, sagey juniper with the slightest hint of green tea and meadowsweet.

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin explodes with flavor on the palate. Citrus once again dominates. This time its grapefruit. Juniper and green tea are present mid-palate: the juniper herbaceous and bright, the green tea calling to mind Jasmine green tea, as you might get before sushi at a Japanese restaurant. Towards the end though, it turns sweet and spicy/herbal. Anise and cardamom are subtly and expertly played in here. Meadowsweet, especially late and towards the finish lends its a honeyed, vanilla-like nuance. The combination of botanicals though somewhat eccentric is well balanced. The green tea is at the fore. Gunpowder Gin does justice to its namesake. However, where this really stands out for me is how it balances the botanicals. Enough juniper for classic gin fans, but also heavy on the citrus and herbs, without overpowering each other.

The finish is mildly warming with a pleasant heat.

Find this and more exceptional selections at Kaasak. 

Gordon's gin is triple-distilled and contains juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, licorice, orris root, orange, and lemon peel, though the exact recipe has remained a closely guarded secret since 1769. It differed from others at the time in that it didn't add sugar, which made it a "dry" gin. It takes ten days' distillation after receiving the wheat to create a finished product of a bottle of Gordon's Gin

Terres de Mistral Gin was born from three friends' love of all things Provence. Produced at a family-run distillery in Forcalquiers, they used their wine knowledge to create a beautiful rosy gin. The handcrafted gin is distilled from wine made with Provençal grapes and is then infused with 12 herbs and botanicals.

A wonderfully dry pink gin, and the ornate label doesn't go amiss either.

Tasting Notes: Herbs de Provence (of course), with thyme and rosemary alongside pink grapefruit peel and a touch of mint and aniseed