Cocktails with… Dodd’s Gin – Distilled in London

A little while back I review the London Distillery Company’s Testbed Gin selection and I also mentioned my visit there for the WSET’s Gin Ramble. SO it was with anticipation that I tried their first flagship products, Dodd’s Gin.

But who was Dodd?

Ralph Dodd is described as a serial entrepreneur, but, more importantly, he was the founder of the Intended London Distillery Company in 1807, whose aim was to “manufacture Genuine British Spirits and Compounds”. Although many preparations were made for the business, no distillation took place and, by 1812, the company had been disbanded. That was, until 2011, when Darren Rook resurrected the company at its new home in Battersea.

At least three of the botanicals being used are unique, to my knowledge at the time of writing* (I have a record of the botanical make-up of about 200 gins), which is very exciting. That said, they don’t stand out as gimmicks; they all make perfect sense.

I quizzed distiller, Andrew MacLeod Smith, about his use of cardamom and he said that he simply likes the taste of green cardamom (I, too, am particularly fond of the flavour) and that the black cardamom seeds add a menthol note. I can also confirm this, having tried a black cardamom distillate from Sacred’s Ian Hart on the Gin Ramble back in February. The London honey comes from bees kept in the city and is added to the pot pre-distillation to primarily enhance the mouthfeel of the spirit.

The Taste

Own

Nose: Some interesting salty notes meet my nose to start, as well as some smoky elements, making this particularly unusual. There are some green cardamom notes, too.

Taste: This is a good, smooth spirit with plenty of spice, with the green cardamom in the middle and the menthol of the black cardamom towards the end, which is mixed with dry, piney juniper and a spiciness reminiscent of freshly cracked black pepper. This is a spicy and savoury gin and is, truly, something very different; no-one is doing anything like this in London or even the UK.

On a second sip, more of the classic gin notes emerge, with coriander and citrus upfront. I also note that the spirit is 49.9% ABV and, although the flavours are strong and bold (carried by the higher proof), the texture is smooth until the spicy finish. This is potentially due to the impact of the London honey.

I can see how this gin builds upon the work of the Testbed range and it truly is a Anglo-American or Trans-atlantic/Cary Grant Gin**, starting off classic in flavour and becoming contemporary.

Gin & Tonic

Just superb; very fruity, with some jammy berry notes. It’s exceptionally smooth, with a little creamy sweetness in the middle that then gives way to some spice from the cardamom, as well as a leafy note. Some coriander is in there, too, all concluded with a dry, juniper finish. All in all, this is a complex and engrossing drink and a spin on the classic flavour profile of a Gin & Tonic, whilst remaining wonderfully accessible.

Martini

Sweet and spicy with a real pow of flavour thanks to the high ABV. Very smooth nevertheless with an exceptionally balance, I’d suggest no garnish for this so that you can really enjoy the full impact of the flavours.

Negroni

A good Negroni, with lots of bitterness and deep spice notes, as well as some hints of cocoa and coffee. As such, describing it as dark and intense seems fitting. A long juniper finish is paired with an earthy bitterness. Drinking this, you sit up and take notice; but, at the same time, there is a nonchalance to the drink, which makes it a bit of an enigma!

In Conclusion

Dodd’s really is something different and I’m sure it will appeal to the palate of both traditionalist and revolutionaries of the gin world; if you like cardamom, you will love this. We’ve had a bit of a wait to finally get to try Dodd’s, but, boy, was it worth it.

* A few gin distillers add honey after distillation, but not before like Dodd’s.

** A mix between Classic (UK) and contemporary (US) styles of gin – named after the British-American hybrid accent of actors of the golden era of Hollywood such as Cary Grant.

Cocktails with.. Dà Mhìle

Craft Gin is booming; since my return from Colorado, I have discovered three new craft distilleries! Today’s is one such distiller. Dà Mhìle (pronounced da-vee-lay) is based in Ceredigion in West Wales. Fans of Scotch whisky may recognise the name as that of an organic blended Scotch whisky, which the company has been selling for some time, but, now, they have their own distillery in which to make their products: both a whisky and an organic gin, which is what I’m looking at today.

Dà Mhìle Farmhouse Botanical Gin is bottled at 42% ABV and uses 100% organic ingredients. It is made using a mix of 20 botanicals, from familiar favourites juniper and coriander to five botanicals grown on their farm: elderflower, red and white clover, gorse and chamomile.

The Taste

On its own

Nose: Green juniper, followed by a burst of herbal spice notes, including cardamom and sage. Then some coriander and, finally, fennel.

Taste: Plenty of coriander up front, along with some other citrus. This then moves onto some sweet spices, such as fennel and star anise, and finishes up with the dry juniper. After the citrus-heavy start, this is a herbal and piney gin with forest-like qualities.

Gin & Tonic

Very spicy and leafy, with some menthol elements, too. Nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom stand out, as well as a hint of cedar. Some fruitiness accompanies the spice, making this exceptionally easy to drink. Very good, indeed.

Martini

Notes of coriander and ginger make this cocktail warming, intense and spicy, with a long finish. This really highlights the potential of the gin in savoury cocktails; something different and rather delicious. The finish lingers for a good while, which leaves you wanting another as soon as your glass is empty.

Negroni

Simply lovely; lots of spice: ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, with a gingerbread sweetness, followed by a good bitterness. Complex and tasty.

Gin Collins

This drink really brings out some different notes of the gin with the citrus/coriander dialled back a bit and the all-spice/pimento notes coming to the fore. some of these herbal notes remind me of The Botanist; which shares quite a few botanicals with Dà Mhìle. It is important for a Collins to be refreshing and this certainly is.

Sweet Martini

The citrus and herbal notes of the gin work well with the red vermouth making this a flavoursome drink which is very raising to the appetite.

In Conclusion

I’m quite fond of Dà Mhìle and it’s bold flavours and that is aside from the fact that the whole gin is distilled in Wales and it is Organic (to the EU standard,which is more stringent than the USA standard). Before Dà Mhìle the only UK 100% organic gin was Juniper Green Gin which is nice enough but, unlike Dà Mhìle, lacks a certain wow factor.

Martini and Gin Collins were my cocktail highlights.

Cocktails with… Courvoisier VSOP

Back in August of last year, I experienced my first Cognac tasting. Today, I want to take a look at Courvoisier VSOP. This is the next step up from their VS, which I tried last time, and is a blend of Cognacs between four and ten years old. In addition, the term “Fine Champagne” on the bottle indicates that at least half of the crus used to make it are from the Grande Champagne region specifically.

The label is decked out in a rather fine, decadent blue, and may be familiar to some as the bottle proudly presented on the desk of Ralph Fiennes’ character, Mallory, in the latest James Bond film, Skyfall. He and M discuss weighty matters over a glass; and, given how much I enjoyed M’s whisky choices from that film, I’m looking forward to trying this.

On its own
Nose: Vibrant, sharp grape to start, like a very good, dry sherry, but, after a while, this softens. Additional notes of caramelised apple, like a sticky, freshly-made toffee apple, then come into play.
Taste: Smooth, but full of flavour, with dry grape at the start quickly opening up with lots of lighter floral notes, reminding me of summer days in the garden; hints of rose, with a slight leafiness and the subtle sweetness of apricot jam. A light finish of white wine, dried apricots and vanilla. A light, pleasant warmth on the finish.

Sidecar
Rich and complex start, with lots of apricot and white grape, but mixed in with a richness that you’d get from red grape,  raspberries and blackberries. A more complex, warming finish, with vanilla, oak and a fresh note of sherbety lemon that lifts the drink.

Sazerac
Lovely, inescapable sweet anise notes on the nose. Pleasantly not too sweet to taste, though, with a far more subtle note of soft liquorice to start, followed by a measured, but surprisingly flavourful interplay between the notes of the anise and rich, sweet fruit. Quite short overall, but an intense drink; perfect for mid-evening.

In Conclusion
Without a doubt, Courvoisier VSOP is currently my favourite Cognac. I love the combination of the subtlety of the start and the rich, but measured fruit notes afterwards (especially the apricot on the finish – lovely!). I  was also impressed at how it worked in cocktails, in particular the Sazerac. I think my favourite way to drink it is on it’s own, though; this may just be the Cognac that persuades me to drink it on a regular basis!
- Mrs. B.

Cocktails with.. Greyling Gin

I like gin from Michigan; mostly because I’ve never had a bad one and so, now, whenever I see a mention of the Great Lakes state on a bottle, as  with Two Bird Artisan Spirit’s Greyling Gin, my expectations are raised.

That said, I soon discovered that this particular gin is currently being made by experienced distillers Yahara Bay in Madison, Wisconsin. They also make Yahara Bay Gin and used to make Death’s Door. I’m sure that, if all goes well, like with Death’s Door, Greyling may fly the roost and set up shop on their own.

For clarity’s sake, I think that it’s great that there is such a range of variety options for people who want to make good quality gin. The tens of thousands of dollars (or pounds) of investment, not to mention the time, needed makes making spirits from scratch out of the reach of many individuals. As always, the most important point is that you design/produce a product that tastes great.

Greyling Modern Dry Gin c/o TheGinIsIn.com

The Taste

On its own
Nose: Classic and straightforward: bright, green, sappy juniper to start, which then softens to a less sharp citrus – lemon and grapefruit mainly, with a hint of lemon pith in particular.
Taste: Pretty classic, rather vibrant, some spicy coriander notes upfront as well as anise or maybe fennel. A citrus (grapefruit, orange) and coriander middle and the a dry juniper finish. Some sweetness throughout almost reminiscent of a fine orange liqueur. Most sippable.

Gin & Tonic
Greyling makes a crisp, citrusy and flavourful Gin & Tonic. There’s also a little vanilla, combined with notes of lemon curd, as well as some dry pine. Overall, this is a very accessible and tasty drink and exceptionally refreshing.

Martini
Great – another clean and crisp drink, with clean, pine-y juniper followed by some lovely rounded-out notes of sweet rose, somewhat reminiscent of Turkish Delight. Classic, but with a twist – very good, indeed. This cocktail also has a lovely texture and is something that I would happily drink again.

Negroni
A fine Negroni if ever there was one; a great bitter-sweet balance and quite a thick texture, as well as juniper and citrus notes. Nothing outrageous or out-of-the-box; just a good, solid drink.

 

Greyling Gin is available for around $28  for 750ml from InternetWines.com

Cocktails with.. Hunters Cheshire Gin

I think that rumours that the gin boom has ended are something of an over-exaggeration. It has yet to “jump the shark”, or so to speak; in fact, as far as I can tell, there have been more gins launched in the first months of 2013 than in any other period that I can recall; definitely during the last five years that I have been following and commentating on the industry, at least.

These new gins come from a mixture of new distilleries and the big three, third-party distillers in the UK: Thames, Greenalls and Langley. It is the last distillery (run by Alcohols Ltd.) that today’s feature gin hails from.

Bottled at 43.3% ABV, Hunters Cheshire Gin was the brainchild of drinks industry veterans Jon Jones and Ian Cass and is made using the London Dry Gin method, although, notably, this term does not make an appearance on the bottle  actually the term is on the back of the bottle. The botanical mix includes: juniper, coriander, orange and lemon.

On its own
Nose: Very classic, with plenty of juniper, followed by some angelica and citrus. Bold and sprightly.
Taste: Very smooth, with a little sweetness and some bold flavours: plenty of juniper, angelica and some floral notes such as orris. These are followed by some fruity citrus notes and a long, crisp finish that’s slightly reminiscent of freshly cut apple. Bold and fresh.

Gin & Tonic
Classic and so crisp; lots of fresh and zesty citrus, but still the bold and traditional juniper and angelica flavours, too. This Gin & Tonic is particularly easy to drink and accessible – a drink that will pretty much please anyone. Lovely.

Martini
Greta another classic, works well with the vermouth; coriander and the dry juniper as well as sweet zesty citrus which gives the drink a  lovely crisp edge. A good standard.

Negroni
Hunters makes a classic version of the drink that’s exceptionally smooth, with a good balance between sweet/bitter and dry. The citrus notes of the gin also complement the other notes in the drink nicely. Very good, indeed.

In Conclusion

I’m very impressed with Hunters Gin; I like its bold and crisp flavour, which makes it a little more citrusy then many classic gins, although it is not as far out as, say, the Philadelphian Bluecoat (which I also rather like). This is also a really great Gin & Tonic gin, even with a simple tonic like Schweppes; this was easily my favourite way to enjoy Hunters.

Hunter’s Premium Cheshire Gin is available for around £30 for 70cl from Master of Malt.

Follow Hunters Gin and SummerFruitCup on Twitter

Cocktails with The new Pimm’s – Blackberry & Elderflower

Hot on the trails of two new releases from their established gin brands, with the resurrection of Tanqueray Malacca and innovation of Gordon’s Crisp Cucumber, Diageo have breathed new life into another one of their classic brands: Blackberry & Elderflower Pimm’s.

This is based on Pimm’s No:6 Vodka Cup with additional flavours of blackberry and elderflower. These flavours make it somewhat reminiscent of the limited edition Chase Fruit Cup, released last year.

Pimm’s is well-known for having a history of a variety of products made with different bases (No.’s 1 to 6), but innovation with additional flavours is somewhat new. That said, although Winter Pimm’s, like Pimm’s No. 3, is brandy-based, it also has additional orange and spice.

Enough of the chat, let’s get on with the taste!

Pimm’s Special Blackberry & Elderflower Edition is bottled at 20% ABV (lower than the 25%ABV of the No:1 and No:6 cups) and its suggested serve is with lemonade and a garnish of blackberries. Although almost nobody drinks Pimm’s on its own, I thought it might be useful for reference to see what characteristics it has on its own, before trying it mixed. For all of the long mixed drinks, I used a three to one ratio.

The Taste

Own

Nose: A deep red-purple in colour, there’s a nose of blackberry, orange and other citrus, some spice and some sweet elderflower. Almost reminiscent of Refreshers sweets.

Taste: The blackberry continues on the taste. I feared it would be too sweet, but it’s not. Again, the citrus and spice are both there, there’s a slightly confectionery quality to it, too. And although it’s blackberry, it isn’t too tart.

With Lemonade – the suggested serve

I am using Waitrose Essential Lemonade, which is one of my favourites. In addition to the suggested garnish of blackberry, I used some lemon peel, which adds some citrus notes and also adds to the contrast of colours in the glass. Ah, it’s lovely! Almost like an alcoholic blackcurrant and lemonade, plus a little elderflower. I find that mashing up the blackberries with a straw makes the drink a little tart, which I enjoy. I can see why this is the recommended serve, although I like my little addition of the lemon. In short, immensely quaffable.

With Tonic

I always include this in fruit cup reviews as this is one watch-loving reader’s mixer of choice (he knows who he is). It works quite nicely; although, as the flavour of the Pimm’s is a bit more delicate than usual, Schweppes tonic overpowers it slightly. As such, I think the use of Fevertree or Q would improve it. You get a little build in flavour of tart blackberry towards the end, although the elderflower is nearly all lost.

With Ginger Ale

Blackberry & ginger seems to be one of those natural partnerships, so I have high hopes for this drink. And I was right! It works really nicely: juicy and jammy, with a sweet, floral elderflower lift, followed by the bite of the ginger. Easy to drink and very refreshing. For some extra tartness, I

suggest muddling the blackberry slightly in the bottom of the glass with a straw, which really sets the drink off nicely.

(Accidental) Negroni

This drink works particularly well with intense, herbal fruit cups; especially the excellent Sipsmith Summer Cup. As such, I’m not sure how well it will work with this more delicate variation. However, in the interests of science, I thought I’d give it a go! Plus, a blackberry-garnished Negroni seemed rather an attractive proposition. In my haste to write this article, I actually substituted the Campari in the drink with the Pimm’s, rather than the red vermouth, as I had intended. However, the result was serendipitously lovely, with the gin and red vermouth providing a neat background on which the lighter flavours of the fruit cup sit. An appetite-raising cocktail and perfect for an aperitif.

Negroni II

This is the drink as I had intended, with Campari and no red vermouth.

The drink is good, as suspected the Campari is very powerful, although the fruit cup adds some sweeter and floral notes to the drink, which – as I appear to be losing my sweet-tooth – appeals to me less than it might have done a couple of years ago. Having said that, I’m sure some people will really like it. Once again, this makes a nice aperitif, vastly improved with a squeeze of fresh citrus.

With Bitter Lemon

What I really like about this drink initially is the colour: it’s a louched pink-purple, which is neatly offset by the darkness of the blackberry garnish. Bitter lemon is often an under-utilised mixer, but I think that it works sublimely here: the citrus offsets any sweetness from the elderflower and the

blackberry adds a good, jammy note. Fans of the Long Peddlar (sloe gin & bitter lemon) are sure to be fans of this. My favourite drink so far.

With Ginger Beer

I used Old Jamaica Ginger Beer, which came out well in our 27 Ginger Beer Tasting. However, in this mix, for me, the combined sweetness of the ginger beer and the fruit cup just don’t work well together. The elderflower is lost completely, although there is a pleasant, jammy flavour that appears towards the end.

In Conclusion

It’s great to see the fruit cup category expanding with Blackberry & Elderflower. The elderflower certainly adds a spring or early summer-like feel to the drink, whilst the blackberry contributes a late-summer/autumnal aspect. For those looking for a pleasant afternoon summer’s drink for garden parties and wedding receptions, this will do wonderfully. If, however, you’re looking for a more intense, herbal kick, I suggest you stick to the original Pimm’s or add a dash of red vermouth – maybe even a splash of gin! – to this fruit cup. I really enjoyed the accidental Negroni, although, of the longer drinks, I would recommend either the bitter lemon or sparkling lemonade.

I like the idea of the blackberry garnish, but – alas! – as these are currently out of season in the UK, mine came from Guatemala; but, when my blackberry bush is full of fruit, some freshly-picked berries will be absolutely great in a drink like this.

Pimm’s Blackberry & Elderflower is available for around £16 for 70cl from Waitrose and Sainsburys.

I’m also intrigued as to how this will work in Whisky drinks – such as variation on the Canadian Blackberry Fix.

Cocktails with… Hernö Gin Navy Strength

After my recent focus on gin from the US, it was lovely to return home from our trip (and I had an amazing time, by the way) to find a new and exciting European gin waiting for me; namely, Hernö Gin Navy Strength Gin. We reviewed their original ”Swedish Excellence” Gin back in January and I had the opportunity to chat to the chaps from Hernö on February’s Gin Ramble.

The Navy Strength Gin, bottled at 57% ABV, follows a whole host of new high-strength gins coming onto the market, but, so far, these have been focused in the UK and USA. For more information, check out our tasting.

On its own

Nose: Lots of coriander, as well as some beeswax, sappy pine and juniper notes, and more citrus – very intense and lasting.

Taste: Silky smooth to start, with plenty of spicy and citrus coriander. Then a little warmth grows, along with some sweetness and notes of juniper. This is followed by a return of the coriander and citrus, and a crisp and very long-lasting finish that lasts for well over 90 seconds. Flavourful and intense, it really shows how the higher ABV carries the botanical characteristics in a far bolder way. Excellent.

Gin & Tonic

A strong and punchy flavour, full of very intense floral and coriander notes. A clean and not too cloying tonic is needed for this drink; I think I would be inclined to pair this with Q, 1724 or Fevertree Mediterranean, to just balance out the more floral elements and bring up some of the herbal elements that I personally crave in a Gin & Tonic. This is pretty tasty and has lots of potential.

Martini

Perfectly balanced, with flavours of fennel, coriander, dry pine, beeswax and citrus, as well as some lighter, floral notes. Simply superb and perfect for a pre-dinner drink.

Negroni

Whoosh! There’s lots of flavour here. In addition to the coriander, some anise and fennel come through to start, followed by some juicy, fruity berry notes. Then, the herbal elements of the vermouth and bitter aspects of the Campari come through, along with a long, bitter-sweet finish with some piercing pine. Intense and thrilling to drink.

In Conclusion

I have a bit of a penchant for Navy Strength Gin; it is one of my favourite spirits to mix with and Hernö Navy Strength Gin is no exception. I like the original, but I like the Navy even more. Certainly worth checking out.