Based in Philadelphia USA, Bluecoat Gin was one of the first of a new wave of artisan gin distilleries, with the first bottle being released in May 2006.
Nose: Coriander, followed by citrus, including orange and grapefruit peel, before slight, creamy notes and pine.
Taste: This is quite an intense gin, with fresh, piney juniper and rich citrus. The citrus has been dialled up to 11 – very intense. The more I drink it, the more the coriander comes through. All-in-all, I think it’s bit much to drink on its own.
Smooth and viscous, with the full range of citrus elements noted above all tasting more concentrated. This strong citrus was joined by equally strong herbal notes, reminding me of a well-stocked culinery spice rack. Quite unlike any other gin.
Very fresh and crisp. Again, strong coriander and other citrus came through, reminding me a little of breakfast juice (a blend of orange and grapefruit). Additionally, there was some piney juniper on the finish. I found that the gin was at its best when mixed with Schweppes or Fevertree; the added citrus from Fentiman’s being a bit too much. Also, you probably don’t need any citrus garnish.
4) Martini
This makes a slightly unusual drink, but I really liked it. There were distinctive notes of lemongrass, coriander, lemon verbena and a more general taste of citrus peel. There was also some piney juniper, but it was a little more rounded than in some of the other drinks. This is a modern Martini, packed with flavour and certainly worth a try.
5) Negroni
Quite an intensely bitter drink, with hints of chocolate and some citrus. For hardcore fans of the Negroni, this will really appeal. Despite the extreme bitterness, there was a little sweet syrupyness in there and, overall, it was quite smooth.
6) Collins
Like the G&T, this was very fresh and crisp, but – surprisingly – the gin, which usually has a strong character, was almost lost in the rest of the mix. As a result, I would consider this a nice enough drink, but not a great way to appreciate the gin.
7) Buck
Very tasty. The gin really came through well, with the citrus, coriander and some other herbal complexities remaining prominent. Refreshing, but still flavourful. Superb.
8) Gimlet
I thought that this made a good Gimlet, even at a 2:1 (gin : Rose’s lime cordial) ratio. The gin really stood up well in this drink. As it’s all about citrus, Bluecoat naturally works quite well, also contributing a hint of herbal notes, too.
9) Pink Gin
An interesting Pink Gin. The characteristics of the Angostura match this gin quite well, so that they seem like an extension of the gin, rather than a part of a mixed drink. This is the only Pink Gin that I’ve had that’s like this, nonetheless, I thought it was rather good.
10) Gin Old Fashioned
This worked really well. The intense citrus of the gin is slightly curbed, but without the spirit losing any character. It isn’t too sweet and the bitters add a pleasant level of complexity. I thought this was an excellent way to sip Bluecoat Gin.
Summer Fruit Cup 