Cocktails with… Pierde Almas +9 Botanical Gin

Yesterday I had the great pleasure to hear Jonathan Barbieri from Pierde Almas Mezcal discuss the finer points of his Mezcal range at an excellent tutored tasting at Amathus, Soho. Whilst the Mezcals were fascinating and delicious it was the last product of the day that caught my attention.

Pierde Almas +9 Botanical Mezcal (Gin) has caused some discussion between myself and my good friend of http://www.theGinIsIn.com (America’s Gin Reviewer) as to whether a product that doesn’t call itself gin be a gin, does the inclusion of juniper in any botanical spirit automatically make it gin?

The question was resolved when I asked the distiller himself, who answered that it was a gin but that US regulation state that a product can only be classified in one drinks category thus a spirit cannot be a gin-mezcal or mezcal-gin.

The Pierde Almas Gin uses a double distillation of Espadin as a base, nine classic botanicals are then steeped in the spirit for 24 hours before distillation. Some botanicals are also suspended above the spirit in a mesh bag; “like a big tea-bag, but made from a hair net” in the top of the still (gin head) forming a rudimentary version of vapour infusion.

The nine botanicals are:

Juniper
Coriander
Angelica
Orange
Orris
Cassia
Star Anise
Fennel
Nutmeg

The gin is bottled at 45.0% ABV and uses a slow distillation that results in a daily production of around 20 litres.

The Taste

Own
nose: smoke and citrus, with some savoury elements reminiscent of roasted peppers. As it opens up piney juniper and fennel come forward as well as a little sweet jammy citrus.

taste: A very smooth spirits, characteristic of the Pierde Almas Mezcals, the flavours of the Espadin comes through to start with a hint of vanilla. There is then unmistakable juniper in the middle; rich piney with a hint of resin. This is followed by some sweeter notes from the herbs such as the anise and fennel and there is a long dry finish with a little angelica, fennel and the residual character of the spirit base. It would be all to easy for the mezcal flavours to take over but, for me, there is a sense of harmony between the base and the botanicals.

Gin & Tonic
A very unusual gin and tonic very smoky but with bright and fresh botanical flavours. The choice of tonic would be important here and for best results I think perhaps embracing the herbal nature of something like Fevertree Mediterranean or 1724 would be worthwhile. In addition I think the extra attention given when mixing a fine Gin Tonica with the aroma and flavours that goes with that serve and its thoughtful garnishes would be worth the extra effort. This is not a typical Gin & Tonic and may not appeal to the ardent traditionalist, however I think it is smashing.

Martini
Delightful the chilled down gin is softened and allows some of the more delicate sweet spice notes to come through such a creamy vanilla, which works well with the dry vermouth. There is a little saltiness and a touch of smoke. This is a drink that will appeal to traditionalists and newbies alike.

Negroni
Fantastic nose smoky agave and wider mezcal notes mixed with juniper, fennel and anise. A rich and smooth Negroni will a charming interplay between the smoky mezcal notes and the bitterness of the Campari. However, the gin notes of the drink are not simply defined by the gin’s base and there is certainly plenty of the juicy citrus along with angelica and the botanicals noted on the nose. I’ve never had anything like it, simply delightful and a new favourite.

Cocktails with… Big Ben Indian Gin

Having picked the low-hanging fruit in the World of Gin, things have been a bit quieter recently in my quest to taste a gin distilled in every country in the world. However, today, I can finally tick off one of the countries at the top of my list – India.

Big Ben Deluxe “London Dry Gin” is made by Mohan Meakin Limited, a company that was founded in 1855 and which also owns the Solan Brewery. The gin is “blended with triple distilled alcohol” and bottled at 42.8% ABV. One website refers to it as being “(An) Ideal drink for ladies”.

On its own
Nose: juniper, pine quite oily as well as a bit of citrus and bark quite subdued.
Taste: juniper certainly with quite a lot of pine which builds and mixes with lemon and a little vanilla quite a lot of warmth at the end, slightly harsh but overall not bad. A very traditional style reminiscent of some of the old vintage gins I have tried from the 1970s. One for the traditionalists. Leaves a piney tingle on your tongue.

Gin & Tonic
Pretty average, with a little sweetness in the middle. The finish, however, is very long and dry. This gin actually works much better with a tonic syrup and soda water (as opposed to a premixed tonic water) and I recommend using a lime garnish or maybe even adding a dash of orange bitters.

Martini
Quite a light Martini, with plenty of lemon and some lavender. Far more complex and floral than I would have expected, given how it tasted on its own, and really rather good.

Negroni
A pretty standard Negroni, but one that ticks the basic boxes and has a good, strong, bitter finish with notes of piney juniper. This gin highlights all of the different aspects of this drink, whilst still playing an equal part alongside the vermouth and Campari.

In Conclusion
It was very exciting to finally try a gin from India and this very classic, slightly subdued version is exactly what I would expect. The gin isn’t made with an Indian palate in mind or inspired by their cuisine it is styled around the expectation of a classic London Dry Gin. Reasonably priced and equally mixable.

Cocktails with… Hven Organic Gin

Hven Organic Gin comes from the Island of Ven or ‘Hven’, situated in the Öresund
Strait between Denmark and Sweden. This is a small island, around three square miles in area, and has a population of only a few hundred.

Hven Gin is made with a wheat spirit base and a whole array of botanicals, including: Swedish Juniper, Mauritian Bourbon Vanilla, Cassia, Grains of Paradise, Citrus, Sichuan pepper, Aniseed, Guinea Pepper, Calamus Root and Cardamom. Before the distillation, the botanicals are macerated in spirit in oak barrels for 24 hours. After a distillation with these botanicals, the distillate is then rested in casks, before being re-distilled and bottled at 40% ABV.

On its own
Nose: Crisp green apple and pink grapefruit with a hint of vanilla.
Taste: What is immediately noticeable with Hven is the texture of the gin: it is almost water-like in its smoothness. Initially, there are notes of citrus, especially grapefruit, followed by some coriander and then a little spice and vanilla sweetness. There’s a burst of dry pine towards the end and a long, lasting finish with a little citrus tang.

Gin & Tonic
Lots of citrus and cilantro; incredibly crisp and fresh. This is a Gin & Tonic that sets itself apart, with the crisp citrus notes being more leafy than juicy. It makes for a refreshing drink with some bitterness, which will appeal to those who shun sickly sweet cocktails.

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Martini
A rather fragrant and leafy Martini with citrus and a touch of nuttiness. The perfumed aspect of the coriander and a slight hay-like aspect also come through. This is a very complex Martini with many layers of flavours that open up as you drink.

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Negroni
A rich, thick and flavourful Negroni, with a strong, jammy hint of raisin coming through, Along with cassia and cinnamon, this gives the drink a fruity, confectionary element, which is followed by an enduring bitter streak at the end. As I drink, I am reminded of Christmas pudding. This is different, but quite exciting and well worth a try.
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Gin Collins
The floral citrus notes of this gin work well with the tart lemon, as well as adding a little dryness. The gin sits quietly in the background for this drink, but is still discernable. If you want a bit more of the spirit, then I’d suggest adding an extra half measure of gin.

Sweet Martini
This has a perfumed flavour, with a combination of floral herbs and spice. This would make an excellent aperitif and would probably be quite well-suited to preceding a fish dish. (After a test, this does appear to be the case.)

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Over Ice with Lemon
This is a recommended serve on the Hven website.
Works very well at this temperature, where the texture becomes a tad more viscous. The fresh, zesty lemon complements the floral citrus notes of the spirit.

In Conclusion
Tasting Hven makes it clear that there is more to this spirit than a striking bottle. My favourite drink was the Negroni.

Hven Gin is bottled at 40%ABV and is available for around £30 for 50cl from Master of Malt.

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… Lubuski Gin

I got a chance to try Gin Lubuski last year, but, as there was only a little left in the bottle, I only got a sip. Last week, however, someone very kindly sent me some more, enabling me to write a full review.

Gin Lubuski is the best selling gin in Poland (with a 56% market share), with the American gin, Seagram’s, coming in second (23%) and Gordon’s way behind with only 2%. Gin Lubuski was first created in 1987 and is still made to the same recipe. It is distilled from grain, bottled at 40% ABV and contains the following botanicals:

Juniper
Coriander
Angelica Root
Citrus peel
Liquorice
Cassia bark
Bitter almonds
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Star anise
Cumin
Calamus (Myrtle)
Marigold flowers
Bay leaf

Lubuski also make a lime-flavoured gin and a premixed Gin & Tonic that’s sold in an aluminium bottle.

The Taste

On its own
Nose: Juniper, floral notes (rose), coriander, and marmalade-like citrus.
Taste: Black pepper spiciness, floral juniper, which was quite dry and accompanied by floral notes of coriander, violet, lavender and rose. The finish was dry and peppery and of a long-medium length.

Gin & Tonic
This made a very juniper-heavy Gin & Tonic, with a good levels of spicy, citrus and slightly soapy coriander and citrus peel. It was very refreshing and relatively traditional, although there were some rarer herbal and floral notes, too. Very tasty.

Martini
Herbaceous, with some bitter notes and hints of sage and fennel. This was followed by a characteristic juniper dryness, but it had good balance and levels of complexity, with notes of spicy coriander and floral honey. Overall, very good and pretty classic, although I would say that it was, arguably, herbal enough to sit in the “Eastern European style”.

Negroni
This made quite a sweet Negroni to start, followed by a pronounced bitterness; unfortunately, I’d say that the balance is a bit off. The drink is quite juicy and easy to drink, but doesn’t have that classic bitter/sweet mix.

As I’m aware that gin can be consumed differently in different countries, I decided to take a few of the recipes for my review from Gin Lubuski’s website.

Gin & Coke
Definitely an interesting combination; this almost tasted non-alcoholic. The herbal and floral elements of the gin mixed well with the cola (I used CocaCola Classic) to create a taste similar to a more old-fashioned or curiosity style of cola. There was a hint of dry, bitter juniper at the end, making this actually rather tasty.

Gin & Grapefruit
The gin added a great herbal note to this drink, making the flavour of the juice much fuller. At the same time, the spirit also rounded off any sharp bitterness from the grapefruit. This was a refreshing, yet comfortable, drink; very nice, indeed.

Gin & Cranberry
A dry yet herbaceous drink the dry cranberry being a good match for the flavours of the juniper. With plenty of ice it is rather refreshing with a floral lift at the end.

Lubuski Martini
I’ve included this as:

(a) it is the only Martini suggestion on the Lubuski website

(b) when looking up the gin on their distributor’s website, I noticed that they also look after a vermouth brand: Totino, who produce the following varieties of vermouth: Rosso, Blanco (white-sweet), Tropical, Cherry and Peach (the last three are, obviously, flavoured vermouths). Noticeably, there’s no dry vermouth in their catalogue, but this is not uncommon for Eastern European brands.

Equal parts Gin and White Sweet Vermouth

This wasn’t a typical Martini, but, as the Blanco is a bit sweeter than usual, the drink is more palatable than if you used a regular dry. The vermouth brought out more of the gin’s citrus notes, although the bitter herbal and sweet floral notes remain.

In Conclusion

Once again, I have been impressed by an international gin. Whilst it is not as herbal as some others, such as the Czech Rudolph Jeinek, it is more herbal than your standard London gin. I found that it was best enjoyed simply with mixers, whether that be tonic, grapefruit juice or even cola!

Special thanks to Seva for the sample.

Cocktails with… Vilnius Gin from Lithuania

As I’m sure many of you will know, gin classification is a bit of pet subject for me. Following some recent revelations, I wanted to provide a little update but lets start with the basics.

Production Technique

There are three types of gin according to the EU, each defined by different production techniques: Gin, Distilled Gin and London (Dry) Gin. These are set out in EU Regulation: No 110/2008, but below is simplified guide that I wrote a while back.

So from here it should be clear that London (Dry) Gin does not have to be distilled in London and can actually be made anywhere in the world as long as it follows the specified production criteria.*

Geographical Origin**

Some gins also have Geographical Iindicative status. This has nothing to do with how they are made or how they are classified in the above three categories, but is rather an extra label given to them, usually as a perseverance of history, tradition or brand.

For a while, I thought there were only two products with a taste typical of gin (rather than genever or juniper spirit) that had such a protection:***

1) Plymouth – to class as a “Plymouth Gin”, the spirit must be distilled within the old city walls of Plymouth, which amounts to a small area that includes the Barbican and stretches up to Drake Circus. Only one gin qualifies for this at the moment, the one owned by Chivas Brothers, which is made at Blackfriars Distillery. In terms of production technique, it is classed as London Dry Gin, as no extra flavours or colours are added after distillation.

2) Gin de Mahón – this must be ,made in the port of Mahon on the Spanish island of Menorca. The one known brand that currently quaifies is known as Xorigeur and traces it’s history back to the 18th century. Further details can be found here.

But looking at regulations (110/2008)  I found there was a third product that we would recognise as gin, but that was geographically protected:

3) Vilnius Gin – this must be made in the city of Vilnius, Lithuania. Today, there is only one Vilnius Gin, which has been produced for the last 30 years at the Vilnius Degtiné distillery.

This gin is bottled at 45% ABV and includes botanicals such as Juniper, Dill Seeds, Coriander and Orange. Once distillation is complete, no extra flavours or colours are added and so (as defined above) its production method also qualifies it as London Dry Gin.

I usually don’t comment too much on the packaging of a gin, but I really like this one, with the handlebar moustache and the Edwardian lady and gentleman on the front. A little motto at the base of the label states that Vilnius Gin is:

“The Gin of All the Best Times”

Own
Nose: Lemon, orange and pine.
Taste: This was quite dry, with citrus and some earthy herbal notes, too. It was quite smooth, despite the strength; subtle; and rather classic in terms of style.

Gin & Tonic
A very smooth and fresh gin and tonic, not too complex but a enjoyable way to wind-down at the start of the evening, refreshing on a hot day. Tiny hint of anis at the end.

Martini
Very, clean and pretty dry with a silky texture and a tiny hint of cream and chocolate which add to the satin sensation. Medium to long finish with hint of juniper and citrus, very easy to drink and up there with the best.

Negroni
Smooth and flavourful, with a touch of sweetness and a very crisp, zesty, bitter finish. Clean, well-balanced and altogether rather lovely. This cocktail had a textbook Negroni bitterness with a long, long finish.

Sweet Martini
Quite clean; the herbal sweetness of the vermouth went well with the citrus, pine and earthiness of the gin, making this another clean cocktail with good balance.

L:R Vilnius Stranger & Vilnius Ginapple

The gin bottle also includes two recipes for cocktails, but these are given in Lithuanian; I have translated them for you below.

Vilnius Stranger
½ Vilnius Gin
½ Vyšnių Sulčių (Cherry Juice)
Citrinos ar žaliosios citronos skiltelė (Garnish with Lime)

You don’t see cherry and gin flavours together very often, but this really did work well. The non-sugary cherry juice, combined with the zestiness of the lime, ensures that the drink has a pleasant crispness. It is the gin, however, that provides the accompanying clean finish. Simple, but delicious.

Vilnius Ginapple
½ Vilnius Gin
½ Obuolių Sulčių (Apple Juice)
Obuolio skiltelé (Garnish with Apple Slices)

Quite a clean and fresh flavour; although I’m sure many will find this refreshing and easy to drink, I, personally, would prefer a cocktail with a little more character.

Special thanks to Irena for all her help with the article.

* There has been a move towards identifying gins that are actually distilled in the UK’s Capital City (such as Beefeater, Sipsmith, Sacred or anything made at Thames Distillers); some producers refer to their gin as “Being Distilled In London”, whilst others use the term “London Cut”, but this does not currently have any legal definition.
** In addition to these legal definitions, some describing styles also exist. Although they have a meaning that is generally understood by a relatively wide audience, this understanding is by no means unanimous and controversy surrounds some of them.
Examples include: “Old Tom Gin”, “Classic/Old School Gin” and “American Gin/New Western/New World/Modern/Contemporary/New Age/21st Century Gin”.
*** Dutch Genever/Jenever/Geniévre, Slovakian Slovenská borovička, German Korngenever, Steinhäger and French Genièvre Flandres Artois are also geographically protected.

Cocktails with.. Lebensstern Dry Gin – From Austria

Recently, I received a gin care package from Germany; inside was a bottle of The Duke Munich Dry Gin and another of Lebensstern. Both are produced at the Freihof Distillery in Austria, near the border of both Switzerland and Germany, and are made for the Einstein Bar in Berlin. The Lebensstern forms the base for the excellent Lebensstern Pink Gin that we featured a few months back and is bottled at 43 %ABV.

Own
Nose: Lots of rather fruity, jammy notes, with some sweet juniper, pine, apricot and peach.
Taste: Quite smooth, with plenty of juniper and rich, jammy, fruity flavours, including peach, raspberry and apricot. Very good.

Gin & Tonic
Really good: refreshing, succulent and very fruity; no garnish is needed at all. The dominant flavours are: raspberry, peach, plum and apricot. Again, this is quite jammy. The juniper is still there, but it’s in the background, making for a very unusual, but nonetheless fantastic G&T!

Martini
A rather fruity Martini, full of luscious, fresh fruit flavours, reminding me of biting into a ripe peach. This is well-balanced and not sickly; despite the rich flavours, the drink maintains the cocktail’s signature dry finish. Not a conventional Martini by any means, but a very good one nonetheless.

Pink Gin
Unusual and full of jammy berry notes mixed with sweet spice, this reminded me of an English winter tart. Once again, this is a step away from the cocktail’s usual profile, but remains an enjoyable drink.

Milano
Another lovely drink. The tartness from the lemon and the vanilla-sweetness from the Galliano worked well with the fruity gin, creating a well-rounded cocktail.

Gin Buck
The by now familiar jammy, fruity notes of the Lebensstern worked well with the citrus and sweet, spicy ginger. This is a drink that is both refreshing and comforting.

Negroni
This gin really stands up well to the Campari and makes a lovely Negroni: bittersweet, with an extreme, bitter finish that is rounded off by the rich, succulent fruitiness of the gin. With distinctive notes of peach & plum, this is one of my favourite Negronis.

Gin Old Fashioned
The gin came through well, but, with the extra sugar from the cube, I found this a tad too sweet, tasting more like a gin liqueur.

In Conclusion

Overall, I was impressed with Lebensstern Dry Gin. Its rich, fruity and jammy style is distinctive, being almost halfway between dry gin and sloe gin. Not only distinctive, it also gives some fresh and tasty twists on the characteristics of some Classic gin cocktails.

Drink highlights included the Negroni and the Gin & Tonic.

Cocktails with… Viking Gin (from Latvia)

Dzins (Gin) Vikings is made by Latvijas Balzams from Latvia and, as of 2006, they were the biggest alcohol producer in the Baltic States; they have a 50% market share in all of the alcoholic drinks in Latvia.
Latvijas Balzams has origins dating back to 1900 and make a wide range of spirits, liqueurs and other alcoholic beverages. In addition to Dzins Vikings, they make two other gins: LB Gin and the grain-based Gin Kristofors, which are both bottled at 40%ABV. Latvijas Balzams are also the bottlers for Stolichnaya’s international exports. The S.P.I. Company (who make Stolichnaya) own nearly 90% of the shares in Latvijas Balzams.I could only find minimal further information about the gin; the label speaks of a strong aroma and juniper berries, as well as it being balanced and highly mixable in cocktails. It is bottled at 47%ABV.

 

The Taste

1) On its own
The nose is quite strong on the alcohol and juniper, with some sweet vanilla.
To taste, it is initially smooth, followed by a little tingle/heat, with notes of juniper and fruit. After a couple of seconds, the flavour evolves to be like pine, earthy and bark-like. There’s a medium finish of earthy juniper, which isn’t particularly clean on the palate. It reminds me of Juniper & Cedar Vodka.

2) Gin & Tonic
This drink was quite fresh, but also earthy and dry, with quite a lot of pine and juniper. I found it to be rather reminiscent of a Gin & Tonic made with some Czech, Russian (Veresk) and Swiss (Studer) gins. Not classic, but still nice.

3) Martini
Warming and quite sweet, with big flavours that are not at all subtle. Some heat builds up after a while, but then the gin is bottled 47%, so this could be expected. Overall, this was a powerful and punchy Martini. Whilst I quite liked it, it certainly takes no prisoners.

4) Negroni
Quite soft initially, followed by a crescendo of herbal elements and an increasing bitterness. There’s a pleasant, bittersweet finish.

5) Gimlet
This cocktail was very fresh and very, very crisp. I thought it was rather delicious, with a distinctively bitter herbal twist at the end. Rather refreshing and good for having with dinner.

6) Gin Old-Fashioned
This was full of flavour, but it seemed a bit unbalanced and a bit rough. There’s a slight burn, so it is quite warming, but it doesn’t have the delicate clarity of flavour that I would expect from this gin drink. Not that great, really.
Having said that, Mrs. B quite liked it, describing it as “spicy gin”; she proceeded to finish the glass.

7) Fruit Cup
Refreshing, but rather herbaceous; the red vermouth and ginger go well with the herbs of the gin and there is also a nice bitter lift at the end. I thought that it was similar to a Campari Soda

8) Pink Gin
Again, the heat is still present in this cocktail, but the bitter herbal notes go well with the juniper-earthiness of the gin. I found it rather bracing and thought it could be smoother, but – still – it wasn’t bad.

 

In Conclusion

Dzins Vikings is, without a doubt, a strong alcohol product, full of flavour and, in particular, herbal notes. Whilst not the smoothest spirit in the world, it certainly has character. The Gimlet and Fruit Cup were my personal favourites from the cocktails that we tried, although the Martini was pretty interesting and rather robust.

Dzins Vikings is available from The Whisky Exchange  for around £15.49 for 50cl

Cocktails with… Moore’s Gin

Readers may recall our World of Gin project, an attempt to try gins produced in as many different countries as possible. One of my long-term goals was to try a gin from Australia* and in my search I came across Moore’s Gin.

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Well aware of the time-difference between here and Australia (I used to work a lot with folks from down-under) I gave them a call shortly after Midnight GMT.I spoke to Phillip Moore the distiller and we had a very long conversation, as people with a shared spirit passion often do. I learnt a lot about the spirits trade in the Australia and told Phillip about recent developments I have noticed in the sector. Happily Phillip agreed to send me some samples and in return I’d send him some samples of gin that was difficult to get in Australia.

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Anyone that has been to the excellent Juniper Society at Graphic Bar in London will sure to have met Sarah Mitchell (a compatriot of Phillip) and so during a quieter moment in her schedule we arranged a mini tasting of Moore’s Gin.

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Moore’s Gin is made at St Fiacre Distillery (the patron saint of gardeners) which is soon to be renamed Distillery Botanica. The name change is part of a re-brand and reinvigoration of the brands and it’s products.

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Sarah and I were given a sample of a potential re-formulation of the gin but as this was experimental and is now unlikely to be the final version I haven’t included notes

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Moore’s Gin is bottled at 40%ABV and is made using 100% Australian Grain. Each of the seven botanicals are distilled separately using a carter-head still; these distillates are then blended to make the gin. This blending method is used by a variety of other popular gins such as Sacred, Sloane’s and Gin Mare.

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Juniper Berries (Europe)
Coriander Seeds (Southern Australia)
Angelica Root (Europe)
Queensland Wild Lime (Queensland)
Cinnamon Myrtle (New South Wales)
Illawarra Plum (New South Wales)
Macadamia Nut (New South Wales)

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Philip Moore also makes a range of Australian Liqueurs, flavours include: Lemon Myrtle, Mountain Pepperberry, Aniseed Myrtle, Wild Lime and Mandarin.

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Gin GP - Sarah Mitchell with a Bottle of Moore's Australian Gin

Own

nose: “there’s a touch of the Aussie bush about this” says Sarah. Eucalyptus, citrus and some deeper floral notes as well as a sweet cakey lemon which we later identified as Lemon Shortcake Biscuits. A touch of golden syrup was also noticed.

taste: unusual, citrus, floral, dried flower petals, earthy, fruity and floral; in short, flavourful and complex. Sarah noted limey citrus as well as that hint of vanilla that often accompanies the flavour. The eucalyptus was still there as was a touch of pine. Sarah was surprised at the depth of flavour given that it was only 40%ABV.

Gin & Tonic
We mixed 1pt Moore’s Gin with 2pts Schweppes as it is the most popular tonic in Australia.
Initial flavours of lime and eucalyptus. Sarah said that it reminded her of drinking a gin and tonic on the veranda of her friend’s house in the Blue Mountains.
We both thought it a little light on the Juniper but the other flavours made up for any absence. The result was a complex and subtle drink, that was also quite dry and very refreshing.
We didn’t add any garnish to our gin and tonic and there were some comments that a big chunk of lemon or lime may over-power the gin. But even without a garnish the drink was superb.

Martini
I poured this strait from the freezer in vermouth rinsed glass.
Lovely, flavours of eucalyptus pine and a hint of violet; something similar to wood sap too. The Gin goes well with the herbal notes of the Dolin Dry Vermouth and in invigoratingly cold with a very long finish. Just Great!

In Conclusion

We were both really impressed with Moore’s Gin and I think it brings something new and relevant to the market place. For me, it’s a shame you can’t buy it in the UK. The markets itself as Spirit of Australia and from Sarah’s reaction I think that is certainly the case and that this is a distinctively Australian Gin. If you get the chance I’d recommend trying t for something different but brilliant.

For readers in Australia Moore’s Gin is available $49.95 (AUD) for 700ml here.

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SPECIAL THANKS

Many thanks to Phillip Moore for sending me the smaples and for Sarah and the Grphic Team for helping me with the tasting.

If you are in Australia in interested in Gin why not checkout the Australian Branch of the world-famous Juniper Society here.

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*I had already tried South Gin made in New Zealand by 42 Below

Cocktails with… Hammer Gin from Norway

I’ve been aware of Hammer Gin from Norway for a little while, so I was excited to recently try it. Launched within the Norwegian Market in 2003, Hammer Gin is made near Oslo, Norway by Arcus, who currently operate the only distillery in the country. The Gin’s recipe is originally from England and dates back to 1776.

Hammer uses water from springs in Hadeland near Oslo. This water is said to be filtered and purified by the sedimentary rock minerals in the air. These rock formations are estimated to be over 300 million years old. Hammer uses a double distillation process, as well as a special filtration system, to achieve the best flavours from its botanicals.

The Taste

#1) Own
Nose: A classic London Dry; there are notes of juniper and coriander, with a little violet.
Taste: Pleasantly smooth, the prominent flavour is classic, with juniper, coriander and a little angelica at the forefront.  Long dry finish from the juniper.

#2) Gin & Tonic
This is a great example of a Gin & Tonic: there were some bitter-fresh notes from the juniper and citrus, with a little pine in the mix, too. Extremely refreshing and a great way to enjoy the gin.

#3) Martini
Very, very smooth. I used a 4:1 ratio of gin to vermouth, which achieves a nice balance. The flavour is a subtle mix of juniper, coriander and a very light hint of cinnamon on the finish. Full of flavour and easy to drink.

#4) Tom Collins
Quite tasty; it is not uncommon for a gin to be lost in a Collins, but Hammer Gin holds its own and can be easily tasted. Full of flavour, the gin works well with the citrus from the lemon juice.

#5) Gin Buck
A simple, but effective way to cool down on a hot late afternoon and a delicious way to quench your thirst. There’s a pleasant interaction between citrus juice, gin and the sweet warmth of the ginger ale. I like this an alternative to a Gin & Tonic.

#6) Basil Smash
Fresh notes of green salad from the basil went very well with the citrus and herbal notes of the gin. The lemon juice and sugar syrup add some depth to drink, but it maintains its balance nonetheless. A very approachable way to enjoy the gin.

#7) Gin Sour
This is, essentially, a compact Collins and with Hammer Gin it was tart, but it also rather rousing and would make a good pre-dinner cocktail. Exceptionally refreshing, with a finish reminiscent of fruit salad.

Jungle Juice

#8) Jungle Juice
A variation on the Moscow Mule it comes from T.E Carlings 1951 “Complete Book of Drink” his recipe calls for:

“a nip of gin, a nip of lime juice, add ice top up with ginger beer”

Delicious, fizz warmth, spice and sweetness from the Hartirdges Ginger Beer balanced out by the lime and the juniper of the gin. This really cools you down and is a pleasure to drink. For this drink my “nip equated to 25ml.

In Conclusion

I was really pleased to be able to try Hammer Gin and it’s great to experience a superb example of the London Dry style of Gin that was made outside of the UK. Albeit still to a British recipe. This gin will do well in any of the classic dry gin drinks – Gimlets, G&T and Martinis and these were some of my favourites. I also have a new found fondness for the Jungle Juice.