From an unusual gin from the Black Forest in Germany to a new gin from The Port of Leith Distillery Co, make sure these gins are on your shopping list for all garden get-togethers this spring.
Isle of Harris
Isle of Harris Gin is made on the eponymous Outer Hebrides island, using a selection of nine botanicals, including sustainably harvested sugar kelp from local sea-lochs.
The gin features juniper, angelica, cassia, coriander, cubeb, liquorice root, orange peel, and orris root. The bottle is also a sight to behold, evoking the ripples of the sea.
Well-defined juniper notes with pine needles are immediately followed by the fresh citrus notes of bitter orange, lime and grapefruit. Develops a complex floral note of rose and wallflowers with crushed green herbs, coriander and gooseberry all underpinned by mixed spice.
Isle of Harris, 70cl, £45 from Amazon.
Ki No Bi Gin
Ki No Bi Gin is the first release from the Kyoto Distillery – and you can expect the WOW factor.
Unveiled in 2016, Ki No Bi Gin has been made using a rice spirit base, as well as a selection of botanicals including locally sourced ingredients – the likes of yuzu, hinoki wood chips, bamboo leaves, green sansho and gyokuro tea.
The botanicals are split into six flavour groups (Base, Citrus, Tea, Spice, Fruity & Floral and Herbal), and each group is distilled individually before being blended together.
Floral and aromatic with refreshing yuzu standing out. Subtly earthy, oak-y elements develop, joined by a kick of ginger.
Ki No Bi Gin, 70cl, £42.90, from Amazon
Brecon Special Reserve Gin
An award-winning Welsh gin made at the famous whisky distillery, Penderyn.
This is flavoured with Juniper from Macedonia, orange peel from Spain, Chinese cassia bark, Sri Lankan liquorice, Madagascan cinnamon, French angelica root, Russian coriander, Indian nutmeg, Spanish lemon peel and Italian orris root.
Brecon Special Reserve Gin, 70cl, £16-£22, from Amazon.
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin
An unusual gin from the Black Forest in Germany, Monkey 47 contains a unique ingredient – Lingonberries. The 47 comes from the number of botanicals that go into this unique gin, and the fact it’s bottled at a punchy 47%.
Monkey 47 unites great British traditions, the spices of India and the rich landscape of the Black Forest
Three months of maturation in earthenware vessels provides Monkey 47 with unparalleled suppleness and balance.
Great one for gin connoisseurs.
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin, 50 cl, £35.26, from Amazon.
Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin
A Dutch gin which was launched in 2014, Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin features a recipe inspired by the creator’s grandfather, Bobby Alfons. It’s made with a combination of local and exotic ingredients, including juniper, clove, lemongrass, cubeb peppers and rosehips.
Expect floral flavours with fresh rose, followed by a hint of red berry sweetness. Coriander gives it a fragrant spice.
Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin,70cl, £34.07, from Amazon.
Lind and Lime Gin
Lind and Lime Gin is the very first spirit produced by The Port of Leith Distillery Co at its Tower Street Stillhouse. It’s still a couple of years before they will be distilling whisky, so the owners have thrown our full and unbridled energy into creating a gin forged entirely from the talent, heritage and industry of Edinburgh and its historic distilling district of Leith.
In everything that they produce, their watchword is balance. They take a base spirit at 96% ABV and re-distill it with a carefully curated recipe of seven botanicals to ensure that each of them is working in delicate harmony.
Bright citrus notes, fresh and authentic.
