The Botanist Gin Review
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[ May 8, 2021] New Town Gin review Gin opinions [ January 3, 2020] Latitude Ole Tom Gin review Gin evaluations [ December 14, 2020] The Botanist Gin Gin review Gin critiques [ October 3, 2020] Daffy’s Gin Gin reviews[ July 30, 2020] The Botanist Gin Gin review Review Photo by: The Botanist The Botanist Gin photo courtesy of The Botanist The Botanist Gin comes from Islay on the West Coast of Scotland. It is a Hebridean treat. It is an amazing gin. There are 22 of them. Some of the core botanicals are also used, while some others are hand-foraged locally. Bottled at a punchy 46%, our review of The Botanist Gin finds a fresh, clean and beautifully balanced gin distilled with fresh Islay spring water. It’s a premium gin that’s priced attractively, and presented in a bottle that makes a great addition to any gin shelf.
These 22 botanicals are hand-foraged and placed into a basket to be used in the main distillation. This only happens after the overnight maceration has been completed on the core botanicals. This is a gin that’s been made with real pride, effort and skill by the distillers. It’s made at the same distillery that Bruichladdich whisky is, and it’s a wonderful dram. Deep breath: Apple mint, chamomile and creeping thistle; downy birch; elder, gorse. hawthorn. heather. juniper. lady’s bedstraw. sweet cicely. bog myrtle. tansy. water mint. white clover. wild thyme. wood sage.
If you enjoy botanicals in your Gin, these might be some things that you will find interesting. For example, chamomile and bog myrtle might not be new to you. Many names in the list will be unfamiliar to you. It’s fantastic to see a distillery take inspiration from the nature that surrounds them. It is where the name came from, which clearly reflects the botanical inspirations behind the gin.
Gift Set Botanist Gin Planter
I typically feature a photograph of the bottle in most reviews. For this review, however, I chose to use a photograph of The Botanist Gin Planter Gift Set. The Botanist team sent me one and it made a great gift.
You get a gift set that includes a 70cl glass bottle. As you can see it is packaged in a tin container with the same Latin botanical name as on the bottle. Fill the tin up with soil and start to plant. It is possible to make your own garnishes, herbs, and vegetables. You can also grow your own herbs and garnishes, or anything else you like. The gift pack also includes foraged cocktail recipes, some seeds and garnish inspirations. This makes a fantastic, eco-friendly gift.
It retails at about PS45. However, you should shop around. The Botanist Gin sells the pack for about PS45, but you may also find it on Amazon.
The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
Review: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin (92/100). A review by Chip Dykstra, (Aka Arctic Wolf). Revised March 20, 2020. The Botanist, Bruichladdich Master Distiller Jim McEwan was responsible for the 2010 installation at Bruichladdich of the last Lomond Still, which was recovered during the destruction of Inverleven Distillery, Dumbarton. McEwan then modified the still to allow McEwan to begin producing his Islay Dry Gin.
The Lomond Still is used to produce the Botanist. This distillation takes 17 hours. Once the distillate has reached a certain temperature, the core botanicals can be put into the still. These core botanicals (I believe there are 9 in all) are steeped in the hot distillate for 12 hours before distillation begins. Importantly, 22 Islay-specific botanicals are used to make the Gin. They were collected from the nearby hills and valleys. The Island botanicals are then placed in loosely-woven muslin bags and into a Casket inside the Lomond still. This will allow the Vapours from the Distillation to run through the casket at the end of distillation, giving the Botanist Gin its unique Islay flavor.
Jim McEwan was visiting Edmonton last year to conduct a Bruichladdich Tasting. I met him in person. Jim included his The Botanist with the spirits flight, even though the seminar’s focus was on the new ranges of Bruichladdich Single malt Whiskies. He spent a lot of time explaining to us the history of the distillery and the personal discovery he made while researching and creating his first Islay Dry Gin.
Jim McEwan admitted that he traded some of his Single Malt Scotch for some of his secrets in gin with one the most renowned retired gin producers. Jim invited me to speak with him after the tasting and offered to give me another glass. Even though I had already tried several single malts, including spirits aged 12-20 years, McEwan seemed not to be surprised by my request for a second bottle of The Botanist, straight up, with no Ice. It was, in my opinion, the star of the afternoon.
Seven years have passed since my original review in The Botanist. Jim McEwan has retired from the distillery, July 2015. Since I recently received another sample bottle, I have decided to taste the spirit again and revisit my original review to see if the the high quality I recognized in 2013 has been maintained.
The Botanist will arrive in the medium tall, cylinder-shaped bottle that is shown at the left. I think the minimalist label was designed to give an impression of hand-crafted gin rather than being produced in an automated process. Producers have deliberately highlighted 22 in red to draw attention to 22 Islay botanicals that were used in the production of the gin. Under the label, the Islay botanicals are stamped on all glass bottles, 11 in front and 11, back. As the letters are tactile, they make it easy for you to grasp and use the bottle when you’re pouring out the small amount. Crowing the presentation is a solid synthetic cork which gives the bottle that satisfying ‘pop’ when you open it.
In The Mouth 55/60
A strong, bitter taste of juniper is evident in this spirit. This causes the spirits to dry the mouth and pucker the palate. Your mouth will be heated by ginger-like spices as well as the herbaceous heat of cardamom, coriander, and cardamom. Laying within the bitter juniper and the herbaceous heat is a mild yet zesty citrus which brings light flavours of lemon and orange peel across the palate as well. An underlying earthiness is evident due to angelica root’s presence in the mixture of main botanicals. There are delicate floral aromas that lend the gin a sense of springtime. But there is also some fall in the mix.
Even though the gin is full of many elements, it still retains the essence of piny, with its light spiced heat of cardamom (coriander), citrus (cardamom) and other botanicals. As accents on this base flavour, we can only taste the influences of other botanicals. Botanist is an old-fashioned dry Gin. However, this “traditional gin” is easy to drink as a sips spirit.
Gin isn’t meant to be drunk. My next step was to create a few cocktails, starting with the classic Gin and Tonic (see further). G&Ts I enjoy are strong and almost 1:3 gin/tonic. The Botanist Gin is a great choice. Mixing the tonic with firm juniper makes this mixed drink delightful to sip in warm afternoons.
I followed this up with a Lime Gimlet , and then I made a Dry Gin Martini . The cocktail were each a pleasure, though I must say that sipping The Botanist was just as enjoyable.
The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
Review of The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. This gin was already notable because it is made in Scotland by Bruichladdich Distillery. But, the botanical bill also includes 22 hand-foraged herbs. The gin has a bright, herbal aroma, with juniper and wildflower scents. It is springtime in a Scottish meadow. Each whiff feels just like that. A combination of bright citrus notes and an abundance of freshly harvested herbs makes this a delicious tasting experience. This Gin is deservingly called Botanist.
Is Botanist Gin Nice?
Many flavors yet still pleasant and smooth. Tonic complements and doesn’t dominate. Definitely 5 out 5 stars It’s amazing in many different ways, and it works well all around. You can drink it straight, or make a dry Martini with it! October 1, 2016.
Which Style of Gin is The Botanist?
The Botanist gin is an artisanal Islay gin from Bruichladdich Distillery. It is one of two gins made on Islay, and is distinctive for its 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals that are added to nine core gin aromatics.
Botanist Gin: What is the Best Botanist Gin to be Served With?
Serve with Grapefruit wedges and Thyme. We also discovered having this gin with a slice of apple also works beautifully with this gin.Sep 6, 2019
Can The Botanist be considered a London Dry Gin
The Botanist gin is composed of 9 standard botanicals, plus 22 additional botanicals that were foraged directly from Islay, including meadowsweet and heather. … The majority of Gins are produced either as London Dry or Distilled Gins.
.The Botanist Gin Review