Tastes

Contract-distilled for an online distributor of christmas trees actually, this gin advertises itself on fir, but fir needles appear primarily in the otherwise impure, alcoholic nose. The palate is more so junipery and citrusy with peppery flashes but also a certain bitterness and only the slightest coniferous woodiness.

Juniper, light citrus, pronounced amounts of coriander and other muddled spices. Tonic highlights the citrus a little more but the impression is still broadsided by muddled spiciness carrying some bittersweetness as well. Archived in my memories as a bittersweet, intense cousin to Bombay Sapphire.

Containing pine needles, pine sprouts and woodruff among other things, this gin conveys an almost minty, herbal foresty freshness accompanied by citrus and florals in the nose, the foresty freshness turns into foresty coniferous woodiness in the palate. The nuances and complexity are largely preserved with tonic, but all the flavors fall slightly short of properly interlocking.

From the edge of the Alps in Germany hails a gin from a distillery/honey farm that puts all its marbles on a strongly herbal upper cut underlined by floral and tea notes for further reinforcement of an already overwhelming impression. It's as much a heavy gin as it is a light herbal remedy, and it doesn't come together for my taste buds at all.

Gin apparently made on the side by a honey farm, however not honey-heavy and only politely hints at its origins in a very well balanced junipery, slightly herbal, slightly wildflowery, slightly spruce-y, slightly sweet profile that seems suited to a sunny backyard in the summer as much as a cozy sofa in the winter.

It seems to have its fans but to me its citrusy tartness, herbal freshness and odd spiciness are downright mouth-puckering especially with tonic. I can appreciate the breadth of the complexity, I can't appreciate the contents of the complexity.

The selling point of this Innsbruck/Tyrol gin is an infusion of mountain stone pine which also dominates the profile with fresh-cut coniferous woodiness, but hints of juniper, citrus and spice can be found in the nose at least whereas the palate presents the wood with a little more resin and stickiness. Despite all the woodiness it's still fresher and not as much of a woody punch in the face as Alp Gin Stone Pine.

Dominated by mandarin orange, hints of greater citrus complexity, very sweet otherwise, not overwhelmingly so but strongly reminiscent of canned sweetened mandarin orange or orangey candy. If you do mix it with tonic you will get a welcome tart balance but also see thyme cut through ever so slightly and oddly.

Junipery and citrusy foremost, advertises Earl Grey notes that fall a bit short in reality, but nonetheless well rounded and pleasant.

Lightest base note of juniper surrounded by airy hints of pickling herbs, sour brine and cucumber pickle. Entirely agreeable and interesting but a pickle lover may find themselves wanting a stronger flavor profile.