Manly Spirits Coastal Citrus Gin

Nose: Several diverse citrus aromas - lemon, lemongrass, lemon myrtle, orange peel - not too bright but not overly warm either. Ocean breezes against a subtle juniper background and there is a sweet component that ties it all together. Very good balance. Palate: The arrival is bright citrus and faintly briny. Quite bracing. As it settles, more rounded citrus comes to the front, slowly giving way to a foundation sweetness. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Finish: The juniper element only comes forward in the medium finish, which has a touch of sweetness and trace pepper spice. A good modern style gin with a prominent citrus profile that dismisses juniper to a supporting role. The secret ingredient here is sea parsley - a seaweed that is foraged from the local beaches. It provides a slight briny tinge and an umami note and is an inspired addition. Manly Spirits is a very young distillery but David, Vanessa and team have really hit the ground running. Their gin is produced in a dedicated German hybrid still and is most definitely not being created just to pay the bills until the whisky is ready in a couple of years (the whisky is being produced in a pair of large and beautiful copper pot stills that are custom designed by David). In addition to this expression they are also producing a dry gin and a botanical infused vodka, both of which are very good. This gin is very refreshing to sip over ice, and makes an excellent long G&T. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)