National Distillery Company Damson Plum Gin

Nose: Plum, light lemon zest, raspberry. Palate: Sweet but not sugary arrival with plum and berry flavours obvious but not coarse. It has a refined, underplayed character which is very welcome and the texture is plush and creamy without being overdone. Finish: Medium. Like everything from National Distillery there is a sour hint in the finish and aftertaste. It appears to be a distillery character but what causes it? Maybe the stills are run too fast? Tasted neat this was fine but not inspiring, however when teamed with lemonade it was much improved. This is clearly a spirit that needs to be mixed and when handled correctly the results are palatable and individual. It has a certain similarity to sloe gin but is less sweet and liqueur-like and more akin to a demi-sec eau-de-vie. We enjoyed it a lot and purchased a bottle on the day. We tried this and the other National Distillery gins that I’m reviewing here at the distillery in Napier, New Zealand, and their tour of the distillery and following tasting was gracious, engaging and very well worth the time and cost. Highly recommended if you happen to be in Napier. “Above Average” : 81/100 (3 stars)