The Botanist Gin

Floral

I loved it, tasted the aromatics well and didn't have the kick down the front door taste of your generally high level gins (Hendricks, Bombay, etc)

The Botanist NOSE: Notes of Juniper, Budding Flowers, Mint, Citrus, and a Light Earthiness. NEAT: Relatively Sweet (bordering on too sweet). Juniper, Lemon/Grapefruit Peel, Black Pepper, Lightly Vegetal, Light Minty Finish. Just as the Distiller notes state, there is lots going on, but it never comes off as muddled. Very good! COCKTAILS: This is the important question. I'll taste a gin neat to help rate it, but the ultimate test for me is, "how does it do in my favorite Gin Drinks?" This Gin shines in both a Gibson and a G&T. It gets dinged a bit by its performance in a standard Dry Martini. It was just too sweet on the finish. VERDICT: I have yet to have anything from Islay that I haven't really liked. This is no exception, with an asterisk*. The extra sweetness on this one needs tartness to balance it out. The vinegary tartness of the cocktail onions (do yourself a favor, buy Marzetta Brand or make your own) in a Gibson, and the quinine tartness of the tonic/lime in a G&T worked very well with it. The salty brine of olives did not, for me. Still, an overall excellent gin.