The Botanist Gin

Nose: Freshly floral, herbal and bracing. Slightly woody with aromas of pine needles and bracken. It has a more delicate nose than most gins and is light on the juniper and cardamom notes. Palate: Clear, crisp, refreshing. Lemon citrus led with a delicate and complex herbal background. The texture is light and subtle rather than oily but it works due to the 46% alcohol content. If it was only 40% it would seem thin and weak. It has a fresh profile overall, and is somehow “outdoorsy” in character. Finish: Medium. Very clean and crisp with just a hint of bitterness. Mrs Cascode and I first tasted this neat when we visited Bruichladdich distillery in September 2017 and we were very impressed. We've bought many bottles since then and it is one of our favourite gins - definitely in our top 10, but maybe not the top 5. It has a crisp but subtle profile and makes a great understated and refreshing gin and tonic. This is not a gin that tries to astound you with enormous or unusual aromas or flavours. It is a very well made craft gin for everyday use. It is produced in a modified Lomond still named "Ugly Betty" which is one of only two remaining Lomond stills in existence (the other being at Scapa). The heavier botanicals (like juniper) are placed directly into the pot of the still during distillation while the more delicate native Islay botanicals are placed in a device in the Lyne arm that looks like the purifier of a James Grant-style still but is actually a chamber holding a gin basket. The plates are no longer in the still and as Scapa's Lomond still has also had its plates removed that means there is no truly genuine Lomond still in operation anymore. A bit sad. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)