Xin Gin

This isn't an aged spirit, despite someone putting 2 years of age on this entry, in addition to "copper pot distilled" not being a cask type, but hey, good try, mate. Batch number: 1 It's strange that I've only ever tried a couple Irish gins, and have only seen a few more than that in total. You would think that with all those stills lying around in Ireland, those distillers would be cranking out more than just whiskey. Maybe there are rums, agave spirits, and gins that just aren't being distributed or leaving the country, but even if that were the case, an Asian-Irish fusion gin was not one I would have expected to see at all. They really went all in with this, too; the bottle art, design, and shape are all very unique and definitely have an Asian flair. The choice of fully opaque, coated glass also matches nicely with the exposed cork. Above all, though, the choice of Asian-inspired botanicals are not only unique by themselves, but even more exciting to be combined with an Irish base. Wow, the nose is very bright and potent here, and although the juniper is certainly present, it's not as dry as I would have expected, and is full of citrus oil, lemongrass, and a touch of allspice. A general florality starts rising, with a focus on rose, and even the specifically used persimmon is detected. A slightly sweet grain note comes around at the end, and this is also where the ethanol presents a small burn to the nostrils. The body is light and watery at first, but in a refreshing manner more than a weak one. The initial taste is definitely on the floral side, with rose starting the journey, then a touch of ginger and some lemongrass, with a just-as-quickly change to notes of cinnamon, and surprisingly, the dill is even found here. The finish plays with all of these flavors, but that dill really sticks with you, as it's very unexpected in a gin botanical blend. Although the finish does become a little dry and even spicy, it invites repeated sips to begin the process anew. For sure a memorable and unique gin with the blend of different cultures and botanicals, and as this was given as a gift to me from a native Chinese friend, I would agree with his assessment that this would excel with a small amount of ice to bring out the more Asian botanicals. I don't think this needs ice, though, and is just as approachable by itself as it is versatile in other cocktail uses. A decent price point really does round this out for a uniquely delicious gin.