Okay, I need to re-review this. Not because my opinion has changed, but because this was my gateway drug and I need to give a fuller review now that I've been exploring liquor for 3 years and have more practice making pretentious-sounding comments. I bought this pretty much randomly, choosing based on the fact that it was gin, had a cool bottle, was from Ireland, and who knows what else was in my head. I lucked out. I haven't tried a ton of other gins since then, mostly because it's hard to tear myself away from this one. But I've tried a few, and this is far and away the best, and indeed still among my favorite spirits of any type. You can smell it as soon as you open the bottle. The aroma is complex and fairly strong, but soft and not aggressive at all. There's a bit of piney juniper, but it's only one among many: wildflowers, citrus, a potpourri of spices, and yes, a little bit of that tea. Most intoxicating to me is the combination of citrus (especially lemon) and the floral aroma. It's deliciously sweet, like walking through a vibrant lemon orchard full of blossoms and fruit. The taste is as smooth and crisp as a tall glass of spring water on a hot day. Again that citrus hits, but it's not sour or even especially tangy; it's sweet, almost like lemonade, with lime and grapefruit also present. Then the spices come in, earthy and warm, but still floating in that gentle orange-blossom world. It's in the finish that I notice the tea most. It's the only bitterness here, but it's not out of place, just a comforting conclusion. I know that some highfalutin' liquor aficionados disdain the word "smooth", but this is dangerously smooth. There is nary a hint of alcohol burn. It's all smooth and creamy and pleasant and gentle all the way through, like a siren song luring you to have another glass. I've made some simple cocktails with this (like a gimlet), but really it's so delicious on its own that they're hard to justify. When I first got this at a local store, it was $40. Since then I have wised up to the benefits of online liquor shopping. It can be had for around $30-35. At that price I will be buying it again and again and again. Highly recommended.