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Archive for the ‘Gin Review’ Category

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Review: Jawbox Single Estate Classic Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 14, 2019

Gin and Ginger

Jawbox Classic Dry Gin is a single estate spirit made in the heartland of the Ards Peninsula near Belfast Ireland. The folks who make the spirit grow and harvest their own grain on the 300 acre Echlinville Estate. They create their own alcohol and distill their dry gin three times on a in copper pot stills. They use eleven botanicals, Juniper, Coriander, Cassia Quills, Angelica Root, Black Mountain Heather, Lemon Peel, Cardamom, Licorice Root, Grains of Paradise, Orris Root and Cubebs, 3 of which are vapour infused rather than steeped.The spirit is apparently named in honour of one of Belfast’s most enduring legacies, the Belfast kitchen sink, a.k.a. the Jawbox.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Jawbox Single Estate Classic Dry Gin

“… The breezes above the glass bring firm indications of juniper accented by an earthy black licorice note and spicy notes of coriander and cardamom. My first impression is that the use of the word ‘classic’ in the name of the gin is justified …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with two cocktails, the Gin and Tonic #3 and the Jawbox swerve on Gin and Ginger-ale.

Chimo!

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Review: Fils du Roy – Gin Thuya (New Brunswick)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 7, 2019

According to the Fils du Roy website, it was family reunion in Caraquet in 2011 that sparked the idea of building a family owned distillery. The very next year, Distillerie Fils du Roy was born, and Sebastien Roy and his mother Diane began the development of two first products: Gin Thuya and Absinthe La Courailleuse.

A few Years later a second Distillerie Fils du Roy opened in Quebec led by Jonathan, Sebastian’s brother. Both distilleries produce Gin Thuya, and I have been told by Sebastien that the two spirits have turned out quite different as the still in Quebec, produces a different range of flavours than the still in New Brunswick.

The Gin Thuya which is the subject of this review is produced in New Brunswick by Sebastien Roy at Distillerie Fils Du Roy. The spirit is produced from a base of corn alcohol which is redistilled in the presence of Thuja occidentalis (also known as northern white-cedar or eastern arborvitae) and various other botanicals  in a small copper still.

Here is a link to my complete review:

Review: Fils du Roy – Gin Thuya (New Brunswick)

“… The initial aroma is very traditional with firm scents of piny juniper alonside fragrant notes of evergreen boughs. I reminds me very strongly of the scents and smells I encounter when I hike through the alpine forests at the foot of the Rocky Mountains …”

Please enjoy my review which includes the cocktail suggestion, the Sophisticated Lady.

Chimo!

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Review: Gin Twenty-One (Last Straw Distillery)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 1, 2019

The Last Straw Distillery is Ontario’s smallest production micro-distillery located at 40 Pippin Rd. in Vaughan, Ontario (a wee bit north of Toronto) just off Highway 400 and around the corner from Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre. Several months ago I contacted Mike Hook (one of the Distillery owners) to inquire about their new juniper spirit Gin Twenty-One. Mike asked me if I would be interested in receiving a bottle, and when I answered in the positive it was not too long before I was sent a bottle from the most current batch (Batch No. 3). Incidentally a bottle from Batch No. 2 was sent to the 2018 Canadian Artisianal Spirits Competition where it won a gold medal.

According to the Last Straw Distillery website (and the label on the bottle) Gin Twenty-One is the world’s first crowd-sourced gin. The guys at the distillery wanted to create a gin with just the right balance of citrus, juniper and aromatics; so they went public to find the best combination. This was an exercise in patience with many variations of the chosen botanicals created for the experiment. It was the twenty-first recipe which was selected as the crowd favourite, which is of course how Gin Twenty-One received its name.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Gin Twenty-One

“… The aroma from the glass is nice with juniper and licorice/fennel leading out in front of light citrus spice (impressions lemon, grapefruit and orange peel). This is a very traditional gin profile no doubt reflecting the preferences of the gin enthusiasts who helped select the recipe …”

Please enjoy my latest gin review which includes a few recipe suggestions including the Gin Gimlet Vesper.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Dixon’s Wicked Gin (Licorice Botanical Blend)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 22, 2019

Dixon’s Distilled Spirits is located in Guelph Ontario. This small distillery produces two brands of Vodka (Silvercreek and Flaming Caesar), two styles of Wicked Gin (a Licorice Botanical Blend and a Citrus Botanical Blend), as well as a ready to drink mix called Gin Fusion.

According to the back label of the bottle, Dixon’s Wicked Gin (Licorice Botanical Blend) is non-traditional containing notes of juniper, coriander, licorice root, paradise seed, with hints of cinnamon and elderberry. The back label adds that the natural black licorice flavour should pair quite well with lemonade, tonic, and root beer.​

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Dixon’s Wicked Gin (Licorice Botanical Blend)

“… I like that the Wicked Gin is as advertised, a licorice forward spirit. I also like that the juniper has not been drowned out such that the spirit retains its identity as a juniper based spirit …”

I hope you enjoy my review as well as the cocktail which follows.

Chimo!

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Bulldog London Dry gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 23, 2019

The Bulldog Gin Brand was created in the USA by Anshuman Vohra in 2007. It was introduced in Europe in 2007 and is now owned by Campari Group and distributed in 55 countries worldwide.

This is a London Dry Gin produced from neutral grain alcohol which at 96 % alcohol by volume is infused with the natural flavours and aromas of 12 different botanicals inside a copper pot still. The botanicals used are lemon, almond, lavender, coriander, Angelica, white poppy, oris, dragon eye, lotus leaves, cassia, licorice,  and of course juniper.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Bulldog Gin

“… When I take a sniff, I notice light zesty citrus aromas which are melded fairly well with a light juniper. A touch of earthiness is present with the licorice and the angelica making an appearance, but not disrupting the balance. A spiciness of coriander comes though a little later, with the other botanicals making wispy indistinct impressions …”

Please enjoy the review as well as the cocktail suggestion which accompanies my thoughts.

Chimo!

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