Review: Martin Miller’s Gin   85/10
Review By Chip Dykstra
Published on April 08, 2020

Martin Miller’s Gin is produced at the Langley Distillery upon some of the oldest working copper pot stills in the United Kingdom. The Langley Distillery produces a variety of gins on a contract basis for many different UK producers. (Spanish wines and spirits producer Zamora Company currently own a majority stake in Martin Miller’s Gin.)

According to the Martin Miller’s website the gin produced for them is double distilled (using neutral spirit) on these pot stills with Angelica, Cassia, Coriander, Nutmeg, bitter Orange Peel, dried Lemon Peel, dried Lime Peel, Licorice Root, Florentine Iris, and of course Juniper. (Note: According to an article published in Spirits Business (30th March, 2016), a little bit of cucumber essence is added to the botanical mixture as well.)

Apparently the citrus elements are distilled separately from the other botanicals and the two separate distillates are then blended to the proper flavour profile. Water from Iceland is used to bring the final spirit to bottling strength.

Martin Miller’s Gin is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

In The Bottle  4.5/5

Martin Miller’s Gin is presented in the attractive tall bottle shown on the left. The masculine bottle towers over the other gin bottles making an immediate impression. The label is easy to read and the label makes clear reference to both the country of distillation, United Kingdom, and the source of the water to bring the spirit to bottling strength, Iceland. A long neck makes pouring easy, and the only drawback is that the tall bottle does not fit very well in my gin cabinet being taller than the shelves within.

In the Glass 8.5/10

Martin Miller is clear in the glass and as the scents from within begin to rise into the breezes I sense a traditional gin spirit with juniper and citrus leading the botanical parade. The citrus in fact dominates at first but after a few moments the juniper finds its legs.

Licorice and hints of cinnamon are apparent as is a firm orange liqueur-like aroma similar to Orange Curacao. And then there is something else, perhaps a melding of the cucumber essence with the botanical construct giving the spirit a new twist which I haven’t encountered in gin before.

I like the aroma, although we will have to see how this cucumber-like twist plays across the palate.

In the Mouth 51/60

There were three of us tasting the Martin Miller Gin the first time, and all three of us had a different take away. One of my friends stated unequivocally that the orange citrus was the star of this gin, another that that they noticed a ‘cinnamon-like’ flavour that they thought worked really well with the citrus and the juniper. Myself, I decided that they were both right; but that their was also a very Hendrick’s-like quality which for me was the focus of my attention. I suppose my take is not surprising as Hendrix Gin uses infusions of cucumber in its construct as well.

As for tasting my notes, juniper and citrus seem to play equal roles in the gin with licorice and angelica underneath supporting the flavour but not upsetting it. Cinnamon and nutmeg are both apparent as is of course the cucumber essence which comes in especially strong at the finish.

Martin Miller’s is seems to me was practically designed for Gin and Tonics (see recipe below), and in particular works very well with Fever Tree Tonic. Gimlet style cocktails work almost as well (see recipe below), as does a Dry Martini particularly with a citrus garnish.

In the Throat 12.5/15

Whereas the delivery seems to be all about citrus and juniper, the finish is all about cucumber and it is in the exit that the ‘Hendricks-like quality is most noticeable.  There is also moderate amount of coriander spice which livens the palate after the swallow.

The Afterburn  8.5/10

Martin Miller’s Gin is a nice dry gin with a bit of a twist. That twist is the essence of cucumber which is added to the botanical mix of the spirit. This make the gin ideal for Gin and Tonic Cocktails, and its pretty darn good in Martinis and Gimlet’s as well.

You may read some of my other Gin Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.

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