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Posts Tagged ‘London Dry Gin’

Review: Bombay Sapphire Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 16, 2020

Bombay Sapphire Gin is distributed by Bacardi. It was launched in 1987 and draws its unusual name from a competition where several marketing agencies were asked to submit possible names and bottle designs for the new Gin. Bombay Sapphire, the chosen name, refers to the British Empire and India heritage for the spirit in India, as gin was an extremely popular spirit during the time of the British Raj. The Star of Bombay (featured on the label) is a famous Indian Sapphire now on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

Bombay Sapphire is a London Dry Gin. This style of gin is produced through a double distillation of a neutral grain spirit with botanicals added during the second distillation. Botanicals include, almonds, lemon peel, grains of paradise, licorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica root, coriander seeds, cassia bark, and cubeb berries.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Bombay Sapphire Gin

“… The flavours of piny juniper and bright citrus zest lead out as they should. Oranges, maraschino cherries, and lemons seem to dance weave in and out of the flavour stream. A light but firm floral note and soft earthy licorice softens the juniper …”

Please enjoy my review which conclude with my suggested service, What Rough Beast.

Chimo!

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Review: Beefeater 24 (London Dry Gin)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 9, 2020

Beefeater Gins are currently produced in Kennington, a district of South East London, in the United Kingdom. Beefeater 24 (London Dry Gin)  is advertised as being handcrafted with 12 botanicals which include grapefruit, bitter almond, orris root, Seville orange peel, rare Japanese Sencha tea and Chinese green tea. This makes the new Beefeater gin more complex in construction than the previously reviewed Beefeater London Dry Gin which listed 9 ingredients.

There are other differences as well, the Beefeater 24 is bottled at a higher proof (45 % alcohol by volume) which to me seems most welcome, and all of the ingredients are apparently steeped in grain alcohol for 24 hours prior to a 7 hour distillation where the master distiller makes an artisan cut by hand from the heart of the distillation run.

Here is a link to my refreshed review of Beefeater 24:

Review: Beefeater 24 (London Dry Gin)

“… If I close my eyes above the glass I can imagine small ferns pushing out of the the slightly musty ground in the few places where the snow is gone, and drifting across those breezes is the faint smell of clumps of heather from nearby meadows …”

Please enjoy my refreshed review which includes my serving suggestion, the BLT (Beefeater, Lime and Tonic).

Chimo!

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Review: Beefeater London Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 5, 2020

Beefeater London Dry Gin is currently produced in Kennington, a district of South East London, in the United Kingdom. The company has roots stretching back to 1820 when the Chelsea Distillery was constructed on Cale Street and served as the first home for Beefeater Gin. The founder of the company, James Burrough, was not born until 1835, and it was not until about 1876 that the Beefeater brand was created from gin produced at the Chelsea Distillery. Over time the brand has changed locations twice, first in 1908 to Hutton Road, and then in 1958 to its present location in Kennington.

The Beefeater Gin website lists nine ingredients which are used to flavour the gin: Juniper, Lemon Peel, Seville Orange Peel, Almonds, Orris Root, Coriander Seed, Angelica Seed, Angelica Root, and Licorice Root. The list classic ingredients for a typical London Dry Gin.

In Canada, the Beefeater spirit is sold at 40 % abv.. Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Beefeater London Dry Gin

“… As I sniff the glass I get the impression that I am going to find the Beefeater Gin to be a very laid back and gentle spirit. Soft piny notes of juniper and earthy notes of licorice arise beside fresh scents of orange and lemon zest. A touch of coriander spiciness is present as well …”

Please enjoy my fresh look at Beefeater London Dry Gin, which concluded with my suggested cocktail the Beefeater, Lime and Tonic (The BLT).

Chimo!

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Review: Empire London Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 12, 2016

empire-gin1The Highwood Distillery is the only locally (Albertan) owned major distillery in Canada. It sits in the town of Highwood, Alberta, which lies just about 40 minutes due south of Calgary, at the foot of the Rocky Mountain. The distillery producing more than 300,000 cases of bottled spirits per year. Although the bulk of their production goes towards Vodka, Flavoured Vodka, and Premixes, they also produce a sizable (and growing) amount of Whisky and Gin each year.

Empire Gin is the company’s premium traditional style London Dry Gin. It is produced by blending a light-bodied vodka spirit with juniper and the distillery’s own special botanical selection of natural herbs, spices and citrus. These botanicals are introduced during the final distillation, and the final spirit is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Empire London Dry Gin

“… The aroma from the glass is very nice, although I might be tempted to call it somewhat mellow. We have a floral bouquet of coriander and citrus elements (in particular orange and lime; but also some grapefruit zest and hints of lemon). I also sense a firm juniper aroma with a mix of flowery herbs, building black licorice and a hint of mint and in the breezes above the glass …”

Please enjoy my review of this wonderful locally produced gin.

Chimo!

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Review: Pinnacle Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 24, 2016

Pinnacle Gin SAM_2419Pinnacle Gin is a Beam/Suntory spirit imported from the United Kingdom and (according to the back label) bottled by Portfield Importers, in Deerfield Illinois. Pinnacle is a London Dry Gin handcrafted in small batches, 4x distilled from 100 % grain, infused with botanicals, and bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Interestingly Portfield Importers also own the Pinnacle Vodka brand. The two spirits appear to be produced independently, and as far as I can determine are not related to each other in any way except through brand ownership.

Here is a link to my review of Pinnacle Gin:

Review: Pinnacle Gin

“… The gin is very clean with a crisp note of juniper dominating the breezes above the glass. This piny juniper scent is accompanied by sharp orange peel and a few zesty notes of lemon and lime. If I am patient with the glass I also seem to sense light impressions of cardamom and coriander as well as perhaps a faint note of anise …”

Please enjoy my review which includes two nice recipe suggestions from W. J. Tarling’s 1937 Cafe Royal Cocktail Book: The Red Lion and yesterday’s feature cocktail, the Abbey.

Chimo!

 

 

 

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