Tasting @LakesDistillery new gin tonight. We're tasting neat, with water, then as a G&T with ice and lemon.

#gin #gintasting #LakesGin

First thing to hit you is the juniper nose. That's reassuring. Aroma may have some lavender notes: that could be the particular juniper source.

With a splash of water, the citrus peel starts to become noticeable, with some warming liquorice/anis spice. For a clean & clear gin, this has hidden depths! The promised black pepper now comes out, in 2 ways: on the nose (turns out it wasn't lavender), and as heat in the finish

Hang on: I need to nip out for tonic.

Aaaand we're back in the room!

Interestingly, the short break has given me chance to examine that finish in more detain. It really is a lingering one. Twitter says I was gone 9 minutes, and I can still taste good, fruity juniper, sweetened ever so slightly by orange peel.

Ooof! That's bitter.
But in a good way.
First thought was that I'd overdone the tonic, so we'll does the gin marry with it, but then that juniper comes through again, especially as you breathe out through the nose.

All in all, I'd say it was a good, classic London dry gin, perfect for tonic water and cocktails. It has no faff about it, keeping lots of juniper to the fore. The few additional botanicals (only black pepper and orange peel are admitted to) serve simply to lift the juniper.