Nose: The additional abv is immediately apparent, but well-tempered by a huge whack of citrus. After the initial hit of juniper and citrus, the spices are easily accessible – far more so than in the standard Bathtub. Top-notes of cinnamon and cardamom are supported by the earthier coriander and clove. Overall, this has one of the best noses I've ever experienced on a gin.
Palate: Huge, mouth-filling, oily and complex. The initial burst of flavour comes courtesy of the spices – cardamom, cinnamon, then follows the citrus and juniper backbone, before settling into a wonderful melange of that coriander and clove combination. Absolutely fantastic.
Finish: Incredibly long and lingering, with the cinnamon and clove jostling for position for literally minutes after the initial sip.
Overall: We talk about ‘sipping gins’ all the time, but I’m not convinced anyone is actually buying it. This, my friends, is the exception. An absolutely ridiculously flavour-packed spirit, far beyond the reaches of what would be possible using distillation alone as a method of manufacture. Just remarkable…