Crossbill Highland Dry Gin features a very simple botanical selection - 100% Scottish juniper berries and rosehip. That's it. In a time where some gins are made with a plethora of botanicals, it's nice to see some distillers keeping it going the opposite route and making a tasty gin with fewer botanicals. As you can probably guess, Crossbill is juniper forward, with bundles of fresh pine notes, kept in check by the sweeter, slightly fruity rosehip touches.
Crossbill Highland Dry Gin named after the Scottish Crossbill, a small bird which has an unusually shaped beak to help it get at the seeds of conifer cones.
A wonderful dry gin with plenty of juniper, fresh, clean taste.... definitely a favourite of mine
I had the pleasure of trying this at the Taigh Ailean Hotel in Portnalong, Skye. A more off-the-beaten-track watering hole it is difficult to imagine but the range of Scottish gins was better than I've seen anywhere (about 30). After sampling Isle of Harris, Rock Rose, Glen Wyvis and Gordon Castle that night, this was by far - by far - the better gin. Two botanicals but so complex for all that purity. I tried it neat and with water and was dazzled by the intensity of the juniper experience, like walking through a Highland pine forest in summer. I love the sustainable Scottish juniper story and bought this immediately after trying. I don't normally drink gin (whisky is my thing) but this will be savoured as I would my single malts. My previous favourite Scottish gin was Bruichladdich's superb Botanist. Crossbill is now in top spot.
I first tasted this gin at the Scottish Juniper Festival in 2014. To be honest, I wasn't expecting anything special, because of the fact that there was only two botanical used. Boy was I surprised! Such a beautiful, clean flavour. I've discovered since that I very much like gins that strongly feature the original juniper taste and Crossbill certainly does that. The addition of rosehip gives the gin a slightly sweet/floral/fruity note. Without a doubt, this is the finest gin I have ever tasted. If you're having the gin with a tonic, I'd suggest one with no strong flavours, this will allow you to fully appreciate this superb gin!
