The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is created at the Bruichladdich distillery. This superb Islay gin was distilled in the 'ugly betty' still described as "an oversized upside-down dustbin made of copper" by Tom Morton. It has perhaps the best looking packaging we've ever seen for a gin. It's not all style and no substance either. Botanist is a world-class gin set at a proper ABV.
A huge 31 botanicals go into The Botanist, 22 of which are foraged and native to Islay. The full list of botanicals is as follows: angelica root, apple mint, birch leaves, bog myrtle leaves, cassia bark, chamomile, cinnamon bark, coriander seed, creeping thistle flowers, elder flowers, gorse flowers, heather flowers, hawthorn flowers, juniper berries, lady's bedstraw flowers, lemon balm, lemon peel, liquorice root, meadow sweet, orange peel, oris root, peppermint leaves, mugwort leaves, red clover flowers, tansy, thyme leaves, water mint leaves, white clover, wood sage leaves. Phew!
Enough botanicals to make us wish we had five noses. Big notes of citrus, delicate menthol and flowers everywhere!
Cool at first. It quickly mellows out, warmth growing with citrus keeping it fresh throughout.
Long, with a good spice.
Islay isn't just about the whisky anymore. The Botanist Gin is top-notch.
Not tried this before and received a bottle as a gift..... WOW, totally loved it! Definitely one to add to my regular collection.
I really wanted to like this Gin, but it was maybe a bit subtle. Was not my favorite neat, and seemed lost when used with various tonics. The bottle looks great, but I'll not be buying another one.
The taste of this gin is lovely. However I have a sensitivity to some alcoholic drinks. It's not that common for me to react with wheesing and a tight chest. I can only have one shot of this gin, after that i must switch to another drink. Gordon's also puts me in this position. Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, four pillars are ok for me, no reaction no matter how much I drink.
Thirty years with my go-to drink being a rocks martini. My watering hole classically offered up Beefeater or Bombay Saphire on its top shelf. They stopped the Beefeater (my favorite), and brought on this stuff. Just stunning and stunningly different. Still has an initial punch, but finishes far cleaner and leaves more room and desire for that next glass than any other gin I've had (despite its 90+ proof). Went right out and bought a bottle for home.
This is one of the smoothest gins I've ever tried, which makes it one of very few gins that I would drink on it's own, just on ice. I can agree with a few people who say there isn't much flavour, it is a super subtle gin.
