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.
The nose of the Botanist is sublime. I like it with ginger ale not too much... delicious.
Love this gin!! The flavour does reduce significantly when you add tonic, hence a lot or reviews saying it doesn't have any flavour. I'd recommend maximum 50% tonic, or have it on the rocks. To make it even better add a dash of orange bitters, a lemon wheel and a sprig of thyme...
This is an inoffensive gin, I find the flavours a bit too subtle. I prefer gins with a more bold flavour.
It has very little flavor, though more pricey I prefer Monkey 47
I was introduced to this gin by a bar owner friend of mine in a ski resort in the Pyrenees. He was on holiday as was I. His business a Beachside in Cap Ferret. I thought Botanist with a little Fever Tree (Mediteranian flavour) with a slice of lime was fantastic a instantly became my favourite tipple.
