Wild Island Botanic Gin (700ml)

Crafted in a century old copper still at Langley Distillery in Birmingham using British Wheat, this new Scottish gin comes infused with six native hand foraged botanicals from the Isle of Colonsay in the Scottish Hebrides, with a further ten as the base. These include water mint, meadowsweet, sea buckthorn, heather flowers, lemon balm and bog myrtle. Tasted from a 20ml sample, the nose is slightly reticent, and it's clearly a contemporary style so juniper isn't salient. Still, the palate manages a herbal, citrus complexity that makes this engaging uncut. Textural, oily, spicy and long through the finish with herbal tea notes and a host of botanicals playing second fiddle. The gin comes suitably presented in a distinctive bottle displaying an expressionist water colour representation of Kiloran Bay on Colonsay. 43.7% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Wild Island Botanic Gin is a refreshing and Summery gin. At its heart is the deep flavour of the dried lemon peel and the character of the essential oils has been carried into the gin well. This is balanced with floral notes from the heather flowers, sweet notes from the Meadowsweet, some tartness from the Sea Buckthorn, and a more refreshing kick at the finish from the lemon balm and mint. Ideal in a Tom Collins or Gin and Tonic, garnish with a slice of lemon and serve with a light tonic to bring out the citrus flavours. - theginguide.com

... it smells quite gentle with the juniper coming to the fore in the glass. It’s very zingy on the tongue with lots of flavours, leaving an aniseed-esque flavour on the tongue. It’s punchy and bold, and certainly not your restrained British G&T of times gone by. Talking of tonic, mixed up with some Fever Tree this tones down and becomes slightly sweeter and creamier (thanks meadowsweet and sea buckthorn). The floral notes become more obvious and the drink has a better balance to it. I found this a little intense when it was straight, but now it is a G&T the sweetness balances the more vibrant tones. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a liquorice fan, but I can REALLY taste the liquorice here which is spoiling it slightly – although if that’s your thing then this might just be the drink for you. - jennyinbrighton.com

Gold Medal - Gin - Contemporary Styles - 2017 International Wine & Spirit Competition