Notes:Made in a 200 year-old gin distillery outside London- triple-distilled spirit is used to macerate/steep the ingredients which are then distilled a 4th time in a copper pot still.

First Impression: Juniper, witchhazel and cassia, followed with citrus.The high proof gives it more alcohol bite but this is to be expected. Even at 94 proof though, this gin shows a subtlety of blending.

Taste: Body is so thick it could be mistaken for an oil or glycerin when it hits your lips. A bracing mixture of licorice, juniper, citrus and the other spices rush headlong through the palate leaving a warm oily wake, mild tingling on the lips and tongue and a hint of juniper. Very clean, with a very interesting mixture of licorice and citrus notes. Slight warming burn on the way down. Finish has cream spinach notes and resin. For a high proof gin this stuff is remarkably smooth.

Appearance: Crystal clear, displays long legs on swirling,which then become droplets on the side of the glass.

Drinks: Makes a excellent martini, but remember to adjust your dilution and cooling to compensate for the slightly higher proof (in other words shake it a little longer). That being said, it will chill better than most as the higher proof seems to keep the botanicals blended better at a colder temperature than most and gives you a lovely molten glass appearance. It will cater to those martini drinkers who either remember the older style of gin (and martinis), or aspire to know what it was (and is)-a little less subtle, (but balanced), more body for the old style crowd or someone who wants to try something a bit different. One of my favorites for a gin and tonic which can actually be a more difficult drink for a gin to stand out in.

Bottle: Bowler cap top is what you see first. With a gold-on-blue neck seal underneath. The white/off white label and printing gives a antique stamped printing and lithograph appearance to the label. Hang tag lists the botanicals infused into the gin.

Final Thoughts : Classic old style gin with no apologies. A retro- or retrograde type of gin of the type before the sissified ‘lighter’ gins started to be blended to lure the fear of flavor crowd away from their vodka “martini” abominations. Made from simple,traditional ingredients -no gimmicks, secrets herbs or spices- just good gin. One of sadly few gins made the old fashioned way in a copper pot still, a labor intensive method that has fallen from favor among most distillers.

Only the truly committed (or committable) still use copper pot stills to produce truly different artisianal style products, with the resulting heavier and more complex flavors than what the column or coffey stills others produce. “Gin is a fiddlely thing to produce” to quote a (obviously English) distiller friend of mine made especially difficult to produce with a pot still. Paradoxically costs about 1/2 of the price of other premium gins.

Website: http://www.brokersgin.com/

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