WIRRAL GIN (CONTEMPORARY)
This pick is not because Wirral Gin must go into Wirral Life magazine!
It appears in this article because it is pure quality. It is made in Spital and
is crafted in tiny quantities per distillation. The featured botanical here
is Bog Myrtle. Yes, it is a plant! The name Wirral literally means ‘myrtle
corner’ and it is said that the Wirral was once overgrown with the plant.
So a local connection. You can taste the juniper in the background, but
the Bog Myrtle gives this gin something special. It is an aromatic gin.
It gives of warmth. There are floral notes and there is a touch of spice
too. There is all sorts going on in this gin, but a gin where the botanicals
are in perfect balance. Instead of a slice of lemon, why not try a slice of
orange or some grated orange zest here? Well done Wirral Gin!
MONKEY 47 (CONTEMPORARY)
This gin hails from the Black Forest in Germany. The ‘47’ comes from
the number of botanicals that go into the gin. Yes – 47! It is hardly
surprising that there is, therefore, a lot going on in your glass here.
It is a gin with spice, fruit and herb flavours, all mixing tog ether in a
wonderfully structured gin. There are tones and hints of (amongst other
things) lime, lemongrass, pine, coriander and cinnamon, but to name a
few. Overall I think the citrus flavour probably comes out on top, both
on the nose and on the palate. This gin has a botanical sweetness to it,
but not an overpowering one, and yet it manages to remain a powerful
and robust gin. It is a fabulous drink. Here, why not try a slice of lime or
some grated lime zest? A wonderful match.
FINALLY
“I’ve tried Buddhism, Scientology, Numerology, Transcendental
Meditation, Qabbala, t’ai chi, feng shui and Deepak Chopra, but I find
straight gin works best”. (Phyllis Diller)
Perhaps that’s all I need to say. This great American actress and
comedienne will have seen some of the gin revolution during her life
time, up until her death in 2012. What she would have made of the
world of gin, as we know it in 2018, who knows! The reality is that, today
in 2018, the world of gin really is our oyster. Enjoy it. There is so much
on offer.
COCKTAIL OF
THE MONTH
by Panoramic 34
BLOOM GIN (CONTEMPORARY)
This gin comes from Warrington. It is a refreshing gin. Again there is a
lot going on in your glass. The juniper is there, but here we encounter
honeysuckle, chamomile and pomelo. We have floral notes, sweetness
from the honeysuckle, some citrus notes from the pomelo and some
calming camomile notes too. All the botanicals are delicately balanced
here. The drinker ends up with a mouthful of delicate flavours and of a
rich, luxurious, yet somehow refreshing gin.
PLYMOUTH GIN (CLASSIC)
Yep – from Plymouth! As a classic gin you get the juniper. It is immediately
obvious on the nose (that pine note aroma). But the gin actually contains
7 botanicals. Along with the juniper it contains coriander seed, orange
peel, lemon peel, green cardamom, angelica root and orris root. This gin
provides the perfect example of how a classic, juniper led or dominated
gin, can delicately mix and compliment other botanicals. Whilst juniper
is at the forefront, you still get the other botanicals too, both on the nose
and on the palate. This is a creamy, exquisite, aromatic and smooth gin.
If you wish, you could easily sip this on its own!
SIPSMITHS VJOP (CLASSIC)
Now to west London. The VJOP stands for ‘Very Junipery Over Proof ’.
It is ‘very junipery’ - Sipsmith’s use triple the amount of juniper berries
that they us in their London Dry Gin (41.6 % ABV). It is hardly
surprising, therefore, that you get pine aromas on the nose again and
pine, wood and herbaceous aspects on the palate. Yet you also get a bit
of orange and chocolate coming through too. As to over strength, it is
57.7% ABV (Navy strength). Yet it is a truly beautiful gin, with a long
finish, and is a gin where the juniper not only dominates, but shines.
From Sipsmith’s own website: “Imagine the botanicals as components
in an orchestra, here we have taken the lead instrument, juniper, and
amplified its presence in the ensemble, then raised the decibels by
increasing the proof alcohol. The result is our very own symphony in ‘J’
major”. Can’t say it any better than that!
MOMBASSA CLUB (CLASSIC)
We stay in London. Named after a famous social club in Mombassa,
this is another juniper led gin. Alongside the juniper there are a variety
of other botanicals including clove, cumin, coriander seed, cassia bark
and angelica root. On the nose you again get that woody, bark, forest
smell. There is spice there too, but still a hint of sweetness. On the palate
the taste is complex but, as well as the juniper, you get some citrus and
spice too. The finish is long. Again a wonderfully balanced gin, with its
botanicals all combining to perfection.
34 wirrallife.com
HINT OF VALENCIA
Ingredients:
• Gin 35ml
• Blood Orange Cointreau 15ml
• Lime juice 15ml
• Marmalade - 4 spoons
• Grapefruit Cordial 50ml
Method:
• Place all ingredients in a Boston shaker for
7-10 seconds.
• Pour over ice cubes with crushed ice on
top.
• Garnish with marmalade, dehydrated lime
and two dehydrated grapefruits.