Cotswolds Distillery Dry Gin

Gin is a spirit flavoured with juniper berries and other botanicals. The neutral base spirit can come from a range of sources, but it’s usually made using a flavourless grain spirit. Distilleries will usually infuse the base spirit with spices, flowers, herb extracts, berries, flowers, or fruit. The blank slate of gin can complement a range of flavours from raspberry pink gin to parma violet. 

Quality ingredients are the most important when choosing gin. The base grain spirit should be of a high enough quality that it’s smooth to drink and takes on flavour from selected botanicals. Meanwhile, high-quality, local botanicals will offer the most complex flavour profiles that capture the growing environment. The best gin depends on the flavours you enjoy, some gins, like ours, are citrussy and floral, while others are spicy and herbal.

Yes, you can drink gin straight, but neat spirit can overpower the delicate botanical aromas. If you want to get the most flavour from your gin, try adding soda water and a complementary garnish such as a fresh citrus, cucumber or strawberry slice. If you have a sweet tooth, add tonic or lemonade.

Typically, distilled gin mixes best with tonic water. However, tonic isn’t everyone’s cup, and luckily, gin is a very versatile spirit. Instead, try mixing it with lemonade, soda water, ginger ale, fruit juice or fruit soda. The best mixer for gin might depend on the flavour notes, for example, floral gin may pair well with elderflower. Meanwhile, citrus expressions with cloudy lemonade. Fruity gins are great with lemonade, cream soda or soda water. 

The key flavour associated with gin is juniper. You could describe the flavour of gin as similar to pine, citrus zest and pink or black pepper. The flavour isn’t for everyone but if you enjoy anise, candied lemon peel, coriander, violet, elderflower and lavender, you could be a gin-lover.