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Hofland Gin
About Hofland Gin
Hofland Gin is a London Dry Gin produced by Hofland at the Toorank Distillery in Zevenaar, Netherlands. Founded in 1923 by Jacob Hofland, the brand became known for its Gin and Genever products.
This particular bottle of London Dry Gin is produced using 8 botanicals and water that the company describes as “the purest water from Holland”. They source their water from The Veluwe, a national park in the Gelderland province. The botanicals used include juniper, angelica root, orris root, coriander, vanilla, licorice root, lemon, and ginger. Hofland takes great pride in the fresh lemon used in this Gin, as opposed to the usual dried lemon peel. Just like most Gins, Hofland is not aged.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 40%
❖ Distillery: Toorank International Spirits
❖ Aging: N/A
❖ Price Point: Lower Moderate Price
My Tasting notes
As I began to smell this Gin for the first time, my first whiff exceeded my expectations. The citrus quality in the aroma was much more vibrant than I had expected. Overall, the scent is clean and sweet.
After a couple more sniffs, I noticed a rubbing alcohol scent in the background, though I found it too subtle to be bothersome. The vibrancy of the citrus truly overtakes the alcohol scent, and balances everything out.
My first sip of Hofland was very citrus-forward, with a burst of juniper towards the middle. The finish had a second wave of lemony citrus flavor. Overall, there was a natural bitterness to the botanicals, but also a sweetness in the background that balances the flavor.
There were a couple moments during my tasting when the alcohol burned my throat, but I think it was my fault for sipping a bit too fast. Something about my straight tasting experience felt cleansing, due to the fresh citrus notes. The purity of the water used in production also supports the clean, pure flavor in the final product.
Cocktail
In my quest to find more simple, classic Gin cocktails to try, I stumbled upon the Gin Rickey – a clean Gin & soda recipe that was popular in the late 1800’s. It looked so simple and refreshing that I thought it would be the perfect way to put this Hofland Gin to the test!
This recipe uses fresh lime, and I was able to pick the last yellow lime on the tree just in the nick of time!
Gin Rickey
Ingredients
- 2oz Gin
- juice of 1/2 lime
- soda water (to top)
Instructions
- Fill a tall cocktail glass with ice, and squeeze the juice of your 1/2 lime into the glass.
- Add in the Gin.
- Top the mixture with soda water, and gently stir before serving.
Inside of a cocktail, Hofland Gin tasted very fresh. The citrus notes combined with the lime juice were quite tart, but I personally enjoyed the taste. After a few sips, I could begin to pick out the subtle depth of the botanicals. Still, the overall freshness is what stood out the most. Drinking this Gin Rickey was like drinking a fresh lime water. It was so refreshing!
Bottom Line
Overall, I enjoyed this Gin quite a bit. The flavor is a bit more clean than I’m used to, since I tend to gravitate towards more alternative and unique Gins. However, I think Hofland is a really solid choice, and great quality for the price.
The advertising claims are really on point for this Gin, which is nice to see. The company emphasizes the fact that they use fresh lemon instead of dried lemon peels, and I feel that you can really taste the difference. This Gin also seems really versatile, and I can’t wait to try it out in more cocktails and experiment with it.
While it’s not my favorite Gin, I would still feel comfortable recommending Hofland Gin – especially if it will round out your collection like it did for me.
As always, drink responsibly.
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