As a result of the spirits industry exploding over the last decade, a variety of players have introduced new spirits into the market. I’m personally most fascinated by affordable products from grocery store brands. I’ve had mixed results with other grocery store spirits, like Trader Joe’s Small Batch Vodka and Rum of the Gods, but I was still looking forward to checking out Signature Reserve Dry Gin. One thing these grocery store brands seem to all have in common is a lack of information. Signature Reserve is the brand used by grocery chains owned by Albertson’s. I wasn’t able to find many specific details about Signature Reserve Dry Gin, but […]
Bayab African Grown Classic Dry Gin is produced by Spearhead Spirits – a company founded by African-British duo Chris Frederick and Damola Timeyin. As a brand, Bayab aims to celebrate the best of African botanicals, and represent the continent on bar shelves everywhere. Their gin expressions are distilled in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using botanicals from all across the continent of Africa. This particular bottle of Classic Dry Gin is made with juniper, baobab, coriander, rosemary, cinnamon, and orange peel – as well as coarse salt. BOTTLE SPECS ❖ ABV: 43% ❖ Distillery: Midlands Distillery ❖ Aging: N/A ❖ Price Point: upper moderate […]
It’s been a long time since we first reviewed a product from Empress 1908, and they’ve released some new products in recent years. While I’m interested in all of their products after our positive experience with the indigo gin, the Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin in particular caught my eye. Hendricks is one of my personal favorite gins, so I was excited to try another gin with notes of cucumber. Empress 1908 was created in 2016 in collaboration with the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada. The gin is inspired by the hotel’s renowned afternoon tea program and the “1908” in the name is the year the hotel was first established. […]
Even before my first experience with Tanqueray, the recent review for Tanqueray London Dry Gin, I had heard murmurs around the internet and Youtube that Tanqueray No. Ten was an upgrade. So after finding the London Dry somewhat underwhelming, I was eager to see if these claims held any weight. Tanqueray No. Ten launched in 2000, and was Tanqueray’s attempt to modernize their legendary gin. They use the same four botanicals as the London dry: juniper, coriander, angelica root, and licorice, and add chamomile, grapefruit, lime, and orange. BOTTLE SPECS ❖ Spirit: Contemporary Gin ❖ Distillery: Produced and Bottled in Great Britian for Charles […]
I don’t often come across gins made in Mexico, so I was really excited when I found Casa Salvia Gin. This gin is made from 100% cane neutral spirit, and features four botanicals: Salvia (Sage), Toronja (Grapefruit), Enebro (Juniper), and Menta (Mint). BOTTLE SPECS ❖ Spirit: Mexican Gin ❖ Distillery: Product of Mexico and Imported by Saranty Imports ❖ ABV: 40% (80 Proof) ❖ Moderate Price TASTING NOTES ❖ Nose: Orange, Mint ❖ Taste: Sweet Mint, Grapefruit, Light Juniper, Floral. Overall flavor is sweet at first, turns bitter with the citrus and juniper and finishes sweet. ❖ Finish: Long, Sweet Mint, Light Juniper COCKTAIL SALVIA FIZZ 1 1/2 […]