Gin Part 2
 

Best Gin - Part 2

 

The Fifty Best Gin Tasting 2023


The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a "blind" tasting of 37 gins (Traditional/London Dry, modern/contemporary, botanical) with twelve members of our spirits judging panel. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. The gins were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water, unflavored unsalted crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the highest. Double-Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. Medals are provided based entirely on merit and only to products judged worthy of such award.

The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. The distilleries, states, countries of origin and alcohol proofs are identified for each brand. Clicking on the brands' names will link to their websites.

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Scapegrace Black Gin
(Scapegrace Distillery, New Zealand) 83.2° prf

Nose: Cranberry, blueberry, berries, acai, grape, violet, floral, Earl Grey tea, juniper, piney juniper, vegetable note, celery salt, sambuca, charcoal.
Palate: Lemon, lemon zest, dried peel, grape, blackberry, violet, lavender, floral, juniper, wintergreen, mint, green pepper, peppercorn, peppery spice, mineral.
Finish: Lemon, juniper, spice, pink peppercorn, jalapeño, peppery, very interesting, clean, bright, smooth.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Scapegrace Black Gin



Two Shores Gin
(Laguna Beach Spirits Co., CA) 86° prf

Nose: Lemon, citrusy, watermelon, golden raisins, rose petal, soft violet, floral, juniper, herbs, grains, mineral oil, mild sea breeze.
Palate: Lemon, lemon verbena, citrus peel, honey, citrus, mango, fresh berry, rose, floral notes, steeped tea, black tea, fresh juniper, mild juniper, grassy herbs, lemongrass, menthol, saffron, well balanced.
Finish: Lemon zest, vanilla, walnut, black licorice, rose water, grassy, dried grass, dried leaves, touch of mint, clove, mild cinnamon, pepper, mineral, limestone, wet stone, nice, silky.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Two Shores Gin



De Lijn Nieuw Western Gin
(Blue Spirits Distilling, WA) 89° prf

Nose: Lemon, lemon peel, citrus, fresh orange, tangerine, burnt orange peel, orange hard candy, lemon cream pie, lavender, violet, hibiscus, floral, juniper, juniper berry, cucumber, mint, sandalwood, brine.
Palate: Lemon, lemon custard, tangerine, orange slices, orange peel, orange hard candy, fruit gum, floral, juniper, pine, lemongrass, mint, menthol, dried herbs, clove, cinnamon, spices, peppercorn.
Finish: Orange, tangerine, dried orange peel, orange cream, vanilla bean, juniper berry, peppermint, soft cinnamon, peppery, lingering spice, mineral, creamy, soft, fun.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



De Lijn Nieuw Western Gin



NDC New Zealand Navy Strength Gin
(The National Distillery Co., NZ) 116° prf

Nose: Juniper, piney juniper, lemon, lime, citrus, lemon curd, honey, rose, dandelion, wintergreen Life Savers, black tea, lemon spice, coriander, earthy, bright.
Palate: Lemon, lemon zest, lime peel, citrus, lemon bar, lemon pastry, sweetened cucumber, rose, rosewater, juniper, anise, eucalyptus, wintergreen, tea, coriander seeds, peppercorn, black pepper, peppery spice, spicy, chalk, mineral.
Finish: Grapefruit peel, honey, vanilla, carrot, floral, violet gum, mint, tea, eucalyptus, black licorice, gentian, mineral, cinnamon, spicy, hot, strong.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



NDC New Zealand Navy Strength Gin



Loggerhead Distillery Florida Key Lime Flavored Gin
(FL) 80° prf

Nose: Lemon, lemon zest, lime, tangerine oil, citrus, fresh cucumber, grassy, ginger, herbs, juniper, vanilla.
Palate: Lemon, lemon zest, lemon skin, lime skin, yuzu, citrus, orange peel, honey, violet, rosewater, cucumber, lemongrass, mint, juniper, clove, mild pepper, chalk.
Finish: Lemon juice, grapefruit, citrus, lemon oil, violet gum, dried violet, sandalwood, herbal, juniper, mint, pepper.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Loggerhead Distillery Florida Key Lime Flavored Gin



Cape Henry Gin
(Deep Creek Distilling, VA) 92° prf

Nose: Lemon, citrus, orange, marmalade, dates, watermelon, juniper, sweet juniper, nutty, clove, orris root, agave, cactus, pine, forest floor, fresh fallen snow.
Palate: Orange marmalade, figs, bubblegum, violet, juniper, fennel, anise, black licorice, sweet mint, vanilla, baking spices, peppery spice, peppercorn, rye, earthy, smooth.
Finish: Lemon verbena, citrus, fruit marmalade, dried violet, juniper, wintergreen, peppermint, white pepper, complex fruit finish, excellent.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Cape Henry Gin



James Bay Distillers Navy Strength Gin
(WA) 114° prf

Nose: Lemon, lemon peel, cucumber, apple, dates, juniper, earthy, salty maritime, mineral spirits.
Palate: Lemon peel, lemon pith, orange citrus, mandarin orange skin, melon, pear, fruit gum, caramel, honey, honeysuckle, violet, juniper, wintergreen, eucalyptus, spice, bitter root, orris root.
Finish: Lemon, sweet Meyer lemon, melon, dried mandarin orange skin, honey, sugar cookie, sweet tea, touch of juniper, spice, peppery, sweetness, well-balanced, tasty.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



James Bay Distillers Navy Strength Gin



Isle of Raasay Hebridean Gin
(Isle of Raasay Distillery, Scotland) 92° prf

Nose: Juniper, sweet juniper, piney juniper, fruit forward, grapefruit peel, floral, sandalwood, coriander, dried leaves, mineral.
Palate: Lemon, tea, lemon cream, honey, carrot, grapefruit peel, juniper, botanical, clover, anise, mint, jasmine, spice, mineral, limestone, oak, pine, sweet, creamy, very easy drinking, tasty.
Finish: Citrus peel, lime skin, berry, herbs, spices, floral talc, mineral, limestone, cedar, creamy, tasty.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Isle of Raasay Hebridean Gin



Cross Keys Gin Single Batch
(Latvidas balzams, Riga, Latvia) 82° prf

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon peel, grapefruit, cucumber, floral, juniper, piney juniper, mint, coriander.
Palate: Lemon peel, grapefruit pith, cucumber, floral, anise, black licorice, menthol, basil, cardamom, clove, spice, black peppercorn, black pepper, root, bark, pine, velvety mouthfeel, fresh.
Finish: Lingering juniper, citrus, violet, cardamom, pepper, mineral, resin, tree bark.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Cross Keys Gin Single Batch



Swiss Alpine Gin
(Distillerie Studer & Co., Switzerland) 80° prf

Nose: Sweet lemon, lemon zest, lemon peel, citrus, carrot, rose petal, lavender, floral, sandalwood, juniper, grass, mint, green pepper, celery salt.
Palate: Lemon, lemon pith, lemon oil, tangerine, hibiscus, rose, vanilla, juniper, menthol, clove, pink peppercorn, cracked black pepper, spicy, cactus, carrot, root, bark, mineral, velvety mouthfeel, silky.
Finish: Lemon zest, citrus, carrot, floral, juniper, herbs, wintermint, wintergreen, cardamom, mineral, resin, tree bark.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Swiss Alpine Gin



BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS

Cross Keys Gin Black Currant
(Latvidas balzams, Riga, Latvia) 76° prf

Nose:Currants, prickly pear, lemon, watermelon, Jolly Rancher candy, cherry blossom, rosewater, lavender, violet, floral, juniper.
Palate: Currants, strawberry, mango, Jolly Rancher candy, fruit gum, rose, hibiscus, rose blossom, floral, dried flowers, juniper berry.
Finish: Passion fruit, pineapple, papaya, verbena, apple peel, tropical fruit, Rose sorbet, honey, lilac, violet, floral, minty, dried citrus, pistachio, pepper, sweet, velvety.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal



Cross Keys Gin Black Currant



Bayab Burnt Orange & Marula African Grown Gin
(Midlands Distillery, So. Africa) 86° prf

Nose: Orange, orange candy, lime, lime soufflé, citrus flower, red berry, rose petals, floral, mint, pink peppercorn.
Palate: Orange, orange candy, lemon, lemon zest, citrus, sweet cane sugar, honey, apricot, juniper twist, mint, toast crust, cinnamon, peppery spice, pink peppercorn creamy mouthfeel.
Finish: Burnt orange, dried apricot, bubble gum, fresh spring flowers, herbal, tree bark, spicy, sweet, flavorful.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal



Bayab Burnt Orange & Marula African Grown Gin



Cross Keys Gin Sea Buckthorn
(Latvidas balzams, Riga, Latvia) 76° prf.

Nose: Orange peel, orange Sunkist soda, grapefruit peel, mango, honeycomb, custard, juniper, green tea, celery salt, musty, earthy.
Palate: Orange, mandarin oange, clementine, tangerine, lemon, citrus, pineapple, cherry, mint, dried flowers, licorice, spices, thick mouthfeel.
Finish: Bitter orange, sweet citrus, honey, soda pop, herbs, eucalyptus, spices, sweet finish, easy drinking.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal



Cross Keys Gin Sea Buckthorn



James Bay Distillers Berry & Ube Gin
(WA) 80° prf

Nose: Mixed berries, grape, violet, lovely floral, light juniper, zesty.
Palate: Blackberry, blueberry, mixed berries, plum, citrus, juniper, lilac, dried herbs, almonds, chocolate, white pepper, peppercorn, chili peppers, peppery, creamy mouthfeel.
Finish: Plummy, agave fruit, honey, violet, fresh fields of lilac, spice, pepper, easy drinking.


Bronze Medal
bronze medal



James Bay Distillers Berry & Ube Gin

 

 



Best Barreled Gin
Best Barreled Gin

 

 

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