The Botanist Islay Dry Gin review

Old bottle of the Botanist Islay Dry Gin (the one I tasted)

I am in no means a gin enthusiast. My favorite alcoholic drink besides whisky is gin tonic. But enjoying gin without a mixer is not what I usually do. That’s why you shouldn’t take my word too seriously.For a whisky aficionado and an Islay malt lover, Botanist Islay Dry Gin was something I just had to try. And after I had tried it, it surely was worth a mention. This stuff is smooth and fresh, very fresh – and did I mention it’s fresh?

This is a product by Bruichladdich distillery, having 31 botanicals in it, 22 of them are native Islay botanicals. For example wild Islay Juniper is included. Bruichladdich says:

“The spirit is satin smooth gliding over the palate like no gin you have ever tried before. A totally seductive experience.”

I totally agree. Even though my experience with gin without mixer isn’t wide, I’m sure that there can’t be many gins out there as smooth as this one.

Fresh and smooth gin – pure botanical greatness!

“The aromas explode like an olfactory Aurora Borealis filling the senses with meteorites of smell sensations as they explode from the glass. Sweet delicate menthol, apple mint, spring woodlands, juniper, coriander with aniseed undertones, lemon and orange peel, a bouquet of summer flowers on the machir, honey from thistle, coconut from gorse, wild mint and summer meadows. It’s a magical melody of Islay’s’ natural bounty from the Atlantic washed beaches to the summit of heather covered hills. Inhale and you’re there on the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’!”

Overall this must be as good as a gin can get! I’m not gonna rate it like I do with whisky. Instead I’ll stay with a scale from 1 to 10 like with beer.

Scoring

New bottle of Botanist Islay Dry Gin. Photo by Bruichladdich.