Deep inside Balmenach whisky distillery in Speyside sits a copper chamber found nowhere else in the world. Here, among whisky casks and malt bins, Caorunn is born - named after the Gaelic word for rowan.

Expert's description

Caorunn Small Batch Scottish Gin is a Scottish Premium Gin distilled at Balmenach Distillery in Speyside and bottled at 41.8%.

Caorunn has been handcrafted in small batches at Balmenach since 2009 and is distilled in the world's only working copper Berry Chamber, housed inside the whisky distillery itself.

Eleven botanicals, including juniper, coriander, cassia bark, angelica root, lemon and orange peel, are loaded into the chamber's four trays alongside five Scottish 'Celtic' botanicals: rowan berry, heather, dandelion, bog myrtle and Coul Blush apple. Vapour from the spirit passes through the trays over several days, picking up the aromas.

Each batch totals just 1,000 litres, giving every bottle a tight, handcrafted character.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is fresh and aromatic with ripe citrus, apple and a hint of wild berry, backed by a soft herbal note.

Palate

The palate is crisp with classic juniper, spiced coriander and a light sweetness from the Coul Blush apple.

Finish

The finish is clean and refreshing, with a last trace of heather and rowan berry.

Specifications

Name: Caorunn Small Batch Scottish Gin
Distillery: Balmenach Distillery
Country: Scotland
Type: Premium Gin
ABV: 41.8%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010509800068
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with a slice of red apple
Distillery: Caorunn Gin

Flavour profile

Fresh · Berry · Spiced · Apple · Herbal

Did you know?

Caorunn is pronounced 'ka-roon' and is the Gaelic word for rowan berry, one of the five 'Celtic' botanicals that make the gin Scottish to its core.

See our full range of Caorunn

In the Cognac region, the stills sit idle for half the year, since the law states cognac can only be distilled between November and March. Alexandre Gabriel saw an opportunity and filled the empty months with something else entirely: gin.

Expert's description

Citadelle Gin is a French Premium Gin distilled by Maison Ferrand in the Cognac region and bottled at 44%.

The gin launched in 1996 and takes its name from the royal distillery once housed in a citadel in Dunkirk, where the French distillers Carpeau and Stival were already making gin from juniper as early as 1771.

Citadelle is distilled in a traditional Charentaise still, the same kind used for cognac, over a naked flame. The base is a neutral wheat spirit, joined by 19 botanicals including orris root, almond, cardamom, cassia bark, grains of paradise and cubeb pepper.

The patented method is called progressive maceration, where each botanical joins the distillation at its own moment, depending on how strong and volatile its aroma is.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is complex and spiced with juniper, citrus and a warm note of cardamom and cinnamon.

Palate

The palate is round and full-bodied with almond-like sweetness, spiced depth from grains of paradise and a delicate floral undertone from orris root.

Finish

The finish is long and spiced, with a last trace of anise and pepper.

Specifications

Name: Citadelle Gin
Distillery: Maison Ferrand
Country: France
Type: Premium Gin
ABV: 44%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 3460410507877
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with a slice of orange
Distillery: Citadelle Gin

Flavour profile

Spiced · Complex · Round · Floral · Warm

Did you know?

Citadelle is distilled in the same type of Charentaise still that Maison Ferrand normally uses for cognac, only during the months when cognac law forbids distillation.

See our full range of Citadelle

In the Saar valley, home to some of Germany's most celebrated Riesling vineyards, the Vallendar family had the idea of putting the grape itself into the gin. The result tastes as much of vineyard as of juniper thicket.

Expert's description

Ferdinand's Saar Dry Gin is a German Gin distilled by Avadis Distillery in the Mosel region and bottled at 44%.

Master distiller Andreas Vallendar combines over 30 finely tuned botanicals, mainly from the estate's own cultivation and the surrounding region, with the finest Riesling grapes from the Saarburger Rausch vineyard.

Regional botanicals include sloe, rosehip, angelica, hop blossom and rose, while the lavender comes from fallow vineyard land in the Konzer Tälchen valley and the lemon-scented thyme is grown in the estate's own garden.

The Riesling grapes give the gin a light wine-like acidity and an aromatic depth that sets it apart from classic London Dry styles.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is floral and spiced with a clear wine-like undertone from the Riesling grapes, joined by juniper and lavender.

Palate

The palate is complex with juniper and herbs up front, a fine acidity from the grapes and a delicate bitterness from hop blossom.

Finish

The finish is dry and wine-like, with a last trace of lavender and lemon thyme.

Specifications

Name: Ferdinand's Saar Dry Gin
Distillery: Avadis Distillery
Country: Germany
Type: Dry Gin
ABV: 44%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 4260270190450
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with a grape or a sprig of rosemary
Distillery: Ferdinand's Saar Dry Gin

Flavour profile

Wine-like · Floral · Spiced · Complex · Dry

Did you know?

Over 30 of the botanicals in Ferdinand's Saar Dry Gin come from the Vallendar family's own cultivation or the surrounding Saar valley - an unusually deep local sourcing story for a gin.

See our full range of Ferdinands

In the Saar valley near the Mosel, the Vallendar family grows a rare pear-quince variety that would rarely end up in a glass of gin. Here, the freshly harvested fruit is steeped with the estate's own Saar Dry Gin and a rich Riesling Kabinett.

Expert's description

Ferdinand's Saar Quince Gin is a German gin-based infusion bottled at 30%.

The spirit is produced by Avadis Distillery in the Mosel region under master distiller Andreas Vallendar, who combines over 30 finely tuned botanicals, many from the estate's own cultivation, with hand-picked Riesling grapes from the Zilliken vineyard.

Quince is the house's answer to British sloe gin: freshly harvested muscatel quinces, a rare pear-quince variety grown on the estate, are steeped with the award-winning Saar Dry Gin alongside an infusion of 2011 Saarburger Rausch Kabinett Riesling.

The result is a sweet, wine-like gin liqueur with clear fruitiness and a fine acidity from the Riesling that ties the whole thing together.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is fruity and honeyed with ripe quince, backed by a fresh, wine-like undertone from the Riesling grape.

Palate

The palate is soft and sweet with clear quince fruit, supported by juniper and a fine acidity from the wine.

Finish

The finish is long and wine-like, with a last trace of honey and tart fruit.

Specifications

Name: Ferdinand's Saar Quince
Distillery: Avadis Distillery
Country: Germany
Type: Gin liqueur
ABV: 30%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 4260270190627
Serving suggestion: Neat over ice or as the base of an Old Fashioned variation
Distillery: Ferdinand's Saar Dry Gin

Flavour profile

Fruity · Wine-like · Sweet · Honeyed · Tart

Did you know?

The quinces used for Ferdinand's Saar Quince are a rare pear-quince variety the Vallendar family grows themselves in the Saar valley - almost never used in gin anywhere else in the world.

See our full range of Ferdinands

Jodhpur in Rajasthan is known as "the Blue City" for its blue-painted houses and has for centuries been a hub for the spice trade and colonial history. This gin draws on the city's exotic heritage and pairs it with English distilling craft.

Expert's description

Jodhpur London Dry Gin is an English Premium London Dry Gin distilled four times in traditional copper stills and bottled at 43%.

The gin is made in England but takes its inspiration from India and its name from the city of Jodhpur, a symbol of authenticity, spice diversity and colonial history.

13 carefully selected botanicals, including Belgian and Saxon angelica root, Moroccan coriander, ginger and cinnamon, give the gin a complex yet balanced flavour profile, where Indian spices take centre stage alongside juniper and liquorice.

The quadruple distillation in traditional copper stills ensures a particular purity and clarity that lets each spice come through clearly.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is juniper-led with citrus freshness, floral notes, a hint of coriander and exotic spices.

Palate

The palate is dry, classic and spiced with a harmonious interplay of citrus, juniper, ginger and mild herbs.

Finish

The finish is warm and spiced, with a last trace of cinnamon and ginger.

Specifications

Name: Jodhpur London Dry Gin
Country: England
Type: Premium London Dry Gin
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8414771863719
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with a slice of ginger or citrus
Distillery: Jodhpur Gin

Flavour profile

Spiced · Exotic · Classic · Dry · Complex

Did you know?

Jodhpur takes its name from the 'Blue City' in Rajasthan, known for its blue-painted houses and its role as a key stop on the exotic spice trade route.

See our full range of Jodhpur

In 1888, British colonists founded an exclusive club in the port town of Mombasa, in what was then British East Africa. The gin was distilled in London and shipped all the way to Kenya, so the club's members could taste a piece of home in a foreign land.

Expert's description

Mombasa Club Colonel's Reserve is an English London Dry Gin distilled four times and bottled at 43.5%.

The Mombasa Club was known for its exclusivity and perfectionism, and the gin was originally reserved for the club's hand-picked members, enjoyed far from the London where it was made.

Botanicals are carefully hand-selected and include juniper, cassia bark, coriander, angelica root and cloves, a blend that still carries a hint of the exotic East Africa the gin was once shipped to.

The quadruple distillation ensures an extra clean, soft base that lets the botanicals unfold fully without sharp edges.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is spiced and warm with clear juniper, cassia bark and a light clove-like depth.

Palate

The palate is round and soft with juniper up front, spiced coriander and a warm finish of cloves.

Finish

The finish is long and spiced, with a last trace of angelica.

Specifications

Name: Mombasa Club Colonel's Reserve
Country: England
Type: London Dry Gin
ABV: 43.5%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8437011284105
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with a slice of orange
Distillery: Mombasa Club

Flavour profile

Spiced · Warm · Classic · Round · Complex

Did you know?

Mombasa Club gin was originally distilled in London and shipped all the way to Kenya, exclusively for members of the Mombasa Club, founded in 1888.

See our full range of Mombasa Club

The story starts with a monkey named Max, a retired RAF officer and a guesthouse deep in the Black Forest. Decades later, when renovation workers found a hand-labelled bottle hidden in the building, a gin legend was rediscovered.

Expert's description

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin is a German Gin distilled from 47 botanicals in the Black Forest and bottled at 47%.

After World War II, RAF officer Montgomery Collins settled in the Black Forest, where he ran the guesthouse "The Wild Monkey," named after Max, a monkey he had sponsored at Berlin Zoo. There he distilled his own Schwarzwald Dry Gin until the guesthouse closed in the 1970s.

Decades later, a hand-labelled bottle and a note with Collins's botanical notes were found hidden in the building. This inspired Alex Stein and Christoph Keller to recreate the recipe as Monkey 47.

The 47 botanicals combine British gin traditions, Indian spices and local Black Forest plants, including spruce shoots, lingonberries, sloe berries, elderflower and bramble leaves.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is complex and woody with spruce shoots and berries, spiced with a light peppery warmth.

Palate

The palate is intense and layered with juniper, citrus and berry sweetness, backed by spices from India.

Finish

The finish is long and spiced, with a last trace of lingonberry and spruce.

Specifications

Name: Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin
Country: Germany
Type: Dry Gin
ABV: 47%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 42213277
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with a slice of red apple or rosemary
Distillery: Monkey 47

Flavour profile

Complex · Woody · Spiced · Berry · Intense

Did you know?

The name Monkey 47 refers to Max, the monkey Montgomery Collins sponsored at Berlin Zoo, and to the 47 botanicals the gin is distilled from.

See our full range of Monkey 47

In the archives of the old French house Gabriel Boudier lay a recipe dating back to when France held trading posts in India. Saffron Gin is the rediscovered tribute to the exotic spices that were once the height of fashion.

Expert's description

Saffron Gin is a French London Dry Gin distilled by Gabriel Boudier in Dijon and bottled at 40%.

The recipe was rediscovered in Maison Boudier's archives in 2008, when the company's British importer asked for a French London Dry Gin. The story dates back to the 19th century, when France held colonies such as Pondicherry, Chandernagore and Madras, famed for their exotic botanicals.

The gin is distilled from seven classic botanicals - juniper, coriander, lemon peel, orange peel, angelica root, iris and fennel - before an infusion of real saffron threads from Crocus sativus is added.

The saffron gives the gin its characteristic golden hue and an earthy, lightly sweet spice that sets it apart from most other London Dry Gins.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers juniper and citrus, spiced with an earthy, lightly honeyed tone from the saffron.

Palate

The palate is round with classic juniper and coriander, where the saffron adds a warm, slightly bitter spice.

Finish

The finish is long and spiced, with a last trace of iris and earthy saffron.

Specifications

Name: Saffron Gin
Distillery: Gabriel Boudier
Country: France
Type: London Dry Gin
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 3252560600047
Serving suggestion: Saffron Gin Tonic with a slice of orange
Distillery: Gabriel Boudier

Flavour profile

Spiced · Earthy · Golden · Citrus · Classic

Did you know?

Saffron does more than flavour the gin - it also colours it. Saffron Gin has a light golden hue, unusual for a classic gin.

See our full range of Saffron

In 2012, Tarquin Leadbetter was a 23-year-old chef with a dream and a garden full of experiments. Today his Cornwall distillery is one of England's most celebrated, and the recipe is still the one he landed on after more than 100 trial batches.

Expert's description

Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin is an English Dry Gin distilled in Cornwall and bottled at 42%.

Tarquin Leadbetter, a classically trained chef from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, left the London restaurant kitchen to chase his passion for gin. After 18 months of experimenting and over 100 test batches, he founded The Southwestern Distillery, the first distillery in Cornwall in over 100 years.

The gin is distilled over a naked flame in a copper pot still named Tamara, a Portuguese alembic, where botanicals rest in wheat spirit before a single-shot distillation.

Among the 12 botanicals is the more unusual Devon violet, a flower once famous in early perfumery, alongside juniper, citrus and spices gathered from around the world - and Tarquin's own back garden.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is floral and lightly sweet with a clear violet note, backed by citrus and a classic juniper core.

Palate

The palate is soft and round with juniper up front, spiced depth and a delicate floral character from the violets.

Finish

The finish is clean and lightly sweet, with a last trace of citrus and flowers.

Specifications

Name: Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin
Distillery: The Southwestern Distillery
Country: England
Type: Dry Gin
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5060353070506
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with a slice of red apple
Distillery: The Southwestern Distillery

Flavour profile

Floral · Soft · Citrus · Spiced · Round

Did you know?

Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin won World's Best Gin at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2017, just five years after the distillery was founded.

See our full range of Tarquin

In 1616, Denmark founded the colony of Tranquebar on India's east coast, from where Danish merchant ships carried spices and tea back to Europe. Tranquebar Colonial Gin is built on a recipe said to have been enjoyed aboard those very ships.

Expert's description

Tranquebar Colonial Gin is a gin based on a historic recipe from the Danish colony of Tranquebar, bottled at 45%.

The recipe stems from Jan De Willum's preserved archives, uniting classic European gin botanicals like juniper and citrus with exotic spices from the Far East, including cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon and coriander - spices that were traded through the colony of Tranquebar itself.

The Tranquebar Treaty of 1620 made the colony the headquarters of Danish India for the next 200 years, and the gin is a direct tribute to this chapter of Danish maritime history.

Tasting notes

Nose

Warm spices like cardamom and nutmeg meet piney juniper and citrus peel.

Palate

The palate is spiced and complex, with cinnamon and coriander unfolding around a classic juniper base.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with a last trace of nutmeg.

Specifications

Name: Tranquebar Colonial Gin
Country: Denmark
Type: Gin
Size: 70 CL
ABV: 45%
Serving suggestion: Serve with a light tonic and a slice of orange to bring out the spices
EAN no.: 5712421080008
Distillery: Royal Dirkzwager Distillery

Flavour profile

Spiced · Exotic · Piney · Complex

Did you know?

The Danish colony of Tranquebar on India's east coast became the headquarters of Danish India for 200 years following the Tranquebar Treaty of 1620.

See our full range of Tranquebar

Bruichladdich sends its distillers out into Islay's raw nature to forage botanicals for The Botanist - the result is a gin with the island's wild soul in every drop.

Expert's description

Bruichladdich The Botanist Small Batch Islay Dry Gin is a Scottish Islay Dry Gin, bottled at 46%.

The gin uses as many as 9 of the classic gin components, including orris root, cassia bark and coriander seed - but that is just the starting point.

Bruichladdich adds a further 22 wild, hand-foraged botanical ingredients from Islay's raw landscape, including juniper.

In total, 31 botanicals are used, giving The Botanist a complexity that is rare within gin.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is complex and floral, with a touch of Islay's wild nature.

Palate

The palate offers a wealth of herbs and flowers, carried by classic juniper.

Finish

The finish is long and botanically complex.

Specifications

Name: The Botanist Small Batch
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Country: Scotland
Type: Islay Dry Gin
ABV: 46%
Size: 100 CL
EAN no.: 5055807401883
Serving suggestion: Gin & Tonic with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic
Distillery: h

Flavour profile

Botanical · Floral · Complex

Did you know?

The 22 wild-foraged botanicals for The Botanist are hand-harvested on Islay by a local team who know the island's flora down to the smallest detail.

See our full range of The Botanist