Sample 3 cl Fary Lochan Citrus Small Batch Danish Gin 40%

Out at Farre, a stretch west of Give, sits a distillery that made its name smoking malt over nettles. Those same nettles are in this gin, tucked under lemon and lime. Three centilitres is enough to work out why they bother.

The expert's description

Sample 3 cl Fary Lochan Citrus Small Batch Danish Gin 40% is a Danish Gin distilled in small batches with juniper, lemon, lime, coriander seeds and nettles and bottled at 40%.

Fary Lochan Destilleri sits in the village of Farre near Give in central Jutland. The place is small, production runs in short batches, and over the years the distillery has built a reputation for doing things its own way rather than copying the Scots. Citrus is the brightest release in their gin range, and according to the shop's own information it builds on the distillery's Classic Gin with extra lemon and lime laid on top.

That addition is what gives the bottle its yellow tint and its leading aroma. Lemon and lime supply the tartness and a clear peel note, while the coriander seeds tie citrus and juniper together. The nettles are the quiet ingredient: they make no fuss, but they lay down a green, faintly bitter floor you will not find in a classic London Dry Gin.

Forty per cent is enough to carry that citrus through both tonic water and ice. The gin is meant for either, neat over ice or in a Gin and Tonic, and the 3 cl bottling exists so you can taste your way forward before choosing a larger bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Squeezed lemon peel lands first, sharp and juicy, with lime right behind it. Under the citrus lies a green, almost grassy layer from the nettles, and juniper keeps discreetly to the back.

Palate

Tart and crisp. Lemon and lime fill the front of the mouth, then juniper's dry bitterness reports for duty and pulls everything back down to earth. Coriander adds a warm, faintly soapy spice, and the nettles round it off with something green and herbal.

Finish

Lime peel and a dry bitterness stay behind. Short, clean, with a green trace right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Sample 3 cl Fary Lochan Citrus Small Batch Danish Gin 40%
Distillery: Fary Lochan Destilleri
Region/Country: Farre near Give, Denmark
Type: Danish Gin
ABV: 40%
Size: 3 CL
Botanicals: Juniper, lemon, lime, coriander seeds and nettles
Edition: Citrus Small Batch
EAN no.: 5714713000640
Serving suggestion: Neat over plenty of ice or in a Gin and Tonic with lime

Flavour profile

Citrus · Tart · Fresh · Herbal · Dry

Did you know?

Fary Lochan smokes its malted barley over fresh nettles instead of peat. That is the distillery's signature in the whisky, and the same nettles have been pulled into the gin, where they supply the green underside of the flavour.

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Frequently asked questions about Sample 3 cl Fary Lochan Citrus Small Batch Danish Gin 40%

What sets Fary Lochan Citrus apart from a classic London Dry Gin?

The citrus is turned up hard and juniper is no longer the lead. Lemon and lime stand at the front, coriander seeds hold it together, and nettles lay down a green floor absent from a traditional London Dry Gin. It stays dry, but it is far more fruit-driven.

Why is the gin yellow?

The colour comes from the citrus. The distillery adds extra lemon and lime, which tints the bottle yellow with no colouring involved. That tint fades noticeably the moment tonic water and ice hit the glass.

What are nettles doing in a gin?

They add a green, faintly bitter herbal note. Nettle tastes more of field than of spice, and it settles under the citrus as a counterweight to the tartness. Fary Lochan also uses nettles to smoke the malt for its whisky, so the ingredient is the distillery's own hallmark.

Which tonic and garnish work best?

A dry, neutral tonic and a wedge of lime. The gin already carries plenty of citrus, so a tonic with added citrus flavouring quickly becomes too much. To pull the nettles forward instead, garnish with a leaf of fresh basil.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes, particularly in anything that calls for citrus anyway. A Gin Sour, a Tom Collins or a Southside gains depth from the lemon and lime already in the gin, and you can dial back the fresh juice in the recipe. In a Martini, though, it turns markedly fruity.

Why choose 3 cl over a full bottle?

Because a citrus gin is a style you either fall for or leave alone. Three centilitres gives a complete impression of both aroma and palate, and it is exactly the measure for one Gin and Tonic. Browse the full selection of Whisky Samples.