Sample 3 cl O.P. Anderson Blood Orange Organic Gin 40%

A Swedish house that built its name on aquavit turns to juniper. Fennel and anise come along from the other end of the portfolio, and blood orange settles over them: dark, faintly sweet, carrying the bitterness that ripe orange peel always has. Three centilitres of it.

The expert's description

Sample 3 cl O.P. Anderson Blood Orange Organic Gin 40% is a Swedish Organic Gin distilled with juniper, blood orange, citrus peel, coriander, fennel and anise and bottled at 40%.

O.P. Anderson Distillery is one of those names every Swede recognises, though most recognise it from the aquavit. Blood Orange is the house stepping into the gin category, made with organic ingredients throughout. The colour is distinctly orange in the bottle.

What is interesting is what the house brought with it. Fennel and anise belong to the aquavit toolkit and rarely appear in gin, but here they sit beneath the blood orange and give it a warm, faintly liquorice-like floor. Coriander and citrus peel sharpen everything up, and juniper holds the direction so the bottle stays a gin rather than sliding into a sweetened orange spirit.

Blood orange differs from ordinary orange by being darker and less sweet, with a bitter edge in the peel. That edge is what makes the gin useful in a Negroni, where it can hold its ground against both campari and vermouth. This 3 cl bottling is there so you can taste the style before choosing a full bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh blood orange straight away, juicy and with peel in it. Behind that sits a sweetish note of anise and a trace of fennel, while juniper only shows up once the glass has stood for a moment.

Palate

Orange leads and fills the mouth with ripe fruit and a little bitter peel. Juniper and citrus report next, and the spice arrives last: fennel and anise, warm and lightly sweet, like a distant memory of aquavit.

Finish

Orange hangs on longest. Underneath it lies a dry, liquorice-like tone from the anise that slowly dries the mouth out again.

Specifications

Name: Sample 3 cl O.P. Anderson Blood Orange Organic Gin 40%
Distillery: O.P. Anderson Distillery
Region/Country: Sweden
Type: Organic Gin
ABV: 40%
Size: 3 CL
Botanicals: Juniper, blood orange, citrus peel, coriander, fennel and anise
Edition: Blood Orange
Serving suggestion: With Tonic Water, orange peel and a sprig of rosemary, or in a Negroni

Flavour profile

Blood orange · Citrus · Spiced · Anise-led · Fresh

Did you know?

The strong orange colour in the bottle all but vanishes the moment tonic water hits the glass. The drink turns pale gold, while the smell of blood orange carries on unchanged.

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Frequently asked questions about Sample 3 cl O.P. Anderson Blood Orange Organic Gin 40%

What does Blood Orange Gin taste like?

Above all of blood orange, both juice and peel. Under the fruit sit juniper and citrus peel, and the base is spiced with fennel and anise. It smells sweetish but drinks dry.

Why are fennel and anise in a gin?

Because O.P. Anderson comes out of the aquavit world, where those exact spices are standard issue. In the gin they lay down a warm, faintly liquorice-like base that is rare in the category and makes the bottle read as distinctly Scandinavian rather than British.

What belongs in the glass alongside the gin?

A classic indian tonic and a strip of orange peel. The quinine pulls out the bitter side of the blood orange, where a sweetened fruit tonic would make the drink cloying. A sprig of rosemary alongside gives the anise something green to push against.

Does it work in a Negroni?

Yes, it is one of the gins that handles a Negroni best. The orange meets campari's bitterness head on, and the anise brings a spiced depth you would otherwise need aromatic bitters to reach. Use equal parts and garnish with orange peel.

Does the orange colour survive mixing?

Barely. The colour is strong in the bottle, but diluted with tonic water and ice the drink turns only faintly gold. The aroma does not fade in the same way, so the smell of blood orange is still there.

How far does 3 cl go in a drink?

To one drink of normal strength. It is the standard measure in a Gin and Tonic, and it is precisely the gin portion a classic Negroni calls for. Browse the full selection of Whisky Samples.