So after Jenever, but before London Dry, there was Old Tom. I’ve never had this style before but it sounds intriguing, being malt based like Jenever but with a heavier botanical profile.
Smells of citrus, cardamom, and pumpernickel. The taste is crisp and spicy with flavors of cardamom, lemon, lime, cinnamon, and pear. The finish is spicy and lightly bitter, featuring notes of cardamom, lemon peel, juniper, and licorice. Overall, this is a very pleasant surprise. I took a sip of the gin straight and it was very abrasive and peppery, but mixed with tonic and it becomes warm and almost savory, reminiscent of semlor or pepparkakor. I’ll be sure to try this in other cocktails, but this is already one of my favorite gins, as I cardamom happens to be my favorite spice.
A G&T without garnish has a more subdued citrus character, and more juniper flavors.
A gimlet is delightfully spicy, with notes of clove joining the cardamom and cinnamon, and it balances really well against the sweet and sour lime. A must try cocktail.
A dry martini is drinkable but seems unbalanced with such a potent gin.
A martinez is like a Christmas negroni, an excellent balance between sweet, bitter, and holiday spice.
An actual negroni is simultaneously sweeter and more bitter, yet the gin blends in very well and the spices don’t stick out as much, though it is remarkably smooth.
A Collins is well balanced and like a Christmasy lemonade; just as good as the gimlet