Joking aside, I can't deny that a cheeky weekend day-drink is abso-bloody-lutely perfect.... just don't go having a gin before work on a Monday and then using me as an excuse when your boss fires your drunk ass!
Back to the Gin...
It's by North Wales' Aber Falls Distillery which sits at the gateway to the stunning Snowdonia National Park. Whilst the distillery originates as a whiskey distillery, they do produce a stunning range of Gin and Liqueurs alongside this. As far as Gins are concerned, a Small Batch Welsh Gin is available (noted as 'the finest Gin we have produced to date') along with a Rhubarb and Ginger, Orange Marmalade, and a Mountain Fresh Dry Gin.
Today I'm drinking the Orange Marmalade Gin, and to be frank, I thought I would bloody hate it!
Those who know me or have followed me for a while will know, I love a slice of orange to garnish with certain Gins, so an orange'y gin should be a winner....right?? But then, you will also be aware that I am not particularly fond of sweet Gins at all....nor indeed Gins which are flavoured to the point that all semblance of juniper is overpowered and the Gin no longer tastes of Gin....simply a flavoured spirit. I like my Gin to very much taste like....Gin, oddly enough.
So lets give this one a go shall we.
On the nose its everything I somewhat expected, a sweet and orangey perfume with very little more to distinguish it as a Gin. To its credit, the scent is clearly marmalade, as opposed to simply 'orange'. Neat, the taste surprised me, and positively so! A piney juniper hit gave me a glimmer of hope for this Gin and the warming aftertaste was a delicious treat after a sweeter opener. Over ice the Gin came into its own, with bitter flavours coming forward to compliment the orange sweetness. Adding tonic to this Gin is optional as I would personally say it's very drinkable simply over ice...however, adding the tonic created a beautifully fresh drink, very clearly leaning toward a sweetened orange flavour but with enough juniper to balance it rather nicely indeed. Check out Aber Falls website for some cocktail suggestions for this Gin, I have a feeling this would bring it into its own, however, for me this is best drunk on the rocks, neat. It is still erring slightly on the sweet and flavoured side for my own personal fussy tastes, but for those who enjoy a sweeter, citrus Gin....this will be absolutely on the mark.
I also have the Dry Gin from Aber Falls to try...so check back in soon for my musings on that little number. And as we now have to be crystal clear about such matters, this gin was gifted to me as part of my ongoing partnership with ilovegin.com.
Emma-Louise
No comments
Post a Comment