…my true love gave to me: Tanqueray No. Ten, a reputedly ‘ultra-premium’ gin. I am humbled to be in its presence.
Tanqueray highlights its prominent citrus and chamomile influences. I, in turn, am happy to taste a right gin-ny gin. I started perceiving its neutrality — no big loud leading flavours (despite Tanqueray’s promo of the citrus). The chamomile balances the citrus brilliantly — neither dominates, each complements. The result is smooth, with enough botanical edge to please a fussy codger such as I but not an ascetical bitterness. There’s a real craft to this balancing act, building an overall effect of unmistakable botanical intricacy, without a trace of the sales-pitch flavouring that draws partisans of one or another fruit or herb. Well done, Tanqueray; Still Pool & No. Ten in close company.