Our bottle of Sipsmith ran out recently (I know! How very dare it!), so I chose Cotswold Dry Gin, and since it’s not covered in the Advent Gin series, I thought I’d write about it here.
First, I should own up that I expected to like it; I was given a bottle several years ago, and I recall approving of it then.
It tastes like gin. Not an exotic botanical supplement, not a generic astringent clear fluid such as might be poured on an open wound in an emergency. Gin. The essence of the thing is juniper, praise Bacchus,* with very gentle botanicals in the background. I picked up a floral note, which their website seems to indicate is lavender; and yes, my preferred citrus, grapefruit makes a definite appearance. (They even suggest a slice of grapefruit in a Cotswolds G&T, which makes me wish we had a slice in the house.) I do not ask much more than this of my go-to gin.
The finish is a tiny bit metallic, for which the presence of bay leaves may account (not my very favourite, tbh). Maybe also the pepper.
But then I take another sip and delight in the balance of juniper, lavender, and grapefruit, and think that if I were going to drink too much gin, I would lean on Cotswolds as the overindulgence to choose.
But I won’t, honest.
Note that I kinda liked the Cotswolds Hedgerow Gin when it came up in Advent Gin…
* Not praising Bacchus. I’m a proper Christian clergyman.