23rd Street Signature Gin

A distinctively floral aroma with notes of rose, lavender, strawberry, raspberry, and pink bubblegum. Beneath the floral notes, a subtle citrus character emerges, accompanied by a more reserved hint of juniper. The citrus aroma intensifies with more sniffing, revealing a sweet, mandarin blossom-like floral quality. The taste presents a more earthy profile than anticipated from the aroma, led by juniper and root extracts, with citrus peel notes appearing later. The citrus offers sweetness rather than bitterness, harmonizing well with the spice and juniper. The mouthfeel is pleasant but unremarkable. The finish is medium to long. Juniper dominates the final stages, complemented by citrus flavors, culminating in a drawn-out conclusion. There is no trace of bitterness at the end. I must admit, this gin was a welcome surprise. I have sampled a few spirits from 23rd Street Distillery, located in Renmark, situated between Adelaide and Mildura. While I haven't been particularly impressed with their previous offerings, this gin is quite enjoyable and possesses a confident, clearly defined character. It might even be enough to shift my overall impression. The initial sweetness of the aroma is momentarily disarming, especially when contrasted with more reserved, austere London Dry gins, but its exuberance quickly wins you over. It is delightful served neat and performs well in a gin and tonic. Your choice of tonic, whether a very dry, low-sugar option (perhaps even a herbal one?) or a full-sugar, robust classic like Schweppes Indian (an unfairly overlooked and unfashionable product), is entirely up to your preference. Regarding its value for the price. It's adequate, but not exceptional. There are less expensive gins that surpass it. "Above Average": 81/100 (3 stars)