Bluecoat American Dry Gin

My initial experience with gin. This is how everything starts. It reminds me of a children's book about how one thing leads to another, escalating significantly. In university, you start with your first beer, and before you know it, you're drinking locally sourced craft beer made with organic farm-to-table ingredients. Then comes your first wine, and soon you're savoring Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs, discussing vintage differences and terroir. Next, you discover whiskey. Suddenly, you're accumulating rare bottles, hoping to open them soon (or sell them). Then you elevate to mezcal. Before you realize it, you're in a remote village sipping freshly barreled mezcal while gently touching a sleepy-eyed donkey that's pulling the stone wheel grinding the agave hearts. Yes. That's how it all begins. So now, it's gin. Thanks to a friend, I had my very first gin. I won't assign a rating, as I lack the knowledge to judge it... but I enjoyed it. It felt like inhaling a pine needle while walking in crisp mountain air. Many thanks to that friend! Would I purchase a bottle? No. Because as much as I liked it, much like the children's book, I'll soon find myself contemplating what it would taste like distilled as gin.

I haven't posted in a bit due to relocating from SC to GA. With the move and settling in complete, I can return to enjoying alcoholic beverages. I purchased Bluecoat Gin during a business trip to North Carolina for approximately $25 and I'm quite pleased with it. The aroma is very pleasing with juniper and citrus notes immediately noticeable. The nose is almost like a Modern Gin, with juniper being a supporting player, yet it remains strong enough to be detected throughout the tasting profile. The body features more juniper and citrus with just a hint of heat. The finish when consumed neat is somewhat lengthy for a gin, with citrus and an ethanol burn. I did mark this gin down slightly for the burn; it's not something I can drink straight or on the rocks. Now for the crucial parts: how does it perform in mixed drinks? In a Gin and Tonic, it's superb, particularly with Fever-Tree Elderflower or Mediterranean tonic water. The flavors harmonize wonderfully. For Martinis, it pairs well with drier vermouths and is better with a lemon peel garnish. At 94 proof, it's not overwhelmingly strong but provides a noticeable presence. Overall, this is a very good gin at around $25, but I believe there are superior options at higher price points. Enjoy.

This gin is sharp, presenting a clear, crisp juniper and citrus aroma, followed by a very crisp and swift juniper flavor. A variety of other notes then emerge from both the mash bill and the botanicals. The grains are noticeable, particularly the corn (earthy) and rye (peppery spice). The botanicals contribute a pleasant citrus tone – lemons, oranges, and grapefruit. Adding a little water softens the juniper, enhances the botanicals, and reveals a subtle pastis character. The finish continues with lime, pepper, and spruce.

A refreshing, dry gin from Philadelphia Distilling, a craft distillery located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has an aromatic beginning with notes of juniper berries, orange, and lemon peel. The complex middle adds notes of orange, citrus fruits, tangerines, clementines, juniper, berries, a touch of herbs, and coriander, leading to a fresh and sweet finish with citrus notes.

Although gin is not typically my first choice for an evening drink, I can confidently recommend bluecoat's unique palate, which goes against traditional profiles. The citrus flavor powerfully hits the palate upon tasting, weaving through subtle notes of juniper and pepper that give this drink an abstract, clear sophistication. It's truly remarkable.

An outstanding gin! It's clean, dry, and floral, yet refreshingly smooth and well-rounded; this spirit was a pleasant surprise. It exhibits considerable complexity with clear notes of juniper and orange. It's sharp and crisp but finishes smoothly with minimal to no burn. Truly an underappreciated gin.