Bluecoat Elderflower Gin

The significant time gap between this review and the one for the barrel-aged version, despite purchasing them concurrently, is due to the necessity of making (i.e., consuming) more room on my gin shelf for the bottle. In any event, I sampled this (along with all other available products) at the pop-up store in the King of Prussia mall. I recall thinking at the time that this should serve as the flagship, base gin, in contrast to the original, blue-glass bottle version. The original struck me as both harsh and uninteresting, whereas this one, with the simple addition of elderflower, creates a more balanced profile and could easily appeal to a broader audience, or so I remember. Objectively, the proof is adequate but still low, the color is an interesting and distinctive change for the gin category, and, to a lesser extent, the bottle's artwork and design are also quite appealing. As previously mentioned, the color is certainly unique, though upon closer examination, the hazy, muted tone causes some hesitation in drinking it. The actual shade resembles a blend of straw and preserved lemon juice. The aroma begins, as anticipated, with a substantial amount of elderflower, but not so much as to be overly sweet or overpowering. The other scents from the base gin harmonize better with this added floral quality, including fresh citrus oil (notably lemon), a hint of cardamom, and sufficient juniper to provide a spicy edge, but without the dryness found in some other versions. The initial flavor is somewhat sharp and unrefined, coming across as spicy and juniper-forward. However, this similarity to the original gin ends there, as the elderflower introduces a floral taste that prevents the experience from becoming too intense or bland. This also helps to accentuate the fresh citrus oils detected in the aroma, which move across the now-rounded profile on the tongue, even as the gums begin to experience a slight burn from the moderately high proof and juniper-heavy simplicity of the entire blend. The finish is reasonably dry, but again, not so pronounced that I would consider it a London gin. Having sampled most of the Philadelphia Distilling and Bluecoat range, I still believe this expression is a superior representation of their flagship, base gin compared to the version without the elderflower. I don't recall the price, but since most gins are quite affordable (with few exceptions), I assume this is no different and is a worthwhile purchase over the blue glass bottle, standing well on its own. I am uncertain if the claim on the bottle that Bluecoat "pioneered what is now known as American dry style gin" is accurate, but I had previously only encountered "American gin" and "dry gin" as separate classifications. I now believe this style designation perfectly describes this entire product line.

The elderflower acts more like an essence than a distinct flavor. It's subtle to the point of being confusing and not meeting expectations. Despite this, it remains a robust gin. The elderflower is more noticeable when mixed than when drunk neat.