Copperworks Cask Finished Gin: Imperial Stout Cask

Rating: 17/23 The aroma hits me first with gin, then a kind of light malt and cherry. There's a rich bitterness in there too with very faint coffee and chocolate. Although I say it hits me with gin first, I get a lot of other rich, bitter botanicals in it, not just the juniper bite. This is an impressive palate. It tastes like a cocktail. I get juniper, coriander, dark chocolate, malted barley, cherry, licorice, and it just keeps going. It's very balanced and complex. As it develops, I get more of the stout - chocolate, caramel, and coffee. It's never overwhelming though and it balances well with the malted barley from the gin. This is more of a cocktail than it is a gin. It's a great cocktail though and it lacks the cloying finish of sagamore spirit Manhattan. The rating is difficult here, but at least a 16. A 19 seems possible, but high. I'm inclined to say that due to its uniqueness, this is both something I'd enjoy having on hand and something that doesn't quite reach the quality level of Copperworks malted whiskey. How does it compare with the regular barrel aged gin though? I'd say that this is different and definitely less traditional, so it loses almost any opportunity to be used as a mixer. On the other hand, it is just a really fun and enjoyable neat sipper. I think I'll settle on a 17 for this, but I can imagine going up to an 18.

Bourbon Aficionado Tries Gin: Part 11 Part 10: Ransom Old Tom Gin Part 12, 1/12/25: Castle & Key Roots of Ruin Dry Gin >>>~~~~~~~~~~<<< I haven't tried many gins. It's been years since my last attempt. I'm not familiar with the terminology or flavor profiles commonly used for describing gin. I'm sort of winging it here: “I ain’t as good as I’m gonna get, but I’m better than I used to be.” This is a bourbon enthusiast attempting to understand gin. Many thanks to a friend for the sample! >>>~~~~~~~~~~<<< The aroma is heavily pine and lemon. There's a soapy note present. I'm a bit worried. The body is orange and chocolate. It's straightforward, but excellent. You don't need many descriptors when the flavors are this good! The finish offers more chocolate, a bit of lemon, grapefruit, and malt. Cinnamon. Revisiting, that soapy note is gone. It's now malt. It must have been a mental perception. This is another absolutely fantastic gin. The stout influence is evident and, frankly, brilliant. You get citrus in your gin by default, so adding malty notes creates a chocolate orange flavored beverage. I will be searching for this one too.