Doc Porter's Gin

Rating: 15/23 Following two enjoyable craft gins, I'm hopeful this will be a third. Nose: Primarily Lemonheads, with a faint floral undertone and a very subtle herbal bitterness. The Lemonheads dominate, perhaps a bit overwhelmingly, but the herbal notes lend it a sophisticated lemon candy aroma. Over time, it develops more herbal and even slightly vegetal notes, though Lemonheads remain the main impression. Palate: A nice oily texture with lemon zest and some sharp spices. There's some herbal bitterness, not prominent but present. I detect subtle baking spice notes, but not many. It has a touch of that unbalanced, aggressive, floral, artificial sweetness found in Uncle Val's Botanical. It's not too overpowering, so it blends into the broader profile. However, that Uncle Val's characteristic is discernible and somewhat off-putting, though this offering is more intriguing. Finish: The jarring flavor of Uncle Val's lingers slightly along with the sweetness, as more complex notes fade. I'm not particularly fond of this finish. While there are elements at play, they aren't especially pleasant. - Conclusion - This is acceptable, but it hasn't greatly impressed me. It's definitely superior to Uncle Val's Botanical (10/23). New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin (17/23) is drier and more mineral-forward, but it's considerably cleaner and more enjoyable. It clearly outperforms this one. I'd say it's closer to the New Riff than Uncle Val's, placing it at least a 14. It doesn't feel like a full 3-point difference though, so I'm leaning towards a 15. It could potentially be a 16, but I'm not confident enough to commit. I can envision it, but there's just a bit too much harshness. Actually, this might be a 16. I appreciate the richness and flavor variety here, while the New Riff is more conventional. Sometimes a profile like this is enjoyable. Upon rereading, I'm definitely picking up cucumber. Plus some other unusual flavors. I like the direction this is heading, but it's a bit rougher than The Botanist (16/23). Yes, this is a 15 or 16. I'll note that the reduced sweetness and floral character make this more suitable for a martini than The Botanist. In that context, this is the clear winner. This simply has a cleaner profile somehow. Overall, the two are very close. This is more assertive and distinct, while The Botanist is more muddled and vegetal. On its own, it's somewhat challenging, but it works exceptionally well in a martini. The Botanist might have a slight edge in martinis, but it's a minor advantage, if any. They are quite comparable. Sometimes I feel this is better in a martini, but I never consider it superior neat. So, this falls into the 15 or 16 range.