Eden Mill Sea Buckthorn Original Gin

Ah gin... I hardly know thee. I admittedly have very little experience when it comes to gin. I believe to date I’ve only had 3 or 4 so my ability to delineate everything will most certainly be inferior to my abilities with whisky. Eden Mill is a Scottish distillery that produces craft gin, whisky, beer and ale. I’m not sure if their whisky is ready for bottling yet, but once it is I’m sure I’ll try it out. Sea Blackthorn is so named because Blackthorn berries are infused into the distillate. Bottled at 42% ABV and since there is no barrel aging done there is no color to speak of. I would assume this is chill filtered. A quick nosing reveals acetone and rubbing alcohol, not a great start. Slowing down a little and those harsher notes move aside and reveal juniper berries and a lemon/lime citrus. Pine needles but not as in your face as some the other gins I’ve had. Very floral and a bit fruity. Cherry blossoms and strawberries. Not fresh strawberries, but more like frozen strawberries or strawberry ice cream. Yes, strawberry ice cream with real strawberries in it. Took me a while to figure that one out but once I did I was really digging it. Coriander, slightly grainy and a bit herbal. The palate has a distinct lemon/lime taste that leans more towards the lime end of the spectrum. Berries - juniper, strawberry and raspberry. Pine with an underlying sweetness, grassy/herbal with some coriander. From time to time there is a harsh nip of alcohol that hurts this as a sipping spirit. A medium light bodied mouthfeel that is creamy and dry. The finish is medium long with pine, citrus and berries. Well, I still don’t feel that I have much in the way of gin expertise, but I’m one step closer. This came across as an above average gin for me. The palate wasn’t anything that I found special but the strong lemon/lime profile suggests it would work well with tonic. The strawberry notes on the nose was my favorite thing about this gin, really nice. Overall I have to go with a 3.5. Thanks a friend for the sample. Cheers

My indiscretion from a fleeting encounter: I admit I strayed, and I apologize. I assure you it was a brief dalliance. I would never abandon you. Yes, that Eden Mill gin offered aromas of fresh junipers. Yes, it made me feel youthful with its lively sea-breeze freshness, tasting of pine and tart berries. And wow, it left an incredible sensation afterward, with a lingering finish of crisp lemons and berries. But it was a momentary lapse, and I remain devoted to my Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Springbank, and my American favorites Four Roses and Elijah Craig. And even though that brief affair cost only $35, and even though it was memorable, I still prefer my darker malt/rye/corn spirits from Scotland, America, and occasionally India, Australia, and Japan. Will I stray again? Likely... my XY chromosome is inherently predisposed to deviation. I'll probably enjoy it, too.

The aroma presents various scents instead of harsh alcohol. Upon tasting, strong vapors arise from the nose. However, the body is quite pleasant and floral. The swallow is not harsh and concludes quickly.

An excellent selection for a G&T; its subtly citrusy, juniper, and saline profile is a perfect match for my Jack Rudy/Topo Chico mixer.

This is rather wonderful. Almost no harshness, yet the botanical notes endure for a significant duration.

Smooth on the palate. Slightly floral, but acceptable overall.