G.W. Goodwynn Co. Classic Gin

This is the second of two French gins we tasted side-by-side: Esmé, and the gin in question, G.W. Goodwynn Co. Classic Gin (honestly, that doesn't sound very French...). Which one will prevail? Here's a quick look at what I learned about Goodwynn’s Classic Imported Gin: Style: London Dry Gin Country of Origin: France Disclosed Botanicals: juniper, citrus, coriander, cucumber ABV: 40% (100% neutral grain from unknown grains) Price: $22.99 Nose: Also quite subtle. If my bottle of Empress 1908 is at a level 10, this is about a 4. Juniper is again dominant but subdued. There's a hint of lemon zest and a floral quality. It's suspiciously similar to Esmé. Palate: Still light-bodied, but the mouthfeel is slightly less rich. Plenty of juniper, less lemon peel, some cucumber, and faint floral hints. It's bright, fruity, and floral. Finish: Lasts a medium amount of time with abundant juniper, a touch of ginger, and a floral note that becomes more like rose as it lingers. Verdict: This tastes and feels very much like Esmé gin. It's as if someone adjusted Esmé's profile slightly and released it as Goodwyn. That might indeed be what happened. The lemon comes across as less soapy in this pour, but I personally prefer not to use lemon in gin cocktails, so I'd struggle to find a use for this (I'm open to ideas; I lean more towards grapefruit and/or orange flavors with gin). This isn't much better than Esmé, but at least it doesn't have all the soapiness. This falls into the "might be worth a try but I wouldn't buy a bottle" category. 3.5 ~Above Average (but not by much)

Nose - juniper, lemon and orange zest, floral notes, white pepper, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - juniper, lemon and grapefruit zest, light herbal and floral notes, white or black pepper, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing very fast with sour juniper and bitter citrus flavors. The descriptions are brief because there isn't much substance here. The nose and palate are extremely subtle, almost nonexistent. I'm only detecting juniper, a hint of citrus, and a little spice. The finish is the least appealing aspect: short, sour, and bitter. It's not as actively unpleasant as the Seagram's, so I'll rate it slightly higher than that one, but it's definitely below average, nearing poor.

I'm at a loss for words. The aroma reminds me of the soap from grade school, which is also similar to the surgical scrub soap at my med school. The flavor matches the scent perfectly. There's no bitterness until the very end, when a hint emerges on the back of the tongue. It essentially tastes like liquid soap that's been distilled. Fortunately, I enjoy the scent of this particular soap?