Greenhouse Gin

Aroma: sweet melon, acai, raspberry, dragonberry, rose, floral. A touch of medicinal red cherry marks the beginning, but it thankfully transitions to a tangier fruit profile, including some subtle citrus and tart sweet plum-grape notes. This might be the most "wine-like" gin available, but given its Texas origin, it's perhaps not surprising. The finish has a lime alkali base with some green melon and citric tang. It's one of the most "surprising" gins I've encountered. The herbal character is subdued, with virtually no juniper. It takes botanicals in a completely new direction. Certainly a significant departure from European-style botanical gins, Green House gin ventures where others either haven't dared or perhaps never considered. One aspect I truly appreciate is the notable ABSENCE of anise; thank you, Green House, for that small favor. I'm uncertain how this would fare in various gin cocktails; I simply mixed a bit with San Pellegrino's Oakwood tonic to see the result, and it created a wonderful, albeit unconventional, mixture. The honeydew melon note continues to stand out, and the sugary sweet aroma, which could have become unpleasant, never materialized. Giving it a good rating, the fact that it's both affordable and easily accessible (if you have a Total Wine nearby) certainly helps. The creators of Green House gin had the boldness to stray far from the conventional gin path, and I, for one, am glad they did. Cheers!

Rating: 16/23 A floral, fruity nose with abundant green apple. It's not incredibly complex but is sweet and appealing. The palate is quite sweet, yet light and fairly smooth. There's a slight white pepper tingle along with some herbal notes. It's very floral, with some really nice green apple and pear flavors too. The complexity is adequate, and it's a tasty gin with fruity and floral characteristics. It won't win over anyone who doesn't already enjoy that style of gin, but it will satisfy those who do. As usual, Nolet's is the clear comparison for this type of gin, and both are good options. Nolet's has a richer aroma with more pine. Honestly, I barely detect pine in this one, so while I'd probably identify it as gin, I might mistake it for some other type of liqueur. Nolet's has a thicker consistency and is more floral, with a richer, warmer presence. The floral and pine notes in Nolet's blend very well, though you must enjoy the taste of roses to appreciate the combination. Nolet's is certainly less fruity but is better balanced. I wouldn't say Nolet's is significantly superior, as it's still quite bold and you really need to like floral flavors, but it ranks a point or two higher. This one is a solid 15 to 16. It's enjoyable, but I now slightly favor the more conventional yet well-crafted style of Oregon Spirit Dry Gin.

An intense floral, fruity aroma is detectable from afar. Notes of apples, green apples, pears, anise, and hints of watermelon and passion fruit are present. The scent has a pleasing balance of sweetness and tartness. The taste is pure, with a spring water quality and a dry spiciness that provides continuous warmth against the prominent, drier floral fruitiness mirroring the aroma. It remains slightly sweet, but not overly so. Sour watermelon candy notes are particularly noticeable. It's genuinely delicious and skillfully crafted. This gin will likely divide opinions, but its balance is quite good and it's tasty with respectable complexity. It holds its own against Esmé Gin. I'm fond of this one. Esmé leans more floral, while this one is fruitier. It's a close call between them. This one is a bit harsher, but in a way that works. Both are quite enjoyable, and while I slightly prefer Esmé, they are of similar quality. They are in the same category as Nolet's. Nolet's is more intriguing and bold, but also quite pronounced in its aroma, perhaps lacking balance. I'm leaning towards Nolet's, but all three are comparable. Nolet's has a hint of bubblegum that might detract from it, however.

This gin offers more fruit and floral notes than Esmé, presenting distinct green apple rather than solely rose flavors. This makes it more distinctive and potentially less versatile, better suited for particular fruity gin concoctions. It's smoother than Esmé, with a more refined sweetness and subtle fruitiness. While very sweet, it successfully delivers the fruity floral gin profile. I'd favor it over Esmé. I do wish it had a slightly higher proof and the cost is rather high. Compared to Nolet's, which intensifies this flavor profile, this gin leans more floral and has more botanical presence, including pine, with a higher proof for a bolder, sharper spirit. I slightly prefer Nolet's, but this is very good.

The aroma is remarkably distinct from any other gin I've encountered. It's heavily scented with pineapple, lemon-lime soda, and coriander seed. You really have to inhale deeply to detect the juniper. The taste is frankly candy-like, with berry soda and some cooling, drying spices at the end. It's very bright and fresh, and dangerously easy to drink in a berry spritzer style.

Initially, I detect bergamot and some very subtle herbal notes, followed by intense citrus, lime zest, grapefruit, and mild berry flavors. The finish highlights its minimal juniper, primarily offering floral citrus notes with hints of white pepper. A pleasing floral gin.