Hemp Gin

The aroma is flat and musty, with barely a trace of juniper. It smells floury, bready, and yeasty, like uncooked porridge oats or bleached white flour. It's not actually unpleasant, just somewhat odd and dull. Palate is earthy and subdued, with a mild, sweet herbal presence. There's very little evolution of flavor. A faint hint of juniper is present, but overall, it's a rather uninteresting palate. Finish is short, leaving a light, dull, sweetish herbal aftertaste. Technically, this qualifies as gin due to its juniper content. However, it's so muted in practice that it might as well be cereal and herb infused vodka. I wish I could offer higher praise for this gin, as it represents an interesting experiment, but it's simply below par when tasted neat. Overall, it evokes the impression of new-make rye spirit straight from the still, but with a less intense character. It would be intriguing to sample this after three years of maturation in an ex-bourbon barrel. Adding ice or water enlivens it, with the cereal-forward nose developing delicate floral notes. Adding tonic further improves it, making it an acceptable (though not particularly compelling) mixer. It's interesting to try, but not worth purchasing a bottle. "Inferior": 67/100 (1.5 stars)