Malfy Gin con Limone

Re-tasted 16 December 2024. My recent tasting revealed a more artificial quality compared to my initial impressions. The aroma seemed less light and effervescent than I previously noted, with a distinct artificial lemon character. The palate also had an artificial feel and seemed overly intense. Having now sampled the original unflavored Malfy Gin, this is clearly the inferior product. It lacks the subtle nuances and delicacy of the original. The score remains the same. Tasted from a 50ml sample, part of a collection of four Malfy gins. "Average": 79/100 (2.75 stars) ----------------------------------------------- Nose: Sherbet lemon, old-fashioned lemonade, zesty tangello and mandarin notes - very citrus-forward, but not overwhelming. There is a light and sprightly touch to it all - it almost sparkles. Palate: A semi-sweet bright lemon entry. The delivery expands on the arrival adding depth, richness and a frisson like that of lemon gelato. The lemon notes are very well handled, with no sourness or bitterness at any point, and there are side notes of juniper, licorice and earthy spice. The texture is creamy and full. Finish: Medium. The palate gently subsides and there is a mild, spritzy, lingering aftertaste of lemon that is very agreeable. I typically consume gin either neat over ice or in a gin & tonic with ice and a slice of lime or lemon, and I prefer a creamy and full texture, so this meets my preferences. The lemon component is very well defined. It does seem slightly artificial, but not to an objectionable degree. It's very good with Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic water, and also agreeable just with soda water, providing a diluted, frizzante, limoncello-like quality. I can understand how gin purists might disapprove, as lemon is the primary focus and other botanicals play only supporting roles, so it could be perceived as a one-dimensional lemon flavor. There are undoubtedly superior and more complex gins available. It's an enjoyable gin for experimentation - adding lemon or lime to a G&T made with this is unnecessary, but consider trying a sprig of rosemary, a fresh sage leaf, or a mint sprig instead. "Average": 79/100 (2.75 stars)

Tasting from a 50ml sample. I was most curious about this flavor from this brand, since lemon is one of the best accompaniments to gin, but now I'm even more curious because the unflavored original already has a pretty strong lemon note. I think it's been a few weeks since I had the original Malfy, but the scent here seems almost identical. There's slightly more lemon oil in the air, but this could be imagined. Still minimal juniper, and even less spice, with floral notes secondary to citrus. The initial flavor is quite bright, and tastes like chewing on a lemon rind (without the bitter pith). Just like on the nose, floral notes follow this citrus bomb, and could almost trick you into thinking you're drinking a unique liqueur, if not for the juniper appearing near the finish. The finish is hot, but only slightly, and fades into semi-sweet lemon candy. You can tell that this distillery took their original gin and really only added real lemon (likely mostly rind) to it, given the oily flavor from the fruit. This almost feels like a shortcut, but this would make a great martini if you didn't want to bother infusing proper lemon oil yourself. The only drawback is, this isn't really a good gin base, and leaves much to be desired in that regard. I'm sure the ingredients used are high quality (the lemons definitely are), but that doesn't amount to much if you missed the mark.

A complimentary 50mL sample of this was included with Zaya rum. Why not? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The aroma is delightful, full of those iced lemon cookies with a hole in the middle, the ones that come in a bag, and a little lemon-scented cleaner. When it opens up in the glass, it becomes hard lemon candy, then mellows into watery lemon soda. All of this is just an illusion though, because there is the starkest contrast between the aroma and palate that I have ever experienced. The taste is somehow bitter and full of sharp, rancid ethanol. It's truly bizarre to be smelling sweet lemon confections in the glass, right up to and including the moment it touches the tongue, and then ice cold water is thrown on that, jolting you out of a pleasant dream. Bitter lemon oil is all that remains in the short finish. This is nothing that you should be drinking, only smelling. I suppose that is reasonable though, considering that a full 750mL bottle is only...$28.99?!? *monocle falls into snifter*

Prominent notes of lemon oil with a subtle hint of juniper. The balance of flavors is far too harsh, which unfortunately diminishes the gin's quality. The bottle and brand feature clever and attractive marketing, but the price is too high for what's offered. The absence of an ingredients list is bothersome for individuals with sensitivities to artificial flavorings, as I experienced an inflammatory reaction in my brain and body. It's quite unfortunate, as it seems like a missed opportunity to utilize exquisite Italian lemons.

Nose: Citrus, citron, lemon zest, with juniper in the background. Palate: Liquid citrus in a gin, subtle spice, a little pepper, citrus peel, delicate yet distinct, the alcohol is best concealed among all the flavored ones, slight sweetness. Finish: Medium, citrusy, a bit alcoholic with a juniper aftertaste. Overall: A superb citrus gin, refreshing, distinctly focused in one direction, and anyone who enjoys citrus will be thrilled.

From the aroma, one might mistakenly think it's limoncello rather than gin. The taste is almost entirely lemon peel, with juniper and other botanicals playing a supporting role after the initial lemon intensity. I typically prefer juniper-forward, London dry gins. This isn't bad, but it's more of a novelty for me and not something I'd regularly keep on hand.