Manly Spirits Lilly Pilly Pink Gin

Nose: Citrus, pine, subtle spice, floral, and red berry notes. Palate: Smooth entry with pine leading the way, followed by the primary botanical. Native strawberries, finger lime, dried blood orange, and lilly pilly berries are prominent upfront. Finish: Moderate. Fruity notes fade into pine. A great new addition to the Manly Spirits collection. In recent years, the gin trend has brought out many "pink" gins. These often feature various botanicals and ingredients, from sloe berries to red wine, but many were excessively sweet, thick, and missed the point that a traditional pink gin should focus on bitters. In contrast, this Manly Spirits gin is quite dry. It has no added sugar and gets its character from sweet ingredients like lilly pilly, riberry, raspberry, and rosella. The color is natural, coming from nasturtium flowers and raspberries. Lilly pilly is an Australian native plant in the myrtle family. It yields a pink to maroon fruit with white flesh, tasting anywhere from as sweet as a raspberry to quite tart and citrusy. Its name's origin is unknown, but it was commonly used early in European settlement and likely derives from an English alteration of the name used by the local First Nations people. This gin is mild and can be enjoyed neat, but it truly excels with tonic water and a lime wedge, where the bitter and sour elements perfectly balance its gentle sweetness. "Good": 83/100 (3.5 stars)