National Distillery Company Damson Plum Gin

Smells like: Plum, light lemon zest, raspberry. Taste: Smooth and sweet, not sugary, with obvious but not overpowering plum and berry flavors. It possesses a subtle, refined quality that is very pleasing, and the texture is rich and creamy without being excessive. Aftertaste: Medium length. Similar to other products from the distillery, there's a tart hint in the finish and aftertaste. It seems characteristic of the distillery, but the cause is unclear. Perhaps the stills are operated too quickly? Consumed neat, it was acceptable but not exciting, though it improved significantly when mixed with lemonade. This is clearly a spirit that benefits from mixing, and when handled properly, the results are pleasant and distinct. It shares some resemblance to sloe gin but is less sweet and liqueur-like, leaning more towards a semi-sweet eau-de-vie. We found it quite enjoyable and purchased a bottle. We sampled this and other spirits from the distillery reviewed here at their location in Napier, New Zealand. The distillery tour and subsequent tasting were generous, engaging, and well worth the expenditure of time and money. Highly recommended if you are in Napier. “Above Average”: 81/100 (3 stars)