Sipsmith London Dry Gin

Rating: 8/23 Nose: Alcohol, a faint nuttiness (hazelnut, but stale), a bit of spice, and some more traditional gin notes underneath (including juniper). Palate: Quite sweet, but also nutty and... fishy? This isn't a fresh, briny fishiness, but a sulfuric, rotten one. It's quite subdued and less herbal, fruity, and intense than most gins. I suspect a stale coriander flavor might be responsible for that particular stale nut profile. This is definitely not the coriander that reminds me of chamomile in Monkey 47. Compared to Plymouth, I can confirm this isn't a typical gin profile. It has plenty of spice and heat, but surprisingly few prominent botanicals. Side-by-side, I find Plymouth more complex and appealing. This one is more stale and off. Finish: Fishy and nutty, with some sweetness and staleness. Still a bit of a spicy bite. Possibly hints of juniper. Maybe faint hints of baking spices. - Conclusion - I genuinely regret buying a bottle of this. What is this? I'm not sure I would have identified it as gin just by tasting it. It's odd but acceptable - except for that terrible fishiness. Yuck! If it weren't for that fishiness, this would strike me as an interesting twist on Pacific Voyager mixed with Empress. However, neither Voyager nor Empress have that fishiness, so that's a pretty unique issue with this particular gin. And Frangelico doesn't have it either. Disappointing. There are still some good flavors present, so the fishiness doesn't drag it all the way down to a 6, but it certainly prevents it from scoring higher than a 10. I'm giving it an 8.

I sampled this London Dry Gin neat, with a bit of water, and in a gin & tonic in the morning. In the glass, this gin has a very neutral color and thin viscosity. Juniper bark is the dominant aroma, followed by orange peel. The taste is also juniper- and citrus-forward, but with a complex burst of spices and flavors moving in all directions. A spicy heat is present, which fades with a drop of water, allowing the juniper to intensify and the supporting flavors to blend with it. It's a pleasure to sip neat and performs exceptionally well in cocktails. My only critique is that I'd prefer a more enticing mouthfeel for a neat gin, but this is a minor point for this very complex spirit. Outstanding!

A well-rounded London Dry Gin from Sipsmith in Hammersmith, London, England, crafted with English Barley & 10 chosen botanicals, blended with pure Lydwell spring water, and distilled in a traditional copper pot still. It presents an aromatic opening with hints of honey, ripe fruits, a touch of yeast, nuts, chocolate & grape jam; followed by a dry profile featuring juniper, lemon tart, orange marmalade & fresh lemon zest; culminating in a balanced, medium-length finish with notes of lemon tart & spicy juniper. April / June 2020 / April 2021

Lemon and Oil: To me, this has a distinct lemon peel flavor. I looked for more complexity and detected some oiliness, which I didn't care for. You can find some juniper and common gin notes present, but the lemon is overpowering. In my hometown, we have inexpensive vodka sold in plastic containers. I'm sure they add citrus flavoring to those spirits to cover up the poor quality. This actually brings to mind a slightly more refined version of that. In my opinion, this gin doesn't live up to its reputation.

I like this gin because it's less floral and citrusy. Very spicy with some heat, strong juniper, and definitely not for those who prefer gins with many other botanicals. The finish is bitter, but not terribly so, and I think it gives a nice tang to a G+T. The character of this gin is limited, as you can't identify a particular unique botanical (floral, tea, citrus, etc.) as the forefront, but in certain situations, this is exactly what you want.

Smells purely of juniper. Very thin body. The alcohol burns the lips but not the tongue. Light floral notes on the tongue, but mostly straightforward juniper flavors. Very clean finish. The pine becomes more apparent with a little water. Over ice, the spirit becomes even brighter with a hint of citrus. Overall, it diminishes when mixed with tonic, but it's definitely a good dry gin for cocktails or sipping.