Botanist Islay Dry Gin miniature

A gin from the Bruichladdich distillery? While this may initially confuse fans of this Scottish whisky distillery, it has quickly proven to be a successful experiment in the bar scene. Made with 31 different botanicals, this gin is produced on Islay, with 22 of them sourced from the island itself. Thus, the term 'Islay Dry Gin' is derived from the famous 'London Dry' style.

The botanicals used include: apple mint, birch leaves, swamp myrtle leaves, chamomile, flowers of the field thistle, elderflowers, gorse flowers, heather flowers, flowers of the hawthorn, juniper berries, flowers of the cleavers, lemon balm, sweet woodruff, peppermint leaves, mugwort leaves, flowers of red clover, lovage flowers, tansy, thyme leaves, water mint, white clover, and leaves of the wild sage.

Unfortunately, the following botanicals cannot be found on Islay but are included in the gin: angelica roots, cassia bark, cinnamon bark, coriander seeds, certain juniper berries, lemon peels, liquorice roots, orange peels, and orris roots.

The result is an excellent gin for experts, but also for those without prior knowledge of the category. The gin is pleasantly mild without a sharp alcohol note. A strong juniper note is surrounded by pine needles, citrus notes, and vanilla.