EZdrinking

Spirit Reviews, Tasting Events and Consulting

Searching for the world's best drinks and what makes them extraordinary. EZdrinking is a drinks blog by Eric Zandona that focuses on distilled spirits, wine, craft beer and specialty coffee. Here you can find reviews of drinks, drink books, articles about current & historical trends, as well as how to make liqueurs, bitters, and other spirit based drinks at home.

Review: Blackwater Batch 1 Gin

Free sample bottle provided by Atom Brands.

Blackwater Batch 1 Gin was distilled at the Blackwater Distillery for That Boutique-y Gin Company and bottled at 40% ABV 

Price: $34.51 for 500ml or $3.99 for 30ml

Peter Mulryan and Kieran Curtan founded the Blackwater Distillery in West Waterford, Ireland on the banks of the Blackwater River. Blackwater's flagship gin took its inspiration from the fact that White’s of Waterford was the largest importer of exotic spices from around the world and that they used the Blackwater River to move their precious cargo inland. While Blackwater No. 5 Gin uses 12 botanicals from the far reaches of the world, the gin they made for That Boutique-y Gin Company took its inspiration from an 11th Century garden in an Irish Monastery. In addition to juniper this Batch 1 Gin includes quince, rosehip, and bletted medlars.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: The nose has a lovely floral character of lavender, and angelica  with a creamy note of orange zest carried up on the alcohol. 

Palate: The palate is very soft and has a creamy texture. The flavor includes notes of bitter orange, angelica, coriander and juniper. 

Finish: The finish is long and warm. There is a slight bitterness perhaps from the juniper that is contrasted against an underlying note of rose petal.

Conclusion: Blackwater Batch 1 Gin is a really nice contemporary style gin which is ironic since the botanical inspiration came from Ireland's 11th Century. On the rocks this gin that would smooth out some of alocohol and bitter notes and let the floral notes sing. I also imagine that this gin would be a great compliment to an aviation. 

Thank you to Master of Malt and That Boutique-y Gin Company for providing the free sample.