Cotswolds Distillery founder and native New Yorker, Dan Szor fell in love with the region while escaping the London rat race at the weekends. Noticing the vast amount of barley growing in the area, he saw an opportunity to create the first Cotswolds whisky. After studying to be a distiller at Heriot Watt University, and with a little encouragement from friends Dan turned his hand to gin, and Cotswolds Distillery gin was released in 2014.
The botanicals
London Dry in style, Cotswolds Distillery gin is made with juniper, coriander, angelica root, Cotswolds lavender, bay leaf, grapefruit and lime (fresh peel), black pepper and cardamom seed.
The juniper, coriander and angelica root, are macerated together for 12 hours before being distilled with Cotswolds lavender and bay leaf, grapefruit, lime, black pepper and cardamom in a 500 litre Holstein still.
On the nose Cotswolds Distillery gin is herbaceous, with very noticeable fennel/celery and citrus notes. On the palate the juniper is less pine than most gins and more camphor/savoury with some grapefruit. It has a zesty finish with hints of black pepper. A bright and contemporary gin.
Like Melbourne Gin Company gin, Cotswolds Distillery gin is non-chill filtered. This means that when liquid is added there is a little louching, or cloudiness in the drink. Both distillers feel that by not chill-filtering their gin they retain all the flavour in the oils from the botanicals.
It looks and tastes gorgeous in a gin and tonic as you can see! This one I garnished with fennel and black pepper. Like every good dry gin, the beauty is in its versatility, so Cotswolds Distillery gin should stand you in good stead whatever cocktail you are making. However, I think it would work particularly well in a Lawn mower, as the elderflower liqueur complements the lavender notes in the gin!
Country of Origin: UK
ABV: 46%
Price: Medium
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