Product of: United Kingdom

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Based on spirit distilled from malted barley, wheat and oats by the brewer, First Rate is flavoured with 13 botanicals: juniper berries, orris root, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, cassia bark, vanilla pods, angelica root, caraway seeds, fennel seeds, thyme, liquorice, sweet orange and lemon peel.

The copper pot still is charged with spirit at 50% abv in the late afternoon, warmed to some 50°C before the 13 botanicals are added to the warm spirit and left to infuse overnight. Distillation then takes over six hours to produce a distillate with the flavour of the botanical oils. The gin is then chilled and filtered and hand-bottled.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 20/10/2011

Appearance:

Crystal clear.

Aroma:

A very complex and integrated nose with juniper, thyme, cardamom and orange zest being the most obvious aromas.

Taste:

Wonderfully clean and strongly flavoured palate with the balance between the juniper and the other botanicals well struck with juniper leading the charge with the other botanicals in tightly integrated formation behind.

Aftertaste:

Juniper is more prevalent in the long woody-citrus finish.