A Year on the Gin: Nikka Coffey Gin

This changes everything! I've been a fan of Japanese whiskeys and Nikka has been my favourite distillery discovery so far, but I was wary whether they could extent their talents to gin as well. Boy was I wrong about that. This gin stands out. The flavour is crisp and sharp with a delightful blend of yuzu and umeboshi with hints of tarragon and as a sipping gin it excels, but in a gnt I found it difficult to balance but with a sprinkle of mint it transcended it a lovely summery refreshment. Highly recommended. #gin #gins #ginstagram #nikka #nikkacoffeygin #nikkacoffey #ayearonthegin #gnt #booze #cocktails #alcohol #ginandtonic #mint #twitter #snapseed #iphone6plus

36 Likes, 4 Comments - Mach V (@djmachv) on Instagram: "This changes everything! I've been a fan of Japanese whiskeys and Nikka has been my favourite..."

A Year on the Gin: Elephant Gin

You know how it is: you're perusing the gin shelf looking for some inspiration, tired of the same old faces then suddenly... out of the corner of your eye... elephant gin is a German based spirit that comes in such an attractive bottle with a real actual cork and (kind of pointless) twine binding and a little lead seal and personally numbered label that it's actively waving to you from the shelf, positively wanting you to buy it and take it home. The nose is of spruce, arrowroot, orange and maybe... bergamot (?) the taste is very "gin" with a well balanced level of warm alcohol burn - it certainly has the punch of a London dry gin and enough personality to know that it was distilled with care. This is a good gin no doubt - one that warms to you the more you taste of it, but I think I would struggle to pick it out of a blind taste test. Tasting as ever using a #norlanglass #gin #gins #ginstagram #gnt #booze #elephantgin #snapseed #twitter

33 Likes, 1 Comments - Mach V (@djmachv) on Instagram: "You know how it is: you're perusing the gin shelf looking for some inspiration, tired of the same..."

Another year on the Gin: Marks & Spencer Gin 22

Well here's a funny thing: this is a Marks and Spencer's commissioned gin that is being made in France who's USP is that it is "oaked aged"... which seems like a funny thing to do with a gin. Sure a brown spirit seems to loan itself to aging with it's mellow richness and a gin, with all of its spritely, fresh flavours would seem to be the opposite of that, so it was with so trepidation that I got a bottle, and I'm glad I did. The ageing has certainly mellowed the spirit but there's not an oakiness or a woodines to get in the way of the spirits botanicals. Granted it's not a "bright" gin, the aging has "simplified" the flavour profile somewhat but (and it's an significant but) this is still a very pleasant experience both on its own and in the #gnt - especially with lemon. Get on this one. #m&s #marksandspencer #gin #gins #ginstagram #booze #boozereviews #norlanglass #twitter #snapseed #anotheryearonthegin #iphone6plus

21 Likes, 2 Comments - Mach V (@djmachv) on Instagram: "Well here's a funny thing: this is a Marks and Spencer's commissioned gin that is being made in..."

Another Year on the Gin: Brockmans Premium Gin

Oh wow! I love it when a new gin takes me by surprise and this one is a doozy. Brockmans Premium Gin comes in a deceptive matte black bottle and what comes out of that bottle is exquisite. The nose is fully of red berries and late summer fruits with lots of rhubarb and custard overtones and fruit salad penny sweets - this is a unique and refreshing combination. The taste reflects the aroma and accentuates the raspberries and blackberries notes - the alcohol isn't too heavy either, making it very smooth to drink. The back of the bottle recommends pairing it with pink grapefruit and blueberries which is something I'd like to see more on the back of gin bottles, especially when a distillery is trying to make a new flavour profile, and definitely one I'm going to try. Superb. #brockmans #brockmansgin #gin #gnt #ginstagram #ginandtonic #norlanglass #twitter #snapseed #iphone6plus #booze #boozereview

37 Likes, 4 Comments - Mach V (@djmachv) on Instagram: "Oh wow! I love it when a new gin takes me by surprise and this one is a doozy. Brockmans Premium..."

Another year on the gin: Whittaker's Pink Particular Gin

New year, new gin: this is another shining example of a small batch distilled Yorkshire based gin. Whittaker's is already picking up plaudits for its 4 signature gins; this one is their pink variety blending a bold, brash but balanced blend of hibiscus, pink peppercorn and cardamon botanicals. It's a deep, dark and smoky flavour but I must admit it's not to my particular palate. Personally I kept wanting to have more of the hibiscus flavour but then I prefer the more flowery and citrusy gin profiles but if you like the peppery and spicy gins you should take time to check this one out. Tasting done - as ever - with a #norlanglass #gin #ginstagram #gins #whittakersgin #booze #gnt #ginandtonic #snapseed #twitter

31 Likes, 1 Comments - Mach V (@djmachv) on Instagram: "New year, new gin: this is another shining example of a small batch distilled Yorkshire based gin...."

A Year on the Gin: 2017 Round up

So farewell then... to 2017 and a year on the gin. I've tasted in excess of 15 (I lost count) different gins this year (which, in itself, could be considered excessive for one person) most were great and some... well... but that's not important right now! What I guess matters is what was the best gin that I drank; and of course there is no "one gin" that will do everything - though tanqueray no.10 is pretty close to the most utilitarian gin (if it just wasn't so pricey) - but if I was to recommend one gin to drink that won't break the bank too much it would be Cotswolds Dry (if you've fallen in love with Hven you can "slum it" and save £'s by drinking Cotswolds dry; Hven is outstanding but a very expensive tipple). It's sweet, sharp, citrussy and excellently versatile gin and its price point won't break the bank. However my personal top gin discovery of the year would be Jinzu - though it's a speciality flavour with it's plummy sake overtones, it's just so fun and surprising and different I'm always wanting to have a bottle in the cupboard just so I can have that taste available to me. But the best most outstanding gin is Monkey 47. It's so amazing I wouldn't (couldn't) want to mix it with anything... and that's the problem - it's great as a treat to have a nip but sadly I can't waste valuable drinks cupboard space on a sipping gin. Stay tuned to see if 2018 will bring new gins to the front of the cupboard! #gin #ginstagram #gins #booze #2017 #2017roundup #gnt #ginandtonic #snapseed #twitter #review #hvengin #cotswoldsdrygin #monkey47 #jinzu #jinzugin

29 Likes, 3 Comments - Mach V (@djmachv) on Instagram: "So farewell then... to 2017 and a year on the gin. I've tasted in excess of 15 (I lost count)..."

A year on the Gin: Gin Mare

Huh. So I’ve been kinda daunted by the idea of tasting this one: Gin no. 14 is Gin Mare. With some really really odd botanical choices I was kinda hoping this would be the Gin that would explain martinis to me, and maybe it will but initial tasting was... harsh. Even using the norlan glass I could not lift the acrid burning taste of alcohol from it. The rosemary is just about there and with the juniper it does turn rather soapy, however with the overpowering alcohol it was a difficult tasting and even with just a shot in the norlan I couldn’t finish it (that’s a first for me). However in an gnt (with lime) the flavour is mellowed, the booze is subdued and the subtle olive comes through. Really quite clever and surprising. #ginmare #gin #ginstagram #ginandtonic #gnt #twitter #booze #boozereviews #snapseed #iphone6plus

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Oct 12, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

A year on the Gin: The Alkkemist

Gin no.13 is... The Alkkemist. Inspired by a glowing review from @veraginchannel I knew I had to try this Spanish gin so once pay day came (it's... rather pricy - £47 from Amazon prime) I ordered and waited like Scott Pilgrim for the bottle to arrive. The bottle is beautiful with a quirky Miro inspired stopper; a real good gin to give as a great gift for the gin fan in your life. Tasting it (via a @norlanglass iof course) and boy this gin does not disappoint. The nose is sweet, fragrant and slightly soapy - lots orange & lemon sherbert, angelica and spruce - and the flavour replicates that with other other notes such as rhubarb, grape, wafts of sherry, juicy fruit sweets and a hint of licorice. A really clever flavour that deserves savouring and appreciating on its own. Now this gin does make a song and dance about being distilled by the light of a full moon (which my rudimentary chemistry tells me will have no effect at all on the resulting spirit) but I have to admit there is something magical happening in the production of this superb gin. Save up and cherish. #gin #ginstagram #gnt #alkkemist #alkkemistgin #booze #alcohol #norlanglass #iphone6plus #snapseed #alcohol #review #miro #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Sep 25, 2017 at 3:13pm PDT

A year on the Gin: So farewell then - Cotswolds Dry Gin

So farewell then... to this amazing gin. I have enjoyed every last drop of this exceptional spirit which has managed to balance both complexity, a unique personality and all round usefulness into one bottle. Great with apple, outstanding with lemon I doubt that any garnish would suffer against this. It is on the sweet side but don't let that put you off as it's so versatile and fragrant you must try it. This comes highly recommended. #gin #ginstagram #ginandtonic #booze #alcohol #cotswoldsdrygin #twitter #iphone6plus

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Sep 21, 2017 at 10:06am PDT

A year on the Gin: Cotswolds Dry Gin

Gin no.12 is... Cotswolds Dry Gin (tasting as ever via a #norlanglass) this gin has a great nose to it, the sweet juniper rolls around with heather and lavender, reminding me of the new forest (and soap). The taste is bold with a slight wet pinewood undercurrent which isn't too dissimilar to where silent pool sits in my memory (which is wrong of course). It kinda reminds me of gplan and early sixties furniture: there's nothing artificial here. I like it. Weirdly the first gnt I mix with it comes out cloudy... not sure if that's the gin or something in the ice... #gin #ginstagram #ginandtonic #cotswoldsdrygin #gnt #booze #iphone6plus #snapseed #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Aug 15, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

A year on the Gin: Jinzu

This years festival gin is #Jinzu and though my tasting was done in a plastic glass this gin sings! The plummy sake gently soothes while the Yuzu makes this a very refreshing sip. Highly recommended #gin #ginstagram #ginandtonic #booze #iphone6plus #snapseed #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Aug 4, 2017 at 4:34am PDT

A year on the Gin: The Botanist

Gin no.10 is The Botanist. Tasting, as always, done in a #norlan glass. And... well... hmmm. There's very little bouquet to speak of (some spruce with that juniper) and the flavour is... dare I say it... rather pedestrian to my palate. It reminds me of Gordon's which isn't a compliment. I had to sit and let the flavour roll around fully before picking up some cranberry and grapefruit (maybe some licorice hidden away? ) and interestingly that's what are some of the suggested garnishes are in the Ginventory app. But suffice it to say I'm not impressed so far. #gin #ginstagram #ginventory #booze #snapseed #twitter #thebotanist #snapseed #iphone6plus

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Jul 24, 2017 at 10:23am PDT

A year on the Gin: Tanqueray Gin No.10

Gin no. 9 is... gin no.10. A fave of gin genius @88allym I'm so glad that I finally took her plaudits and bought a bottle. This is a great all round gin, another one that if you never bought another gin in your life you would still be happy with this years later. It responds well to so many different garnishes, showing different sides and facets with each one. The only problem is the price point - it's a bit expensive considering the cluttered gin market, but if you can afford it as your "go to" it's worth it but as a treat gin I think I would rather have something more individual. #gin #ginstagram #booze #twitter #iphone6plus #snapseed #tanqueray #no.10

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Jul 7, 2017 at 2:32am PDT

A year on the Gin: Ableforths Bathtub Gin

Gin no. 8 (omg really?! 8 gins?! It's only May) is @nikki_archer_'s favourite #ableforths #bathtubgin. This is a sturdy gin with a strong but sweet profile with a very well balanced floral flavour made up of noticeable lavender and hints of rose and a subtle lemon zest underpinning it. Can't wait to see how well this takes to garnishes. Tasting done in a #norlanglass #gin #ginstagram #iphone6plus #snapseed #booze #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on May 29, 2017 at 2:48pm PDT

A year on the Gin: Copper Head Gin

Gin no.7: the alchemist's Copper Head gin (Pink cat fridge magnet not included). Tasting notes: lots of fresh lemon with lavender to start followed by rosemary and burnt cardamom to follow (on a bigger swig). Interesting. My favourite gnt garnish - cucumber - has nullified its personality so maybe I should try something more supportive next time. Tasting done in a #norlanglass #thealchemist #gin #ginstagram #copperhead #copperheadgin #gnt #ginstagram #ginandtonic #snapseed #iphone6plus #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on May 2, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

A year on the Gin: So farewell then - Monkey 47

Oh this is sad day: a farewell to the greatest gin that I've ever had the fortune to taste. I never wanted you to end. Each time I opened my drinks cabinet I would audibly gasp at the thought of possibly having another wondrously delicious taste of #Monkey47 #gin #ginstagram #booze #iphone6plus #snapseed #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Apr 14, 2017 at 2:41am PDT

A year on the Gin: So Farewell then - Conker Gin

So farewell then... to Dorset Gin. Initially I was taken with your bright, clean flavours but I tried to be too clever with you with fancy tonics and garnishes when all you really wanted was Schweppes tonic and lemon. #dorsetgin #conkergin #booze #snapseed #iphone6plus #ginstagram #gin #dorsetdry #dorsetdrygin #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Apr 8, 2017 at 3:44pm PDT

A year on the Gin: So farewell then - Hven Organic Gin

So it's farewell to the hven gin and I've got to say you've impressed not just me but my friends as well. This is a great gin with a nose full of spruce, lemon and rosemary (with a hint of pepper) but delivering a friendly and hearty mouth full of flavour including vanilla sweetness (like a fruit salad penny chew) and buttery undertones. This isn't a subtle gin but a robust & easy going one, like the family golden retriever bounding alongside you on a good late summer walk. It's sweetness is superb in a variety of tonics and I couldn't seem to put foot wrong with it. My old criticism would be the rather OTT packaging it came in. #hven #gin #ginstagram #cocktails #booze #snapseed #iphone6plus #ginandtonic #backafallsbyn #twitter

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Mar 24, 2017 at 10:59am PDT

A year on the gin: Hven Organic Gin

Gin no. 6 (?! It's only March) a gin so powerful it comes in It's own gothic cage. A present from the all round loveliness and my steak buddy @88allym (tasting notes to follow) #gin #ginstagram #hven #hvengin #booze #iphone6plus #snapseed

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Mar 1, 2017 at 12:56am PST

A year on the Gin: Masons Yorkshire Tea Dry Gin

Gin no.5 of 2017 from the quite frankly awesome @diggeronthedex #yorkshire #yorkshiretea ##ginstagram #gin #masonsgin #halfcentury #iphone6plus #snapseed #birthday #taylorsofharrogate

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Feb 16, 2017 at 5:57am PST