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: So farewell then...

So farewell then... to The Alkkemist Gin: this was a pleasure to drink each drop of this sweet, ebullient and flavoursome spirit. If Alkkemist was a dog it would be a spaniel: happy to see you and rewarding to own. Similar in taste profile to Cotswolds Dry Gin but with more presence, which takes a little more wrangling to handle. My favourite garnish was a slice of lemon and two or three sliced grapes. #alkkemist #alkkemistgin #gin #gnt #ginstagram #twitter #ginandtonic #iphone6plus #snapseed

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Oct 12, 2017 at 12:43am 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: 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: 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

A year on the Gin: First bottle down! Silent Pool

So farewell then... to #silentpool gin it's been great getting to know you. Even though you taste like a Victorian hospital you make exceedingly tasty gin and tonics! P.S. we're definitely keeping the bottle :) #gin #gnt #ginandtonic #ginstagram #snapseed #iphone6plus #booze

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Jan 24, 2017 at 10:33am PST

A year on the Gin: A Christmas miracle!

It's a Christmas gin fuelled miracle! @mikocoffey has got me three superb gins (including the worlds most expensive gin: #monkey47 ), a plethora of mixers and a home made cocktail guide! And she doesn't even drink! All for me! . . #iphone6plus #snapseed #gin #conkergin #silentpool #silentpool #silentpoolgin #booze #cocktails #norfolkcordial #thomashenry #btwtonic #gingerella #doubledutch #fevertree #gnt #ginandtonic

A post shared by Mach V (@djmachv) on Dec 25, 2016 at 2:07am PST