Review: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin Distiller’s Strength

Love The Botanist Gin but want a little more punch? With the new Botanist Distiller’s Strength, you can get the same mix of 22 hand-foraged, wild Islay botanicals with more intensity, clocking 50% abv instead of the rack 46%. Distiller’s Strength now sits in the middle of the Botanist abv lineup, proofwise — The Botanist Hebridean Strength, exclusive to travel retail, lands at 51.5% abv. (And don’t forget the oak-aged versions, too.)

“Experimentation is at the core of our distillery’s heritage, and The Botanist’s blend of 22 signature botanicals is no exception,” says Adam Hannett, Head Distiller at Bruichladdich Distillery. “For this release, I was inspired by Bruichladdich Distillery’s long-practiced art of bottling whisky at 50% abv. At this strength, flavorful oils from distillation are enhanced, the viscosity is richer, and it’s this richness that carries the flavors of the spirit.”

Is a 4% abv difference enough to move the needle on an already outstanding product? We put the new Distiller’s Strength offering and the standard Botanist side by side to find out.

Results: On the nose you won’t readily find much of a difference, that classic mix of juniper, sage, roasted mushrooms, and turned earth. If there’s the barest hint of citrus in standard Botanist, it’s more elusive here, tamped down perhaps by a little extra alcoholic punch. The palate is immediately familiar: more juniper, smudged sage, black pepper, and anise. The added abv, pitted against the standard Botanist expression, is noticeable right away: There’s definitely more heat here and more of a punch, though I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as richer. Again, the citrus notes that build up on the standard expression of Botanist are what differ the most in the Distiller’s Strength. Here they present as sharper and more vibrant, and as the finish approaches, they actually come across as a bit sweeter, evoking notes of tangerine.

At 92 proof, standard Botanist is hardly a gun shy gin. At 100 proof, it’s even more present in the glass and in a cocktail, though the differences are moderate at best. As it stands, I like the two expressions about the same amount. Which one I’d pick to use in a cocktail would be a matter of a coin toss — or which was easiest to reach.

100 proof.

A- / $45 / bruichladdich.com [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]

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