Review: NB Gin

December 13, 2015

IMG_3494For centuries, it was Scotland who had the global mastery on the complex spirit that is Single Malt Whisky, so its fitting that producing an award winning gin should be second nature to a Scot.

Established in 2013, NB Gin, located in North Berwick, East Lothian, this gin is made is limited batches of 100 litres by wife + husband team, Vivienne and Steve Muir.

They’ve approached the new venture with the singular goal of making the highest quality London Dry gin they can.

With a custom copperhead still, they use the classic botanicals for this style:  juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, grains of paradise, lemon peel, cassia bark, cardamom and orris root.

So its impressive that last year they picked up a silver medal in the Micro Distillery category at The Gin Masters 2014, and recently Best London Dry Style at the World Gin Awards.

Its only just been made available in Australia, so the local rep kindly provided a bottle for this review.

Tasting Notes IMG_3380

Chilled Neat: Clean on the nose, no alcoholic hit. One the palette, very forward and gently spicy via the juniper + coriander I’d say, with some residual ‘heat’ in the middle palette, very dry finish.

Martini:  Used 10mls of Dolin Dry Vermouth to 50ml of gin.  Similar profile, very forward on the palette, clean and dry finish with each botanical making its presence felt. I found the citrus came to the fore more in the Martini, but subtly.

The distilling has done a fine job integrating the botanicals, with not one dominating.

Overall I found this very appealing and a light and refined expression of the London Dry style.

Take Home

I can see why this gin has picked up the medals to date. Its an impressive debut that offers an elegant and versatile gin that speaks volumes of the care that’s gone into making it.  5 stars.

Details

Disclaimer

This review is of an unsolicited product provided by the distributor, and the views expressed are my own.

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