Gin 2012
 


Best Gin - 2012

The Fifty Best Gin Tasting

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 24 premium gins with 19 pre-qualified judges. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the gins were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water and neutral unflavored bar snacks were available to cleanse the palate.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges.

The tasting notes are summaries of the judges’ opinions. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes. Prices may vary by state and do not include sales tax.

GIN TASTING RESULTS:

 

Tanqueray Rangpur

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

1. Tanqueray Rangpur -
(United Kingdom) $30

Nose: Lemon peel, lemon marmalade, citrus, cucumber. Palate: Lime, lemon verbena, lime soufflé, pine resin, juniper, prickly pear, cola, fruit gum, palm leaves, cedar, distinctive, great. Finish: Juniper, eucalyptus, lime, lemon drop, sweet citrus, herb, strong, smooth.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



2. Martin Miller’s Westbourne -
(United Kingdom) $36

Nose: Light floral, sweet berry, lemon, gentle lemon, lemon cream, lime, orange blossom, strong citrus, lavender, sugar, Earl Grey tea. Palate: Piney juniper, juniper, lemon, lime, lemon verbena, mango custard, dried peaches, pear, grassy herbs, violets, flowery, sweet, peppercorn, pine resin, complex. Finish: Creamy vanilla bean, peppercorn, cinnamon, juniper, floral, herb, pine oil, eucalyptus.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Martin Miller’s Westbourne


Tanqueray London Dry



3. Tanqueray London Dry -
(United Kingdom) $29

Nose: Light citrus, piney, juniper, lemon soufflé, dry lemon, citronella, tangerine, banana, anise, grassy. Palate: Floral, juniper, cracked juniper berry, peppery juniper, pine resin, licorice, lemon, honey, vanilla, floral, velvety, oily, viscous, complex, balanced, classic. Finish: Saffron, pepper, citrus, juniper, herb, eucalyptus, resin, strong, smooth.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Hendrick’s -
(United Kingdom) $35

Nose: Citrus, lime, lime soufflé, orange blossom, slight fruit, minty, lovely floral, honeycomb, coriander, juniper, touch of sandalwood. Palate: Floral, dried peach, lemon peel, vanilla, sandalwood, pine resin, cloves, brown spices, lemongrass, fresh violet, gardenia, lavender, cucumber, pepper, rich, smooth second sip. Finish: Juniper, pistachio, rose sorbet, cloves, eucalyptus, lightly spicy, floral, citrus notes, creamy, great, delightful, lingering.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Hendrick’s


New Amsterdam



New Amsterdam -
(California) $18

Nose: Lemon, lemon cream, lemon cake frosting, lemon peel, lime, orange blossom, cinnamon, sweet spice, cake batter, cola, piney juniper, sandalwood, marmalade, watermelon. Palate: Lemon notes, lemon curd, mixed citrus, orange honey, floral juniper, floral talc, flowers, violets, lavender, sweet, cotton candy, pastry, clove, anise, oily, pine resin, peppery spice, spice, creamy mouthfeel. Finish: Marmalade, dried citrus, lemon oil, fruity, fresh violet, spicy, vanilla bean, wintermint, clean, pure, smooth, great.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Martin Miller’s Gin -
(United Kingdom) $28



Nose: Lemon peel, light citrus, bubble gum, sweet, perfume, floral, juniper, hops. Palate: Citrus, lemon curd, lemon verbena, juniper, dried violet, rosewater, perfumy, herbal, faint anise, menthol, complex, delicate, subtle. Finish: Flowers, lemon, dried citrus, dried cherry, sweet spices, saffron, smooth, clean, short, elegant.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Martin Miller’s Gin


River Rose



River Rose -
(Iowa) $30

Nose: Corn, honeycomb, pine resin, herbal juniper, Earl Grey, sweet spice, cloves, potato, leather, grain mash. Palate: Verbena, Earl Grey tea, licorice, anise, clove, mint, nutmeg, peppery spice, sweet, floral, eucalyptus, menthol, wet stone, cornmeal, cherry, dried fruit. Finish: Peppercorns, saffron, rose, eucalyptus, resin, very clean, soft, rich, smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Tanqueray No. TEN
-
(United Kingdom) $30

Nose: Lemon sugar, lemon verbena, lemon, hints of lime, tangerine, piney, herbal juniper, sandalwood. Palate: Lemon peel, lemon, juniper, pine resin, spicy, menthol, over the top woodsy character, loads of flavor. Finish: Dried herbs, wintermint, mint, juniper, celery, raisin, eucalyptus, pine resin, soft smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Tanqueray No. TEN


TuB



TuB -
(Colorado) $30

Nose: Floral juniper, piney juniper, floral, violets, marmalade, citrus, lime, lime soufflé, lemon, honeydew, cucumber, light anise. Palate: Lemon peel, lemony, lime, oranges, citrus, peaches, mango, hint of pineapple, prickly pear, tropical elderberry, espresso pepper, crème brûlée, cucumber, pine resin, herbal juniper, cloves, minty, nice. Finish: Rose petals, hot butter, brown spices, spicy, sweet, fruity, smooth, strong, short.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Damrak -
(Holland) $25

Nose: Garden of Eden, cinnamon, sweet spice, lots of spice, herbal juniper, lime soufflé, lime, mint. Palate: Floral juniper, cracked juniper berries, flowers, mint leaves, mint, tea, coriander, orange, anise, pine resin, menthol, oily. Finish: Floral talc, juniper, peppercorn, herbs, dried citrus, spicy, soft, easy.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Damrak


G'Vine



G'Vine -
(France) $36

Nose: Floral juniper, piney juniper, floral, violets, marmalade, citrus, lime, lime soufflé, lemon, honeydew, cucumber, light anise. Palate: Lemon peel, lemony, lime, oranges, citrus, peaches, mango, hint of pineapple, prickly pear, tropical elderberry, espresso pepper, crème brûlée, cucumber, pine resin, herbal juniper, cloves, minty, nice. Finish: Rose petals, hot butter, brown spices, spicy, sweet, fruity, smooth, strong, short.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Merrylegs -
(Oregon)

Nose: Corn, honeycomb, pine resin, herbal juniper, Earl Grey, sweet spice, cloves, potato, leather, grain mash. Palate: Verbena, Earl Grey tea, licorice, anise, clove, mint, nutmeg, peppery spice, sweet, floral, eucalyptus, menthol, wet stone, cornmeal, cherry, dried fruit. Finish: Peppercorns, saffron, rose, eucalyptus, resin, very clean, soft, rich, smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Merrylegs Gin


No. 209



No. 209 -
(California) $35

Nose: Lemon, citrus, tangerine, peppermint, honey tea, faint pine, light floral, cucumber. Palate: Juniper berry, lemon, lime, lavender, vanilla, sweet meringue, clove, coriander, pink peppercorn, anise, eucalyptus, sandalwood, fresh pine, menthol, sweet mango. Finish: Lemon, sweet spice, spicy, pepper, wintermint, wet stone, hot eucalyptus, dried citrus, Juicy Fruit, smooth.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Rehorst -
(Wisconsin) $30

Nose: Floral, lavender, juniper, Earl Grey tea, lightly fruity, lemongrass, cassia bark, touch of lemon, lime soufflé, rosewater, springtime. Palate: Lemon, tangerine, juniper, grain, pastry, juicy fruit gum, mint, anise, herbs, pine resin, hint of pepper, white pepper, heavy spice. Finish: Fresh violet, floral, touch of citrus, sweet, juniper, eucalyptus, wintermint, nice, soft, smooth, clean.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Rehorst


Magellan



Magellan -
(France) $30

Nose: Fresh flowers, piney, floral juniper, lemon pepper, lemon peel, light mint, grass, cloves, tangerine. Palate: Cracked juniper berry, floral hops, butter cream, vanilla ice cream, grain, fruit gum, minty, spearmint, anise, almond, sweet, vague pepper, spicy, feminine, gentle floral delight, delicious. Finish: Wintermint, dried citrus, light, heavy alcohol, harsh, even.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Brooklyn -
(New York) $42

Nose: Juniper, piney, figs, oregano, herbs, light floral, vegetal, cypress, rosewater, olive oil, menthol. Palate: Juniper berry, lavender, saffron, peppery spice, even smooth pepper, spices, woody, grassy herbs, vanilla, light citrus, orange peel, rose sorbet, creamy, hint of salt, yummy. Finish: Herb, pepper, cola, violet, hot, soft, great.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Brooklyn


Bulldog



Bulldog -
(United Kingdom) $25

Nose: Light, beautiful, herbal, floral, juniper, cucumber, lemon peel, citrus tones. Palate: Lemon cream, lemon, cracked juniper berry, strong juniper, sugar, lavender, floral, cucumber, anise, peppercorn, spicy, medicinal. Finish: Wintermint, rich anise, cinnamon, floral, smooth, spicy, hot, dry, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Bardenay



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:

Bardenay -
(Idaho) $20

Nose: Citrus, lime, lime soufflé, orange blossom, slight fruit, minty, lovely floral, honeycomb, coriander, juniper, touch of sandalwood. Palate: Floral, dried peach, lemon peel, vanilla, sandalwood, pine resin, cloves, brown spices, lemongrass, fresh violet, gardenia, lavender, cucumber, pepper, rich, smooth second sip. Finish: Juniper, pistachio, rose sorbet, cloves, eucalyptus, lightly spicy, floral, citrus notes, creamy, great, delightful, lingering.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Crater Lake -
(Oregon)

Nose: Piney juniper, herbal, violet, floral, honeycomb, vanilla, muddy lime, citrus, subtle. Palate: Lemon marmalade, lemon, huckleberry, pastry frosting, dried citrus, touch of clove, light spice, cinnamon, black licorice, anise, pepper, menthol, hint of wood, unbalanced. Finish: Faint citrus, black licorice, creamy vanilla bean, spicy, herbal, sour, pungent, rough, hot then smooth.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Crater Lake


Catoctin Creek

Catoctin Creek -
(Virginia)

Nose: Floral, juniper, herbal, sweet citrus, honey, sweet buttercream frosting, fig, tangerine, raisin bran, cucumber. Palate: Pine resin, juniper, citrus notes, herbal spice, coriander, hot nutmeg, spice, botanicals, Earl Grey tea, citrus, raisin, flowers, licorice, anise, mint, menthol, oily, nice, good complexity. Finish: Juniper, cinnamon, minerals, light pepper, smooth, even, hot.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Darnley's View -
(Scotland) $30

Nose: Piney, juniper, lemony, lemon creme, slightly floral, Earl Grey tea, lavender, medicinal, subdued. Palate: Juniper, fruity, sweet orange, citrus, celery salt, chalk, layered with cream, sandalwood, nutmeg, hazelnut, anise, light pine, tangy, menthol, iodine, pepper with some heat, light burn. Finish: Dried citrus, rose petals, herbal, grass, sweet spice, balanced, pleasant, clean, crisp, hot, slight burn.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Darnley's View


Greenall's



Greenall's -
(United Kingdom) $22

Nose: Sweet spice, faintly floral, juniper, buttered popcorn, pine, vaguely potato, subtle. Palate: Sweet berry, mint, wintermint, grassy herbs, dried flowers, grain mash, toasty, pastry frosting, lemon custard, apple, pine resin, Earl Grey tea, spice, mild pepper. Finish: Floral, vanilla bean, pink peppercorns, juniper, smooth, light, dry.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Blackwood's -
(United Kingdom) $40

Nose: Saffron, Fresca, lime soufflé, cucumber, herbal, light juniper, light citrus blossom. Palate: Lemon verbena, orange blossom honey, citrus, nutty butter, cracked juniper berry, juniper, floral, grassy, pine, pine resin, sweet & sour, astringent, distinctive. Finish: Spicy peppercorn, wintermint, juniper, grassy, smooth, even, short.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Blackwood's


Southern



Southern -
(Georgia)

Nose: Juniper, piney juniper, floral juniper, coriander, mint, lime soufflé, lemon, lemon peel, watermelon, grain, anise. Palate: Cracked juniper, woody juniper, tangerine, lime soufflé, floral, fruity, pepper, black pepper, spice, anise, pine resin, violet, vanilla, grain, harsh, rich. Finish: Cinnamon, wintermint, juniper, sweet, soft, smooth, lingers.

Silver Medal
Silver medal

 

 

 

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