Number One: oaky, velvety, rose-colored; cardamom, angelica root and coriander
Brixx Barrel: New Amsterdam
Librarian’s Notes:
“It tastes like BOTH kinds of forests. The leaves kind AND the needles kinds.”
“It’s gin cinnamon. Ginnamon.”
Number Two: traditionally dry; coriander, juniper, black pepper
Knickerbocker
Librarian’s Notes:
“The Yankee Candle Store called, and they wanted you to know the gin candle you ordered is in.”
Number Three: a traditional dry gin infused with spiced bitters
Rendle’s
Librarian’s Notes:
“Start’s like Nana’s juice… finishes like Pop-pop’s chaw.”
Number Four: rich, bergamot and coriander with a ginger finish
Madam Pattirini
Librarian’s Notes:
“Coriander and cilantro… this gin can hang around.”
“Tastes like a pagan store.”
Number Five: deeply chilled natural well water and sprigs of Concolor Fir
Michigan Woodland Gin: Iron Fish Distillery
Librarian’s Notes:
“Not so much blue spruce, more like a Douglas fir. Let’s go to Frankenmuth.”
Number Six: friendly, warm, bilberries
Bilberry Black Hearts Gin
Librarian’s Notes:
“It’s like you planted a forest, but the forest came late.”
“It doesn’t beat you over the head with being a gin.”
Number Seven: dusky orange peel and juniper and earth
Knickerbocker Barrel Gin: New Holland
Librarian’s Notes:
“You got juniper in my peat! You peat in my juniper!”
“Copper notes?? Is copper a thing?”
Number Eight: silky with hints of juniper
Bourbon Barrel Gin from Watershed Distillery
Librarian’s Notes:
“Oh! This is how you get lumberjacks and secret agents to like gin.”
Number Nine: an accessible and smooth citrus bomb
New Amsterdam
Librarian’s Notes:
“Ooh, this is nice. Like a really classy Sprite.”
Number Ten: bright and strongly aromatic
Bombay Sapphire
Librarian’s Notes:
“I drank this all the time in college because it made feel me fancy and British.”
“And now?”
“Now, I feel post-colonial about it.”
“They do call it a gateway gin.”
“That’s true. Like the wardrobe door to gin-Narnia. ‘I’m Mr. gin-Tumnus. You look malarial. Come to my cottage for gin and quinine.'”
Number Eleven: cardamom, juniper berries, citrus
Railroad Gin
Librarian’s Notes:
She is hard and sharp and you can use her as a knife, and yet a surprisingly rich finish.
Number Twelve: citrusy lemongrass, coriander, a hint cinnamon and nutmeg
Coppercraft Distillery Gin
Librarian’s Notes:
Lemony like Snickett. Dry like ice.
Number Thirteen: citrusy, smooth, fragrant
Bluecoat
Librarian’s Notes:
“I saw this gin everywhere in Pennsylvania.”
“That’s not a tasting note.”
“This is my 9th gin today. I no longer have tastebutts. Tastebuds. I SAID TASTEBUDS.”