Blackwattle Distilling Co. Dry Sydney Gin

Nose: Citrus (orange, tangerine, mandarin, etc), some gentle juniper and pine needles. Palate: Soft and creamy and very light on the juniper to start. With time a little white pepper and juniper shows up but it’s a decidedly mild palate. The texture is very pleasant. Finish: Short. The palate dwindles to citrus quickly, and then disappears. Blackwattle Distilling Co. is a new distillery recently established in the Sydney suburb of Rozelle, a couple of blocks from the old industrial foreshore area (which is undergoing redevelopment). Technically this area is called White Bay, but I guess the distillery owners liked the sound of Blackwattle better. We visited a couple of weekends ago and met Mark, one of the two distillers and company owners, who was dispensing free samples to visitors. Our first taste was this gin which I thought was a little underpowered to be honest. I chatted with Mark for a while and I was surprised to learn that they chill-filter it, and I had to wonder … WTF? I guess they are positioning it as a gin for very mild palates but it did not even stand up well against tonic water, and I can’t imagine it in a negroni – there would be no gin presence at all. Much as I would like to support a new business, and although there is nothing specifically at fault in this gin, it is lacking in character and for me simply below average. “Adequate” : 74/100 (2.25 stars)