Gray Whale Gin

Gray Whale is an excellent example of a modern gin where the juniper is there but other botanicals get to play in the pool. Last week, I picked up a bottle for about $30 and spent a few rainy days trying different drinks with it. On the nose, I really like the soft juniper and citrus notes with a touch of spiciness. The body is smooth for a gin and can be sipped neat or with ice. the spicey notes are present again with the citrus running alongside it. The finish is nice with a minty note like soft buttermints lingering in my mouth. Overall, this is a different gin and that is a good thing. They use mint very well and at no point does it overpower the gin, unlike a few other gins that I have tried. In a Gin and Tonic, you have to be very particular about the tonic water and the ratio. At 3:1 the gin will nearly disappear with only the citrus and aftertaste of juniper being there. For Martinis, I only used .5 ozs of vermouth to 3 ozs of gin. I am still unpacking my bar and don't have all of my different bottles unpacked but once that happens I will try other gin drinks and return to this review. This is a very good gin but a bit overpriced at $30 it is a good deal but more than that is more than I think it's worth, but this is a gin to take a chance on if you want something a little different. Enjoy.

Tastes unlike any other gin I've ever had. It doesn't have any of the bite I associate with gin. This is actually quite mellow and the two flavors that stick out to me the most are almond and weirdly enough...kelp? You'd think those two wouldn't mix but actually it makes for a refreshing if singular gin experience. I would warn though that some gin cocktails just would not fit this because of its unique profile but don't let that stop you from enjoying this excellent gin.

I am not a Gin person. One of my co-workers shared some with me, so I am giving it a go. I do not know anything about gin, besides the basic. On the nose, this is very aromatic, I think most Gins are that way. There's some citrus notes, a little sweet. The palate seems sweet, which is surprising, but there's a little alcohol burn. The finish is short. I think when it comes to Gin, this one is ok. Cheers.

Wow, really nice gin to sip neat. As the name and botanicals imply, this gin hits your palette with tastes of the sea: cedar and salt and peppercorn and lime. Nose has some heat, but not astringency, and definitely lots of citrus. After taste is quite long, with lots of salt and juniper and some bitterness, but not unpleasantly so. Really enjoyable, but definitely would never mix this.

Rich juniper, fir pine and lime citrus nose, with hints of mint and leather. Robust full flavors of juniper berries, lime citrus, mint, slightly smoothed out by the almond undertones, and what must be the sea kelp. Velvety smooth mouthfeel, w/ a spiciness that grows the more you hold it in your mouth, with a smooth citrusy lime, juniper berry, pine, and refreshing mint finish

Not my favorite. The kelp/seaweed taste is very strong- so strong that it overpowers everything else. Briny. I guess if you are looking for a novelty gin, this is an interesting one. I haven’t tried it in cocktails yet, but plan too. I tested it alongside Bombay, which I had on hand, and it definitely highlighted how different it was from a traditional gin.