Manly Spirits Barrel Aged Gin

Nose: A soft and velvety floral fragrance featuring vanilla blossom, lavender, tea tree and lemon bay leaf, with a touch of pine forest aromas. Palate: There is a sweet citrus arrival that leads into some hot spiciness as soon as the spirit moves from the front of the mouth to the sides of the tongue. As it develops, a lot of crisp pepper notes unfold - white pepper, paprika and a dusting of faint cayenne, particularly at the back of the mouth. The more classic juniper and other botanicals don't appear until later in the development, but then remain into the finish. Finish: Medium. Spicy and floral with a little drying oak right at the end. An interesting gin that infuses the normal Manly Spirits distillate with primarily floral aromas, and a slightly citrus and astringent woodiness. It's pleasant to sip but some might find it's spicy and woody character to be strange. A cube of ice doesn't change things much initially, but after a few minutes as it melts the added water smooths out the flavour profile. With tonic it loses a good deal of the floral character and settles down to being an enjoyable dry gin, with just a touch of woody bitterness in the tail. Using a sweet tonic such as Fever Tree's Lemon Tonic would probably produce a very nice result. I found that a dash of orange bitters and a spoonful of orange curacao added to the G&T created a very acceptable summer cooler. It's enjoyable, and I'm glad I tried it, but to be honest when this bottle is finished I won't be buying a replacement. I much prefer Manly Spirits' other gins, particularly the Coastal Citrus which is definitely superior to this expression. Better than just average, but not by much, and expensive for what it is. Recommended if you can find a taste in a bar. "Above Average" : 80/100 (3 stars)