Ransom Old Tom Gin

Bourbon Snob Tries Gin: Part 10 Part 9: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Part 11, 1/11/25: Copperworks Cask Finished Gin: Imperial Stout Cask >>>~~~~~~~~~~<<< I have not had too many gins. It’s been years since I’ve tried one. I don’t really know the language or the flavor profiles that make sense when describing gin. But I’m starting to get there… maybe? Any suggestions??? This is a bourbon snob trying to understand gin. Much thanks to @ContemplativeFox for the pour! >>>~~~~~~~~~~<<< Something to notice: the color is amber. It made me look up why, and it turns out that this little guy was aged for 6 months in French oak wine barrels. Very excited to see what that can do to a gin! Nose is sangria, plum, sugar, grapes. There is a mild alcohol astringency, but it’s something I’d associate more with a vodka than a gin. This is fantastic. I could smell this all day. Body is heavy with the wine influence. There’s pit fruits, brine, vanilla. Cherry. Freakin pineapple? Finish is sugar, cinnamon, more vanilla. Cola! Floral. Busy busy busy. I love this so much. I don’t know if it’s fair to say that this is a gin that I love, because the wine finish is so dominant. Floral and briny notes are the only hints to me that this is a gin base, and it honestly tastes like a really well made cocktail. That said, it’s freakin delicious. So though it may not be fair to say to gin snobs (meant as a term of endearment 🫶), I shall say it nonetheless: this is my favorite gin ever. I will track this down.

I often use Ransom Old Tom gin when I'm making cocktails that call for that type of sweet gin. The barrel aged old tom is supposed to be similar to the style from back in the day, but rarely do I drink it neat. Since I was near the end of the bottle, I figured I would review it. On the nose I get the barely, touch of juniper and citrus (orange peel). The palate still has citrus, a touch of sweetness, but that is joined by some spice along the lines of coriander and cloves. The finish is actually pretty whiskey like with grain/barley and a touch of heat. All and all, it's not a bad drink neat and I could see someone who likes whiskey giving this a try and finding it decent. It's definitely not that sweet, in comparison to other old tom gins and leans more towards the grain/barley as opposed to juniper. I wouldn't go out of my way to have this in place of whiskey, but it's not that bad neat. I would probably give it a 3-3.5, but because it's so useful in cocktails, I will bump it up to a 3.75.

It smells rich and citrus like Verner's ginger ale. The palate is smooth and creamy with hints of ginger ale pepper. The flavor has some surprising hits of rich menthol that makes it taste richer and more complex sort of like some other unique, rich, sweet(ish) drink that I'm struggling to name. It's sort of like cherry and molasses or something (maybe cola or doctor pepper?). The creaminess with sweet richness gives it an exquisite flavor that balances refreshing and hedonistic elements. I could drink this all day. There are all sorts of complex details too like chamomile, lemon, orange, ginger. It's kind of malty in a beautiful way. This is somewhere between gin and whiskey and it is interesting and delightful. The finish is terrific too. There are so many great flavors in here and they balance beautifully without any clear flaws. It may not be to everyone's tastes with its high amount of floral flavor and lasting juniper, but it is amazing gin.

Color: amber and clear, like a young Whiskey. Nose: this is definitely Gin. Juniper and citrus abound, but there is also a sweetness that sneaks through. First sip: sweet yet juniper, citrus, and a little malty. Finish: a little sharp neat (like most Gins), but clean when diluted or mixed, with a lingering maltiness and floral undertones. Very different and yet still definitely a Gin. Certainly does not lack flavor; the malty sweetness lets it shine through in any cocktail, while the Gin backbone also doesn't fade into nothing with dilution. Overall, this may take some time to get use to with the stronger flavor profiles, figuring out exactly how to use it in cocktails, but I don't dislike it either

It’s not my favorite Old Tom gin (Hayman’s) and I struggled to find the right cocktail for Ransom, and trust me, I tried a ton. But, finally, I did find one. Makes a really flavorful and complex Gimlet w 2 oz of Ransom, .75 oz of simple syrup and .75 oz of fresh squeezed lime juice. Delicious! It’s an aged Old Tom out of Oregon w juniper, citrus and cardamom. Light and piney. It’s a bit pricey, but worth a purchase to give it a go

This gin smells like gin....juniper forward with a floral almost perfume odor that lingers. It definitely does not mix like a gin, DO NOT mix with tonic. The malted barley flavor takes over so this is best tasted and enjoyed as a bourbon wannabe. Either neat or in an old fashioned. Not a gin I would drink on a summer day, but more a late fall cocktail when gin may be too heavy. Worth a try but would not buy again.