I don’t do as much reading during golf majors – this Thursday-Sunday is The Open Championship – so I thought I’d sub in a gin mention instead. It’s not quite a recommendation, more an attempt at settling my own thoughts of one I discovered a few weeks back – Nordes Gin.
Here’s the bottle description:
Nordes is a Galician gin inspired by the eponymous fresh northerly Atlantic wind. Made using pomace from Albarino grapes, the botanicals include juniper, ginger, hibiscus and liquorice, resulting in a unique and intriguing gin.
And the 3/5 review from the site I tend to use for my gin discoveries.
Hesitant review notwithstanding, there’s something enjoyable here, if only for the uniqueness. I can confirm that the gin doesn’t hold up with tonic, negronis, martinis, or shaken+filtered chilling (where somehow it acquires the fuzzy transparency of ouzo). In all of the above it’s either hidden or flat soapy. But if you take it straight and chilled – with maybe an ice cube or dash of cold water – it’ll come out as one of the more unique floral flavors you’re likely to find. Eucalyptus remains the strongest element to me – and I can’t shake the smell of my shower gel – but I also get a lot of hibiscus along the way and mint in the conclusion. For the £30/$40 price it feels worth the gamble.
Extracts 