Amrut Nilgiris Indian Dry Gin (70cl, 42.8%)

Amrut Nilgiris is a dry gin from India, made in small batches in copper stills in Bengaluru. It takes its name from the Nilgiris, the Blue Mountains of the southern Western Ghats, and uses hand-picked tea from local plantations alongside betel leaves, known as paan, for floral notes and texture. The ten botanicals include juniper, coriander seed, lemongrass, angelica and orris root, betel leaves, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and tea, with imported juniper among the ingredients. On the nose, citrus juniper leads, with spices in the background, hints of brewed tea and floral betel leaf. The palate is smooth and almost buttery, with juniper, unripe mango and marked citrus, plus peppery heat and a touch of betel leaf. The finish is long and dry, retaining a powerful character.