The Botanist Islay Dry Gin (75cl, 46%)

The Botanist is an Islay dry gin from Bruichladdich Distillery on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, bottled at 46% vol in a 75cl bottle. It was first made in 2010. It uses 31 botanicals: nine classic gin botanicals, including juniper, coriander and orris root, plus 22 hand-foraged on Islay, such as meadowsweet, water mint, wood sage and bog myrtle. It is distilled for about 17 hours in a Lomond pot still nicknamed Ugly Betty, a slow run that helps capture delicate botanicals. The nose is floral, with elderflower, water mint, citrus and a hint of coastal salinity. The palate is satin smooth, with juniper, pine and citrus, then apple mint, chamomile and a little pepper. The finish is long and balanced.