February’s Gin Box
This month we have gone all ‘ROSEmantic’ with Glendalough Rose Gin!
Distilled with fresh Wild rose petals from the Wicklow mountains the Glendalough Distillery went above and beyond when they created this award-winning Rose Gin.
To rebalance the their Wild Gin recipe they distilled it with extra fruit, flowers and spices and of course a lot of fresh rose petals. Given the delicate nature of petals as an ingredient, this gin is distilled even slower and more gently than their wild botanical gin with vapour distillation playing a bigger part in extracting those essential oils and flavours.
The result is not “just another pink gin” but a one that is delicate yet complex and full of flavour. On the nose, the aromas are of florals and pine. The taste is gentle with distinct rose petal, bright berries, Turkish delight, citrus with a nectar sweetness. The finish is smooth with lingering pink peppercorn and a touch of earthy spices.
We have paired the gin with a set of much sought after Glendalough gin glasses, premium Schweppes 1783 tonics and Irish made Hadji Bey Turkish Delight, which the distillery recommends are the perfect match to a rose gin and tonic!
Hadji Bey’s Turkish Delight has been part of Ireland’s food tradition since 1902 when a young Armenian couple wanted to introduce their Turkish delight to the market. After opening a shop and factory on Cork’s MacCurtain Street, the business became a marvellous success, exporting to luxury stores like Harrods of London and Bloomingdale’s of New York, and is supplied to Buckingham Palace! It is now made in Kildare and seen a return in recent years.
AWARDS
Awarded a highly coveted Masters award at this year’s Spirits Business Gin Masters.
37.5 % ABV
BOTANICALS
To create their unique wild gin flavour, the team at Glendalough forage wild plans in the mountains around the distillery. They then tease out the delicate flavours in very small batches. For the Rose Gin the redistill this with extra fruit, spices and rose petals from three varieties of rose; the rare and elusive Wild Rose from the Wicklow mountains, large fragrant Heritage Roses and the ancient prized Damask Rose.
All of which come together to make this a naturally pink and very floral gin.
TASTING NOTES
The aromas are special with a perfume of florals and pine like a mountain meadow in springtime. The flavour profile follows the nose, but with a surprising and brisk orange zest and a blooming anise note on the back palate. The finish is smooth and delicate.
THE PERFECT G&T
Glendalough Rose G&T – 60ml Glendalough Rose Gin, poured into an ice-filled Glendalough tumbler glass. Top with 1783 Schweppes tonic water and garnish with a slice of lime and fresh mint leaves.