SPIRITS & LIQUEURS

Reviewed at our "Rum Pool on the Basin" tastings July 2011 by 50 tasters, by average rating it Score 8.16 Came Second. NOSE: Bananas, classic rum, brown sugar, Scotch, playdough, butterscotch, linseed, Xmas pudding, sultanas, mint, menthol, pistacio nuts, ironing, charr, caramel, plastic, luscious. PALATE: Brown sugar, builds, nice feel, rich, burnt caramel, metals, chewey, wood, alcohol, anaesthetic kava, dark chocolate, good width FINISH: Burnt orange, nice with beer, bourbony, sweet, then goes bitter chocolatey, spicey, toffee apple, very sweet, medium. ;RWS/DMM

Reid+Reid - Reid + Reid Reverend Dawson?s Gin is named after one of New Zealand?s leading prohibitionist who also happens to be the great, great grandfather of Stewart and Chris Reid.

Reverend John Dawson was the Gerneral Secretary of the N.Z. Alliance from 1909  - 1925. During this period Dawson became widely known because of his assiduous parliamentary lobbying and campaigning in favour of total prohibition.

This gin is distilled using the ?one shot? method to produce a classic dry gin focusing on juniper and citrus flavours.

Tasting Notes: Piney juniper with zesty citrus characters. Fresh and bright on the palate with a textural and aromatic finish.

Clear amber, shiny, clean and transparent with a soft and balanced aroma. Flavours of light ageing, with slight sweetness. Notes of sugarcane combined with woody notes, along with almonds, vanilla, grapes and dried plums.

High quality gingerbread liqueur  from French artisan producer Briottet. All the Briottet range have proper 'real' fruit (or in this case, cake) flavour integrity - they taste like the fruit/cake itself, not some confected approximation. Highly recommended!

Cointreau: a masterpiece crafted through the unique distillation of all-natural sweet and bitter orange peels, resulting in a crystal clear liqueur that strikes the perfect balance between sweetness and freshness. For more than 30 years, the finest orange peels are carefully selected by our Master Distiller, Carole Quinton, to create the definitive orange liqueur.

Eclipse is the reference for character, body and aroma by which our Master Blender Allen Smith uses to blend every variety of Mount Gay Rum. For many rum aficionados Eclipse is also the reference by which all rum should be measured. Eclipse has a brilliant golden amber colour and a luxuriously complex aroma.

The best of breakfast in your drink. Using Raglan Roast beans, we have made this smooth, round gin with notes of chocolate, tobacco and coffee.

Pairings: East Imperial Royal Botanic or East Imperial Grapefruit Tonic

National Distillery - Inspired by botanicals found in luxury New Zealand skincare, The National Distillery Company?s limited release, Adorn Rose Gin, celebrates nature?s power to beautify.

Our signature dry bouquet of seven core gin aromatics have been artfully expanded with a symphony of florals including native New Zealand flax seed, rose petals, organic rosehip, and chamomile to produce a beautifully balanced botanical gin with hints of luscious, sweetness and a distant lingering florality.

Zaya is a blend of aged rums that ignites the senses and evokes a feeling of discovery. Deep in bronzed amber color, the nose is seductive with aromas of pear, baked apple and spiced vanilla. The palate is smooth, with notes of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak and baking spices and finishes profoundly with a hint of smoke. A rum that adds complexity to whatever, or whoever, it?s paired with, Zaya can be enjoyed neat, over ice or mixed into your favorite craft cocktail. Made for those that seek what?s beyond the surface, for it?s in the depths that true adventure lies.

From the finest 100% Weber Blue Agave
Carefully distilled in small batches
Aged in oak barrels for over two months

Dictador XO Insolent Rum is made from the fermentation of unique virgin sugar cane honey, then distilled in a modern stainless steel alembic. It is then aged in pre-used quality oak barrels from Jerez and Port that now and again reburn to caramelize the interior to achieve sweet flavours coming from the oak.

In the mouth it is extremely smooth with a range of exquisite flavours starting with fudge, intense vanilla, parfait caramel, and Colombian coffee. A long consistency is balanced with light oak giving the sensation of extreme quality and satisfaction of sweetness and strength.

Love gin but fret about the environmental impact of distilling? Look no further for your spiced gin of choice! Cuckoo Spiced Gin is made at the Brindle Distillery, which uses local raw materials as far as possible, and botanicals are from ethical and sustainable sources. The still (known as Maggie) is powered by biomass boilers, and byproducts are transformed into all kinds of animal feed or compost. What about the gin? If warming spices take your fancy, make space in your gin cabinet and get some Cuckoo in with haste. It's even made with Tellicherry black pepper, thought by some to be the finest the world has seen!

Tasting Notes: 

Gorgeous warming spices are pleasingly prominent on nose and palate ? think: cinnamon, clove ginger and black peppercorns. Floral notes provide balance, with rose and jasmine most apparent. Try it with ginger beer!

Four Pillars are an Australian distillery with a focus on the craft of distilling. This gift box comes with three 200ml bottles of Four Pillars gin. Contains:

- The original Rare Dry Gin

- The Bloody Shiraz Gin

- The Olive Leaf Gin

Bombay Sapphire has followed up its English Estate with a marvellous special edition London dry gin inspired by delicate warmth and golden orange glow of the setting sun ? appropriately titled Bombay Sapphire Sunset! This expression has been treated to an infusion of Indian white cardamom, turmeric, Murcian sun-dried mandarin peel, creating a softly spicy flavour profile highlighted by flashes of bittersweet citrus. Just the ticket for enjoying in a G&T while watching the sun set.

TASTING NOTE - Aromatic spiciness of cardamom and piney juniper, with wafts of floral angelica and fragrant turmeric sneaking in. Zesty orange builds along the way, remaining a constant feature of the flavour profile.

An unabashedly new wave gin, where orange and lemon take the Oscar for best supporting actor.

Your first note will be bold citrus which gives way to soft juniper, finally flowing into a welcome ginger note that tails off and leaves you with the anticipation of taking your next sip.

Pot distilled to maximise the flavour, using the authentic London Dry method - with only water added after distillation.

This gin can be enjoyed on ice, or if you fancy G&T's then it's recommended to pair with East Imperial Yuzu Tonic, Grapefruit Tonic or Grapefruit Soda. The recommended garnishes are a fresh lime slice, celery cut or fresh mint/lemon balm. It goes equally well in a cocktail too, to make the ultimate versatile gin.