Damask Rose Gin, The Herb Garden

• Contemporary pink gin produced by The Secret Garden Distillery in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Bottled under “The Herb Garden” marque for the United StatesFeatured botanicals include dried Damask rose petals, juniper, angelica root, coriander, and winter savory (native to Scotland)
• Botanicals are sourced primarily from the distillery’s gardens and glass house
• Base distillate of neutral grain spirit produced by Kimia UK (certified B Corp) in the United Kingdom
• Distilled on 2 custom-built 100-liter copper pot stills manufactured by Svarog Sistemi in Slovenia; the juniper is distilled directly in the spirit, whereas other botanicals are vapor-distilled in a fine-mesh bag hung inside the still; rose petals are both vapor distilled and distilled with water to capture volatile oils, and the aromatic water is incorporated post-distillation
• Water for production is drawn from a borehole on site; water is softened with salt, deionized, and filtered for finishing
• This enticing red-gold gin opens with the pure essence of garden rose laced with a distinct, albeit supporting accent of juniper. Rose petal evolves towards rosewater on the palate with mild hints of citrus skin and sour cherry. The palate is ample, with the faint but persistent echo of juniper keeping things orderly and a lengthy tango of petal and pine driving the finish.
• No artificial coloring
• Non-chill filtered; 43% ABV

There’s an old-fashioned, apothecary loveliness to the Damask Rose—the fairy godmother of tinctures and tonics of another, more civilized time—that places this gin squarely in the sipper/ice and tonic category. The fact that it’s refreshing and absurdly more-ish doesn’t alter that impression. That said, flavors are applied with restraint here—the gin is structured with a subtle but distinct impression of juniper that suggests cocktailing, albeit with a similarly gentle hand.