The National Distilling Company (NDC) "Native" New Zealand Botanical Dry Gin (750ml)

This unusual and delicious expression is truly unique, utilizing native botanicals found only in New Zealand. The result is still unmistakably gin, with juniper firmly present, but it tastes unlike anything else on the market. How many gins can you name that bring peppery kawakawa and sweet karamu together? Unbelievable. Let’s have at it. The color is perfectly clear (0.0). The nose is pungent and opulent all at once. Juniper takes a back seat, allowing the more unusual aromatics to explode from the glass. The kawakawa, presumably responsible for some of the peppery character, reads more as a subtle earthiness than overt black pepper. Instead, there is rich, dark-toned berry fruit coupled with freshly roasted light Colombian coffee. It is simultaneously floral and earthy, offering notes of honeysuckle, sage flower, chamomile, and angelica root. I honestly have no clue how all of these elements come together, but I absolutely love the nose. The palate remains rooted in juniper, with a perfect pinch of pepper peeking through the mid-palate. It is framed by an upfront sweetness that is distinctive without becoming saccharine. There is obviously no sugar added here, but the natural sweetness of the spirit is undeniable, and that makes it extremely delicious. While the flavor profile is different, it never feels strange or off-putting. If you love experimenting and layering flavors, this is the perfect gin for you, but it will also delight any G&T drinker who does not want to be bludgeoned by juniper. There is simply nothing more to say except that, at this price, this product is unprecedented.