Cuckoo Gin
Cuckoo Gin – 43%ABV
Botanicals: Including juniper, coriander, orange and grapefruit peel, oats, almonds, cardamom, chamomile and cinnamon
Garnish – orange peel and a sliver of fresh ginger
Flavour profile – juniper and citrus
Despite what some may say, first impressions do count. So Cuckoo Gin has an instant advantage with its bottle design. The light blue bottle is embossed with black botanicals at the bottom and has a gold label with a black cuckoo; all very tasteful. Anticipation is further heightened upon learning that this is a rare example of grain-to-glass production. Most gin producers buy in the base spirit to save time and money, but at Holmes Farm, the Singletons do things differently. Barley and wheat are grown on the farm and used to make alcohol, which is cut with spring water from the farm. By-products are fed to the cows and chickens, straw used for their bedding and other waste composted for next year’s crop. Some base spirit from outside is required, and some botanicals are of necessity bought from elsewhere but are sourced ethically and sustainably.
This is all laudable, but of little merit if the gin is poor. So, with the paper seal broken and the cork popped out, our noses were eagerly thrust forward. Layers of citrus, with creamy vanilla and coriander wafted toward us.
Neat, there are again layers of citrus, a lovely hit of juniper and spice, hints of creamy vanilla with a fabulous lingering peppery-warm finish. The grain seems to add a texture and a rich quality to the gin. Delicious. No gimmicks or frills, just a proper, authentic gin with a few original but not overpowering botanicals.
This is such a nuanced gin that adding tonic may cancel out some of the layers of taste. We suggest a tonic that doesn’t over-power; Merchant’s Heart works well and never rule out a Schweppes.
We’re not sure whether a martini was the main design goal for Cuckoo Gin, but we were so bowled over with the martinis we made that the bottle was gone before we had chance to sample it in other cocktails. But we are positive that Cuckoo Gin will be a great base for many an imaginative mixologist.
We do love a traditional gin that is not gimmicky, but has a touch of imagination and flair. Cuckoo Gin fits that bill with ease and goes straight into our top 5. Cheers!
