Orkney Gin Company – Johnsmas
Johnsmas Gin :41.3%ABV
Botanicals: Including juniper, fresh rose, heather flower, and mint
Flavour profile: floral
Garnish: slice of red apple or lime
What started as a hobby, making gin based on local ingredients as Christmas presents for family and friends, has developed into an award- winning family business, with the bottle and its ingredients encompassing local Orkney Island lore and botanicals.
Johnsmas gin is named after the celebration of St. John the Baptist’s day, a local celebration held in Orkney around midsummer’s eve. The gin is bottled and labelled by hand. Beautiful ceramic bottles are used with the labels depicting the local legend of the Selkie-woman, a seal that can take human form, said to be mysterious and alluring.
Local seasonal botanicals form the base of the gin and are blended with seven-times distilled grain spirit.
In the glass the gin has a light, white wine look, but is rather different on the nose with juniper and sweet vanilla hints and floral and fragrant notes dominating. Neat, there is juniper, a smooth warmth with light floral notes and orange zest lingering.
With a quality tonic, we used Merchant’s Heart light, the same sweet, smooth and fragrant notes are to the fore; a lovely summer drink and equally at home in a cocktail.
Johnsmas Gin will appeal to lovers of floral, fragrant gin. A gin crafted with care and love; another Orcadian legend is born.
