The Breckenridge distillery is known for their Colorado whiskies, but the gin they produce is certainly worthy of more than just a mention.
Review Breckenridge Gin
Made in: Breckenridge, Colorado, by Breckenridge Distillery
Base: Grain
Method: copper pot still
45% alcohol/90 proof
Botanicals: Juniper, lemon, cardamom, corriander, more - the distillery says there are 11 different botanicals in the bottle.
Style: Classic Gin
Breckenridge Distillery bills itself as the highest distillery in the world and it may well be true. But altitude is not the same as elevated quality, but they have a more fair share of that too. I’ve certainly enjoyed their whiskies, and they’ve gathered plenty of medals to validate their quality.
But until tonight I’ve never tried their gin, but at a very reasonable price under $25, it was one I certainly wanted to give a try. They call it a fragrant American gin, but aside from telling me that it contained Juniper and citrus they don’t offer a lot of information.
While it's called a new American gin, the flavor profile is more like a traditional London style gin, replete with juniper, coriander, cardamom, and citrus, the botanicals just don't scream modern although some might call it so.
Tasting notes
Like many gins, this is a bit rough neat. But add a bit of ice water or ice, and it opens up nicely. It’s not quite a true sipping gin, it’s bit on the hot side. Like many gins made in the London dry style it’s quite drinkable straight, but it’s really better mixed or at least more diluted (Please note - when I say style, its the old fashioned classic flavor profile that most gins made before 1995 had). With a little extra ice (not just a cube or two) and a minute or two to open up a bit more it became much more mellow.
The nose is juniper, heat, and citrus.
Juniper and pine greet the palate on first taste, along with a fairly substantial heat that roughens the texture of the gin. Once you get past the burn there is citrus, almost certainly lemon, coriander, cardamom, and maybe a touch of pepper. The juniper lingers in the finish leaving a sweet resinous sensation on the tongue and palate. It’s not overly complex botanically but it’s well balanced and pleasant.
Overall
In terms of price, it’s a very good gin. And it’s a great mixing gin.
I thought it fit the bill quite well in a gin and tonic, and was quite solid in terms of martini’s (very dry traditional, cajun, and dirty), not quite as smooth as some, but flavorful and pleasant.
It’s traditional enough that mixing it in a fizz or collins should be good too.
This is an above average gin, and as it’s flavor profile is similar to those classic london dry’s made by larger producers for more money, it can easily be substituted and It’s well worth a taste.
Flavor profile
spice 2/5
herbal/vegital: 2/5
Juniper 5/5
Floral 0.5/5
Citrus 1/5
Heat 3/5
Overall rating: 81 - I’d pick this over a lot of mass produced or other inexpensive gins. it’s not an all star, but at under $25 I found it quite good.
What you need to know about reviews: All my reviews are my honest opinions based upon my own personal tasting. I am NOT a paid reviewer, and no compensation was given, or expected. I may from time to time choose to do a second review and amend my opinion of a product, should I feel like it and find my review criteria has evolved, or that I’ve found it different at a later date. That said, as I’m unlikely to repurchase anything I thought was less than very good to excellent, it would be by chance or at the request of a distiller who though I rated them very unfairly - BUT even then, whatever you get will always be my honest opinion.
Comments