Review That Old Devil’s Bathtub Gin
Made in: Honeoye Falls, NY by Honeoye Falls Distillery.
Base: Rye
Copper pot still
46% alcohol/92 proof
Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, clove, cinnamon, angelica nutmeg, and more.
Style: Modern gin.
Made in New York, Honeoye Distillery qualifies as a New York Farm distillery under the 2007 Farm Act. That means that at least 75% of the ingredients in every of this small batch distiller bottle are sourced in NY state. The distillery makes Rye, bourbon, vodka, absinthe, and gin. And it’s their gins which make in fact make this one of my favorite micro distilleries I’ve had the pleasure of tasting (though to be fair I’d like to try their absinthe too). The distillery makes three distinct gins, and thus far I’ve loved the two I’ve tried. This one - That Old Devil’s Bathtub Gin, is one that takes great notice of the distilleries other products, in producing a rye barrel aged gin that pays tribute to the very nature of gin, and to whiskey making to boot.
And truth. It’s damn good, and damn different.
Tasting notes
This, like Honeoye’s other gins, are sipping gins. These gins don’t need mixers, but they certainly stand up well to them. They show what happens when you balance the distilling science with a lot of craft - you get a gin with rye overtone, spice, and whiffs the essence of a fine bakery.
It’s very far from traditional though - its most obvious in it’s honey like color but it differs in many more ways. The nose is nutmeg, ginger, rye whiskey, and just enough juniper to make sure you aren’t confused about what spirit you are really about to drink. You get all those flavors that you find on the nose, plus coriander and angelica, and lingering sweetness afterwards.
And the mouthfeel is pleasant but unusual too as the That old Devil’s has an almost cornstarch-like silkiness, that coats the palate but leaves it a bit dry afterwards.
The flavor is unique enough to make this gin one you could use in place of either spirit in many cocktails.
Overall
This is a hard one to wrap your head around. Its remarkably good, but so unique that comparing it to other gins is difficult. it’s certainly a rye drinkers type of gin, and those who like bourbon or rye will certainly like it.
When I mixed it I definitely had some uncertain feelings. There were definitely some pluses, but some minuses too. Here are my thoughts.
It was the bomb (not a bomb) as a gin and tonic with Fever Tree’s mediterranean tonic, with gingery, spicy taste.
But I found it lacking as a martini - it lacked the crispness and bitterness that complete a good martini.
The color definitely screams old tom so I had to try it in a collins and gin fizz. As a sweet drink it was quite good as the baking spices meshed well with the sweetness, but in the more bitter Collins it was just above average.
I liked it most straight up and in a classic gin and tonic. it’s price point is good, and can be a great base spirit in the right cocktails.
Flavor profile
spice 5/5
herbal: 0.5/5
Juniper 2/5
Floral 0/5
Citrus 0/5
Heat 4/5
Overall rating: 86. One of the most unique gins on the market. Its got some versatility to it, and makes one of the best and most interesting G&Ts that I’ve had in a fair while. For that alone I’d buy it.
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.
ความคิดเห็น