Gin de Binche Firework Limited Edition

Nineteen botanicals go into Firework, and the list reads like a map of the whole spice cabinet. Plus Oultre, the Belgian distillery behind Gin de Binche, built this limited edition on its original recipe and pushed it in a more explosive direction, then bottled it at 57%, the strength of the Navy category, historically prized for its concentration of flavour.

Limited Edition · Spicy

The botanicals fall into clear families. Juniper dominates, as it should at this strength, with angelica rootAngelicaThe root of a tall umbellifer, earthy and musky. After juniper and coriander it is the most common botanical: it binds the aromas and holds the finish.Glossary beneath it. Citrus comes from pink grapefruit zest, lemon zest and bitter orange zest. The spice section is large: coriander, cardamom, cumin, caraway, clove, star anise, fennel, black pepper and Sichuan pepper. Then come the less usual ones, which give the gin its character: ambrette seed, musky and floral; lavender; cocoa; hops, with their green bitterness; and hyssop, a bitter herb with a long history in distilling. A grain eau-de-vie and water complete the recipe.

On the nose, fresh citrus and aromatic spice burst over a resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary juniper base. The attack is bold and bright, and the flavours unfold in layers: zest first, then botanical depth, then a rising warmth that is the signature of navy strengthNavy StrengthGin bottled at 57% ABV or more. Royal Navy lore holds that at this strength, gunpowder soaked in gin would still ignite.GlossarySee Navy Strength gins. The finish is long, spicy without brutality and warm without heaviness, and the balance holds despite the alcohol, which is the real test of any gin built this strong.

Fentimans Connoisseurs Tonic Water stands up to the proof without flattening the spices. A twist of pink grapefruit zest is the only garnish, repeating the leading citrus of the recipe and brightening the top of the drink. At 57%, the gin also rewards being tasted neat or over a single large ice cubeLarge iceOne large block melts far more slowly than several small cubes, so the drink stays cold without watering down.Glossary, and it gives real backbone to spirit-forward cocktails.