Cotswolds Wildflower Gin No 1

Cotswolds Wildflower Gin No 1 is a Cotswolds Distillery wildflower gin built on a London DryLondon DryA style, not a place of origin: every flavour comes from distilling natural botanicals. After distillation only water and a trace of sugar may be added, with no flavouring or colouring.GlossarySee London Dry gins base and blended with orange, lavender, cornflower and rhubarb-root character. The gin is bottled with enough strength for a clean long drink, but its identity is defined less by power than by the precision of its botanical direction. The key aromatic frame brings together juniper, coriander, angelica root, cornflowers, lavender, orange and rhubarb root. This matters because the bottle is not trying to behave like a neutral London Dry. It keeps the category readable through juniper and dry structure, then lets its chosen plants define the personality of the drink.

Citrus · Floral · Fruity

On the nose, orange peel, lavender, meadow flowers and a tart red-fruit impression from rhubarb root. The first impression should be read as a progression rather than a list of equal ingredients: the most expressive botanicals arrive first, while juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary, roots and spice provide the dry line underneath.

On the palate, the gin is bright and floral, with citrus sweetness balanced by dry juniper and a gentle bittersweet rhubarb line. Texture is important here. A good description of this gin needs to mention the attack, the middle and the finish, because the real interest appears when sweetness, bitterness, citrus, herbs, spice or fruit start to separate after dilutionDilutionThe water added by melting ice. In the right amount it opens the aromas and softens the alcohol; too much flattens the drink.Glossary.

In a gin and tonic, the safest serve is premium tonic or light spritz serve, orange wheel and lavender. The glass should stay simple: plenty of clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary, a measured tonic and a garnish that echoes the gin instead of covering it. This gin can also work in lighter highballsHighballA long drink served in a tall, straight glass with plenty of ice: a spirit topped with soda or tonic. The word also names the glass.Glossary or aperitif-style cocktails when the mixer respects its main aromatic line. The finish is floral, citrusy and delicately tart. It is a bottle to present through its own botanical logic, not as an interchangeable gin, and that is what makes the perfect servePerfect serveThe way the producer recommends serving the gin (glass, tonic, ratio, garnish) to show it at its best.Glossary easier to understand.