The Citrologist Pink Grapefruit Gin

A gin-making experience, given as a present for Paul's 60th birthday, started The Citrologist. Paul and Malcolm had met as university students in 1979; after careers in medicine and academia, they turned that gift into The Wildings Distillery in Galashiels, in the Scottish Borders, and Malcolm's involvement revived a family tradition of distilling in the Highlands.

Citrus · Dry · Fruity

Pink Grapefruit Gin belongs to the citrus side of the range, alongside Key Lime and Lemon. The distillery states the idea simply: the aroma and taste of fresh grapefruit in perfect balance with juniper and other hand-selected botanicals. The citrus is used fresh and prepared by hand, and like the rest of the standard range the gin comes in at 42% ABV; only the 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 goes higher, at 57%.

Pink grapefruit is an excellent partner for juniper. Its peel carries fragrant, slightly resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary oils, its flesh brings a juicy acidity, and its natural bitterness echoes the dry pine notes of the berry. The distillery presents it as a zesty gin for a hot summer's day, or for any moment when something really refreshing is needed, and retailers suggest it neat, over ice or as the base for a crisp gin and tonic. On a warm day, that directness is exactly the point.

The Wildings range has grown quickly, with 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 and Scottish Dry gins, a navy strength and a long list of special editions, but the citrus gins remain the most direct illustration of the Citrologist name. For a gin and tonic, an Indian tonicIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary suits the natural bitterness of grapefruit; add plenty of ice and a wedge of pink grapefruit, squeezed lightly over the drink so its oils sit on the surface. QuinineQuinineAn alkaloid from cinchona bark that gives tonic its bitterness. The British in India drank it against malaria and added gin: the gin and tonic was born.Glossary and grapefruit pith then meet on the same bitter, refreshing note.