Five Eleven Róisín Rose Gin

Real rose petals are infusedInfusionFruit or plants are steeped in the spirit to release their flavour. Done after distillation, infusion often adds colour too, and the gin can no longer be called London Dry.Glossary into Five Eleven Róisín Rose Gin, and they give it its pale pink colour without any added dye. Five Eleven makes it in South Australia at 40% ABV. Róisín is an Irish diminutive meaning little rose, a fitting name for a gin both coloured and flavoured by the flower.

Citrus · Floral

Rose leads the nose, joined by a soft, perfumed sweetness that Five Eleven compares to Turkish delight, and by a warm citrus note closer to orange than to lemon. The citrus brings lift rather than sharpness.

On the palate, juniper comes forward and gives the floral notes a dry, resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary base, so the gin never tastes like a liqueur. The finish is gently warming, with rose returning at the end. The Turkish delight comparison describes the aroma: the recipe itself names only juniper and rose petals. The petals bring a fresh, slightly green floral note on the palate as well as on the nose, which keeps the perfume from turning heavy.

Because its colour and scent both come from the same infusion, Róisín is at its best in drinks that keep the rose light. Five Eleven suggests a spritz with prosecco and soda, where the bubbles carry the floral aroma and a strip of orange adds a fresh counterpoint. At 40%, it also suits a simple long drink, with the tonic poured gently down the side of the glass so the bubbles do not flatten the petals' delicate perfume.

For a gin and tonic, fill a balloon glassCopa glassA large stemmed balloon glass, popularised by the Spanish gin and tonic: it stays cold for longer and gathers the aromas above the drink.Glossary with clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary, pour 4 cl of gin and add 10 cl of chilled Double Dutch Elderflower Tonic, then stir once. A rose petal and a piece of orange peel complete the drink. The elderflower tonic adds a second floral note that sits naturally beside the rose, while the orange peel echoes the warm citrus on the nose.