Broken Heart Pinot Noir Gin

Sun-soaked Central Otago Pinot Noir grapes meet the Broken Heart Original Gin in this soft, sweet spirit that the Queenstown distillery calls its love potion Number 9. Like the other fruit gins in the range, it is maceratedMacerationBotanicals soak in alcohol, from a few hours to several days, before distillation to release their aromas.Glossary with locally sourced fruit and bottled at 40% ABV in 500 ml bottles. The grapes give it its colour and fruit, while the base gin supplies the spice. The colour is a soft red.

Spicy · Fruity

Broken Heart lists its profile as soft, fruity, smooth, spiced, warm and sweet. Red berries and ripe grape lead the nose, with the gentle sweetness of Pinot Noir fruit.

On the palate, the texture is smooth and round, and high notes of spice from the Original Gin's pimento and ginger peek through. Juniper sits in the background, giving the fruit a frame without taking the lead. The finish is warm and fruity rather than tannic, closer to fresh grapes than to wine. Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned grape with a delicate red-berry character, which suits a gin better than a heavier variety would.

Broken Heart was founded in Queenstown by two German master distillers, and its name honours Bernd, who died suddenly; Joerg chose to share their gin with the world in his memory. Central Otago, close by, is New Zealand's best-known Pinot Noir region, which makes this gin a natural local pairing. It suits a BrambleBrambleA cocktail created in London in the 1980s: gin, lemon and sugar over crushed ice, drizzled with blackberry liqueur.Glossary or a spritz with sparkling wine, and works neat as a dessert gin. Served well chilled, the red fruit tastes fresher.

For a long drink, fill a copaCopa 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 and add 4 cl of Broken Heart Pinot Noir Gin and 10 cl of Fentimans Valencian Orange Tonic Water. Stir once, then garnish with a few dark grapes and a fresh orange twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary. The orange tonic brightens the red fruit, and the grapes echo the Pinot Noir.