Who knew that gin could be exciting in Winter? The new gins cover such a range of flavours that as a new fan I was curious what might become available as the seasons turned. I already discussed a few spiced gins, but in just over a month I’ve found a whole bunch more.
Of course, you might consider any aged gin that’s spent some time in a barrel to be a Winter gin. My sense from the reviews is that aged ones are chancy, but the Willibald Aged Gin is great, they deliver, and if you live in the Kitchener-Waterloo area then delivery is free. Compass Gins in Nova Scotia has a couple of aged gins that are quite nice and even a Boston Tree Gin in honour and with flavour from the Christmas Tree that gets sent to Boston each year as thanks for their assistance after the 1917 Halifax Explosion. They deliver too.
Willebald also has a Gingerbread Gin that I just adore. It is great in all the standard drinks, including Martinis and Negronis. What a treat! I’ll provide a complete review of that next week.
I’ve been working my way through some others, including Ginberry from Northern Landings — cranberry! I include for now Levenswater Gin, which isn’t especially wintery, but the amber colour fooled me, and it has a certain pungency, like Black Fox’s Mustard Gin #12, that provides a welcome warmth in cold weather. Black Fox also now has a Cranberry Gin, and delivers to most provinces, but sadly no longer to Ontario.
I have not yet opened the last three: a collaboration between Willebald and Reid’s called Winter Feast, and from Eau Claire both Gin Rummy and a specific Christmas Gin. I’m excited for the coming month! Reid’s and Eau Claire deliver.