Thursday, September 8, 2011

Broker's London Dry Gin Review

Broker's Premium London Dry Gin is, well, a London dry gin.  It's distilled three times, and then a fourth after the botanicals have steeped for a full day.  Broker's is sold with a plastic bowler's hat on top of the twist-off cap.  While gimmicky, it's still fun and different.  Broker's is bottled and sold at a pretty high 94 proof.

Broker's is platinum clear.  It's nose is hot and spicy, with lemon peel, candied orange, and a whisp of fresh mint.  Mouthfeel is warm, and somewhat thick (which you wouldn't necessarily expect with a 4x distilled spirit, that is, after all the oils are striped away).  The high proof and resultant heat really overpower the taste.  It is astringent with spicy juniper as the only real flavor note.  But, like higher proof whiskies, adding just a drop of water opens Broker's up in a substantial way.  With the heat blunted a bit, you are able to pick up some of the sweetness found upon nosing, and hiding in the background are whisps of rose petals and honeysuckle.  Adding water also transforms the finish from a burning flash to a lingering note of spicecake.

Broker's suffers from its high proof and vodka-like qualities.  If you allow yourself to add a splash of water to your liquors, then you will be able to taste some nuanced flavors.  In all, I can easily find better gins at lower prices.  I'm keeping the bowler's hat, though.

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