Quaffed the Raven

It’s a classic London Dry gin that I’ve had in my collection for quite some time, so I thought I’d dust it off and give it another go! Full disclosure, I bought this gin ages ago in a certain November sale that happens just before the weekend! I figured any gin that had won as many awards as this was worth trying, and the beefy ABV was also a draw! Don’t get me wrong though, as I said in my introduction post, I don’t drink as much as I buy, so the fact it’s been on my shelf for a long time is not a commentary on its quality! So, let’s take another look!

Design

Well it’s certainly different! There’s no other bottle like it that I’ve seen, and it’s quite striking at first, but after a while I felt like it couldn’t decide between being distinct in a classy way (the tear-shaped, cut-diamond style glass) or a wacky one (the name, and bright pink labels).

The bottle I own has a built in pourer which I really like. There’s something about a clean pour that’s just incredibly satisfying. I can’t help but feel with different labelling this could be a really great bottle, but as it is it’s hidden at the back a bit on my shelves!

Nose

It’s a classic London Dry aroma of juniper and citrus with that stronger ABV adding a slight if unexpected burn. There’s some earthy spice in there too, lurking under the orange. It’s pleasant, if unremarkable.

Taste

Neat, it has a slight burn thanks to the 47% alcohol, and alongside the juniper, the spices come through a lot more than the nose would imply. At the fore is the cassia and liquorice, with the more bitter, earthy flavours of the angelica hitting the back of the tongue. There’s quite a lot going on despite the relatively standard list of botanicals. That bitterness is what lingers a bit though.

A drop of water makes room for the coriander to burst through, with the angelica still maintaining a baseline of flavour. There’s a hint of the citrus too and the burn is gone completely.

Finally, add some tonic and you would expect it to hold up well given its strength, but for me it almost vanishes. Quite disappointing I must admit, but as I’m not a huge G&T drinker it’s not the end of the world. Perhaps I’ll start reviewing with Martinis or Negronis!

Overall

It’s a good gin. There’s plenty to like for fans of mild earthy, spicy flavours without straying too far from the juniper forward tones of a classic London Dry. From that point of view I can see how it’s one a lot of awards. It’s better than I remember now I take the time over it, but I was disappointed when trying it with tonic, and I almost feel like the branding lets it down a bit. For the price point though, it’s a definite contender.

Pink 47 is available to buy online and in some supermarkets

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All reviews are of the author’s personal collection, bought and paid for by the author, unless otherwise stated.