Quaffed the Raven

Probably the most well known of the Eden Mill range, Love is described as a ‘pale pink’ gin (it’s very pale!), and sits alongside a core range including Original, Golf, Hop, and Oak, as well as a liqueur range, and a few experimental selections which have featured on shelves in Aldi (a few of which you’ll find in my list). For a while, the brand was instantly recognisable by its ceramic bottles, however more brands have begun to use such bottles, though I’m not aware of any others using swing-top stoppers!

Design

As mentioned, the ceramic bottle was, for a while, the standout feature of Eden Mill gins, but that’s no longer the case. Their branding however is still easily recognisable, and the bottles themselves are nice. It’s a generic shape, but the stoneware glaze adds a nice touch, along with the simple label design featuring the name of the gin and a rose. On the back is printed a blurb about the gin and distillery, plus the usual information. It’s simple, which works best on ceramic, and I think the core range together would make a great statement on a shelf.

Nose

At the fore, a big rush of berry fruits flies up, with a floral element in its wake. It’s sweet and full or reds and pinks, and the hibiscus comes through for me nicely with that ever so slightly sour tone it brings. Beyond that, juniper and angelica are evident as a baseline to the more exotic notes. There’s a slightly grassy hint, along with the subtlest suggestion of something a little aromatic and spicy, though I’m not sure what. It’s definitely more berry fruits than I expected.

Taste

Neat, the smells don’t translate to the palate as anticipated. There’s a much cleaner, fresh and zesty taste coming through, though I must say actually less overall flavour than I expected. It’s a little sour, making me wonder whether lemon or grapefruit peel is one of the unnamed botanicals, but much more gin-like in profile.

Water mellows the sour notes, but also washes out the flavour more, leaving little behind. It’s a touch more bitter too, and in all honesty I’m not getting much more I can speak of. None of the berries suggested by the nose are present, though there is a slight powdery element likely from the rose that lingers a little. Mostly though it’s lost far too much flavour here.

Finally, a G&T (1:2 Lamb & Watt Hibiscus tonic) with rose petals to garnish. The perfect serve calls for elderflower tonic and grapefruit, but I don’t have any so I thought this would be a good option. Thankfully I was right, as this is actually even better than I expected, though again if I’m honest, based on what I’ve experienced so far I’m not really sure how much of this flavour I can really attribute to the gin. I honesty feel like any fruity/floral gin would work at least as well.

Overall

Overall I must admit I am disappointed. When I first started the review, focusing on the aromas I was getting, I had hoped that the flavour didn’t match the nose too keenly as I thought it would taste too much of berries and fruit. However after tasting it, I’m more inclined to say I wish the opposite. The flavours actually present are to me surprisingly weak and even on the sour side. The G&T is lovely, but as I’ve said, I feel like it’s the tonic that’s doing all the work there. It’s fine as a standard mixing gin, but sadly that’s all I think I would use it for.

Love gin is available online and in some shops

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