Quaffed the Raven

Exclusive to Aldi supermarkets, this traditional batch gin is, as you may have guessed, the more traditionally made release of an ever growing selection that includes a host of fruity flavoured numbers. The idea behind this particular offering is to showcase the flavours of caraway, as a spice that has been used across the world for centuries.

There’s little more to be found about this gin, and it sits rather quietly alongside its more boastful friends.

Design

The bottle is the classic Eden Mill ceramic, swing-top glazed in off-white and labelled in deep green. On the front is the rather expansive ‘name’ of the gin, and on the back, alongside the usual info, is a blurb about caraway and the flavours you can expect to find in the gin. It’s simple and works well as part of their ceramic collection.

Nose

A fragrant, grassy juniper rises from the glass, slowly replaced by the very distinct aroma of caraway. It has a medicinal, herbal tone that’s fresh and clean, reminding me more of bread than gin (if you’ve never tried caraway seeds in a loaf of bread, I recommend it). There’s a faint element of black pepper, but by far the overwhelming element is the slightly minty but earthy caraway. It’s pleasant but a little one-dimensional.

Taste

Neat the caraway pulls no punches. Earthy menthol notes fly around at breakneck speed, at once bitter, then aromatic, then warm and herbal. It’s interesting, though the juniper is certainly lacking for me. Further exploration elicits little more on the tongue than the flavour of the caraway, interesting and expansive though that is.

Water brings out the pepper a little, and much more herbal notes from the caraway. It’s a little less overbearing, a little more sour, but overall the flavour is improved. The pleasant notes are enhanced, while the less pleasant restrained. It’s better, but it’s still caraway.

Finally, a G&T (3:1 Lamb & Watt Light Tonic with a slice of lime and a dash of bitters). The result is much improved and actually very refreshing. It’s a little on the dry side for me, and it’s still very firmly within the same flavour profile. That said there are pleasant notes of anise and liquorice coming through now, which definitely improve the flavour.

Overall

I’m not a big fan of this, in all honesty, though I like caraway well enough in my food. As a rare G&T served as above, I’d say it makes an interesting, enjoyable change, but beyond that I can’t really see much else to do with it. If you had a big group of you all fancying the same ‘something different’: a dry, anise-y, herbal-y, menthol-y, aromatic G&T, then this bottle will make a great one off to share. If not, and unless you absolutely love caraway, this may well sit on your shelf for a long time.

Add up to one feather if you love caraway

Eden Mill – Traditional Batch is available at Aldi

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