Quaffed the Raven

Named after founder Tarquin Leadbetter, a classically trained chef who set his sights on establishing the first Cornish distillery in over a century, Tarquin’s gin has gone from strength to strength. Having spent a year perfecting the original recipe, the first bottle was sold in 2013, and visitors to the website will see that since then a great many more recipes have been developed. Always keen to experiment, Tarquin worked with local Cornish saffron growers when developing this special edition, which includes other florals, and as seen in the image, is a bright yellow colour.

Design

The Tarquin’s range has a fantastic design to it, with each bottle cast in a lovely frosted glass. There are waved lined embossed around the rounded base, and on the shoulder is embossed the company logo, a puffin in flight carrying a sprig of juniper in its beak. The main label features the logo to the left then wraps around the bottle in an upward angle, with the name and edition of the gin, and any featured botanicals etc.. A smaller label below provides information on the character of the flavour, and bottle/batch number etc.

The difference in each edition is the colour used, either in the label, or the wax seal around the cork. In this edition, the wax is silver, with the label coloured orange and against the yellow of the liquid inside, I must confess it’s one of my least favourite colour combinations in the range, but it still stands out very well.

Nose

The first thing I notice is a soft, aromatic headiness. That sweet, powdery, almost chalky note of parma violets is distinct but tempered by citrus and juniper. Still, despite all the fresh peel this is definitely all about the star botanicals: saffron, rose, violet and almond, which work together without getting lost to produce a very distinct aroma. It’s floral without being perfumed, and in fact I’d say it’s more on the pungent end of that spectrum, which I think is due to the citrus peel. The spices appear in the background too, with touches of cinnamon floating in and out, but overall it’s very well balanced. The profile is quite different to most gins I’ve tried as it’s pretty far from your typical crisp citrus/juniper aroma, but that is in no way a criticism as it’s still an enticing one for sure.

Taste

Neat there’s a torrent of flavour that rushes past with woody pine, juicy citrus, a warming but slightly sour spice, and delicate floral notes that move from being clean and clear to slightly tangy and pungent. It’s quite a sensation, and I’m left with some lovely earthy tones, along with a hint of cardamom amongst the lasting citrus notes. There’s a nice sweetness at the fore, filling out the cinnamon, rose, and violet, then I get a little pepper and wood, before those earthy notes come through. It’s very well balanced, with a little something different as the flavour develops. I get plenty of cardamom now, with the trio of angelica, coriander seed, and orris forming a very solid backdrop. Finally right at the end I get another hit of peppery spice, along with a faintly saline, coastal tone. It’s a very interesting gin to sit and sip, and highly enjoyable.

Water really expands the profile, but in a way I’d describe as almost spreading it out flat. It’s wider, more accessible in a sense, but has lost an extra dimension it had before. Now I find the flavour a little more herbal, with the citrus taking on an almost mentholic element which I’m finding hugely enjoyable despite the initial oddness of it. I think an amount of brightness has been lost at the expense of the very different angle by which the flavours now present. It’s a fascinating development and another that’s very enjoyable to sip and enjoy!

Finally, a G&T (3:1 with Ridge Valley light Mediterranean tonic and a dried orange wheel to garnish). The result is subtle but lovely. It takes a little time to adjust from the normal expectations of a G&T, but once you’re there it’s a fascinating G&T that would reward anyone who took the time to explore the flavours that come out. For me it’s still got that powdery parma violet essence, with big floral and earthy tones working well with the cardamom and coriander. The citrus is surprisingly muted here, but I don’t necessarily think it’s to the detriment of the drink which is much more about the interactions of those florals, the saffron, and the tonic. I get the woody tones that came through on the nose much more here, as well as the pungent notes. This really is a G&T for explorers.

Overall

For me, the Cornish Crocus is a gin that is likely to divide opinion. For those open to different flavours, looking for something to explore I think this will reward greatly, but for those looking for a very classic gin, and who have certain expectations, it is likely to disappoint as much as intrigue. For me, it’s a welcome change to the norm, and a very well made one at that. I am definitely looking forward to trying this one in a number of cocktails, the first of which will be a martini! It’s a lovely drop in my eyes, but I’d probably recommend trying before you buy if you’re unsure. Though this may be difficult as I think it’s no longer produced!

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