Review #: 226
Description: Silo Reserve Gin
Spirit: Gin
Background: This is a gin made by SILO up in Vermont. They run a small still out of a little barn in Windsor, right next to the Harpoon Brewery there. Their gin is made with Vermont corn, apples (unsure whether the apples are in the mash or a botanical) and Massachusetts Juniper. The reserve is then aged in their bourbon barrels for a few months. Let’s try it.
Distillery – Silo
Bottler – Silo
Brand – Silo
Selection – N/A
ABV – 45%
Age – NAS
Nose – Lemongrass, honey, bright floral, thyme, grapefruit
Taste – Sweeter citrus, light juniper, vanilla, honey, lemonade – if there are more botanicals, they feel a bit muted
Finish – Slight bitterness of juniper, lemon oil, roasted sesame seeds, heat is light but lingers uncomfortably long.
Score: 4
Would I buy a bottle? No, but I’d like to try their regular gin now
Thoughts: I’ll try to give this one the benefit of being open and somewhat low for a long time. I’m still not sure about how I feel about barrel-aged gins, since usually I want the bright citrus and floral notes of gin, and if I want barrel notes, I’d use another spirit. This just kind of felt overall muted and I wonder if it was the barrel that caused that. I did make a cocktail with it including rum and ginger syrup that came out really well so might have to experiment more. The distillery is in the same location as Harpoon so if you are up that way it’s definitely worth it to pop your head in and try their products.