Review #: 363
Description: Castle & Key Rise Gin Spring 2021
Spirit: Gin
Background: Castle & Key has done a little bit of changing with their brands, labeling their spring gin release as “Rise” along with a new bottle (and a massively heavy cork) to match those of the Restoration Rye releases. The recipe uses juniper, coriander, galangal root, earl grey tea, elderberry, lavender, wintergreen leaf, and chamomile. I believe it maintains their majority rye mashbill, though it is NGS. Now if you look at C&Ks sight, it lists some different botanicals and a proof of 53%, while showing a picture of the bottle that is [correctly] listed at 47%. Interesting…
Distillery – Castle & Key
Bottler – Castle & Key
Brand – Rise
Selection – N/A
ABV – 47%
Age – Unaged
Nose – Very forest-y with juniper, pine needles, lavender, coriander, almond, lemon zest. blueberry
Taste – Woah, very sweet and fruity. Candied lemon, blueberry, orgeat, lavender, coriander
Finish – Little bit peppery, the earl grey starts to show, lavender, lemon pith
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? Yes (and I got a backup)
Thoughts: This is a perfect spring gin. It almost tastes like a cocktail on its own. Bright, fruity, balanced. This is a perfect on the rocks pour to drink on the porch on a warm spring/summer night. It also does make killer cocktails though. I won’t pretend to know what gangal root is, but everything in there seems present but balanced. An excellent release.