Review #: 247
Description: Castle & Key Autumn Gin 2019
Spirit: Gin
Background: Castle and Key typically put out 2 special release gins, this one being the 2019 Autumn release, using botanicals to cater to the season. Using a mashbill of 63% rye, 20% malted barley, and 17% corn, it uses juniper, coriander, angelica root, licorice root, white sage, ginger root, pink peppercorn, clove, and cassia bark as botanicals. It is bottled at a stout 51.5% ABV.
Distillery – Castle & Key
Bottler – Castle & Key
Brand – Castle & Key
Selection – N/A
ABV – 51.5%
Age – Unaged
Nose – Cinnamon bun, licorice, fresh ginger, coriander, peppercorn. Matches up well with the botanical list.
Taste – More licorice and sweet ginger, citrus oil, clove. Nice mouthfeel that coats without being too heavy.
Finish – Spices start to ramp up: ginger spice, peppery, black licorice. Ends up being a tad bit hot.
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? Yes
Thoughts: This was a really interesting gin. It was interesting to see that they were aiming for flavors that remind them of fall, but that makes me think cinnamon/anise/nutmeg yet they weren’t used. Instead I got a lot of licorice and ginger, which I like but not everyone does and it would be more situational to go to this than a typical gin. I think it would take me a while to go through a bottle. And as much as I like higher proof spirits, I think this was actually a touch hot. Might have been better suited just down at 50%.