Eden Mill Love Gin is the most famous of the St. Andrews distillery’s products. More renowned than their stellar, award-winning Original Gin, their light blush Pink Gin has been turning heads since its introduction in 2015. It might not have been the first Pink Gin on the market, but it certainly helped start the revolution. Love Gin perfectly fits the Modern Gin category, marrying traditional botanicals such as juniper berries, coriander, and angelica with more exotic elements, including rose petal, hibiscus, elderberry, goji berry, raspberry leaf, and rhubarb root. Bottled at 42% ABV, there’s even a little bit of thorn to this rose. Love Gin is rich and floral. On the nose, imbibers will find fragrant and floral rose petals with berry notes. The lightly sweet palate features strawberries and vanilla. The finish is sharp, sweet and fruity. The palate of Eden Mill Love Gin is creamy, fruit-laden and slightly citrusy. As my buddy David T. Smith would say (“jammy” and “sherbet”-like*).

The nose has a pleasant, punchy, juniper note. Juniper, slight hint of raspberry jam and rose. But that’s just it— the floral notes are slight, along with a slight hint or sweet orange/lemon citrus. Pleasant, and nicely balanced nose. In an 1888 recipe featured in Harry Johnson’s New And Improved Bartenders’ Manual the Martini was a 1:1 ratio of Old Tom Gin to Sweet(!) Vermouth, and included bitters, simple syrup and a dash of orange liqueur.In a 1:1 Martini, paired with a good Dry Vermouth, Love Gin is a delightful is very wet Martini. And it has the added bonus of keeping you a touch less drunk, which is good, you know, if it’s Valentine’s day or the like. Firstly, yes golf lovers— this is the same stark, infamous St. Andrews of many a British open. (and they even make a golf gin)