Royal Dock

Maker: Hayman, London/Witham, Essex, England, UKwpid-20141014_184704-1.jpg

Style: Dry, navy strength.

ABV: 57%

Price: $28 (Binny’s)

Appearance: Clear with abundant, thin legs.

Nose: Alcohol, juniper, cedar, angelica, citrus peel.

Palate: Thick mouthfeel. Clementine, juniper, lavender, cough drops. Opens up with water.

Finish: Sweet and a little hot. Lingers for quite some time.

Mixed: Works well in a G & T, but go easy on it. Does very well in a dry martini but again, remember it’s navy strength.

Parting words: I’ve never had a bad Hayman’s gin and this is one is no exception. It’s juniper-forward like a typical London dry gin, but very well balanced on the back end with sweetness and earthiness. It does very well in cocktails even if it’s not particularly ambitious. If that sounds like a back-handed compliment, it’s not intended to be. The folks at Hayman know what they’re doing (they’ve been doing it long enough) and they have made an elegant, perfectly balanced gin that does very well in all applications, including neat (or at least with some water).

That elegance along with its high proof and low price make Royal Dock highly recommended.

2 thoughts on “Royal Dock

  1. I adore this gin. Neat or in cocktails, as the higher proof really stands out in a mix. Great nose and I love the fatter mouthfeel. Try this in a Negroni.

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