The Botanist Gin 75cl

Big, green, and unapologetically botanical, this Islay gin is what you pour when you want your drink to taste like it has a point of view. It’s crisp enough for a proper gin and tonic, but layered enough to keep you sniffing the glass like a happy weirdo.

The hook is the place. Islay is famous for bold flavours, and while this isn’t smoky like the island’s whiskies, it still brings that windswept, wild energy through a pile of real botanicals. Think garden herbs, citrus peel, and a dry, peppery snap that makes cocktails feel sharper and more alive.

If your usual gin disappears the second you add tonic, this one won’t. The flavour holds its ground, which is exactly why it’s such a go-to for classic cocktails, like a Gin & Tonic, Martini, or Negroni. It doesn’t just “work” in drinks, it pulls everything together and makes the whole mix taste more intentional.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Fresh juniper, lemon peel, meadowy herbs, a little floral lift.
• Taste: Bright citrus first, then layers of green herbs and spice, with a dry, clean backbone that keeps it snappy in cocktails.
• Finish: Long, peppery, and herbal, like you brushed past rosemary and wildflowers on the way out.

This is a fantastic “home bar anchor” gin. Keep it around and you’ve basically upgraded every gin cocktail you make, without needing syrups, gadgets, or a bartender’s résumé. It’s also a smart pick when you’re pouring for a group, because it’s bold enough for gin nerds, but still super approachable for someone ordering their first G&T.

What makes it different is the production detail you can taste. Alongside the core gin botanicals, it uses a lineup of hand-foraged Islay plants, which adds that signature green, coastal, slightly wild character you won’t get from a standard, one-note juniper bomb.

Fun Fact: The Botanist is made at Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay, and its recipe includes 22 local botanicals that are hand-foraged on the island.