DISTILLERY NOTES

Navy Strength Gin was one of the most popular drinks of the colonial English Navy, but with its increasing popularity distillers and merchants began to dilute their gin in order to turn a higher profit. As gin was usually stored below deck with gun powder, it was realized that if gin was spilled on the gunpowder and it smoked or failed to light, the gin was below an acceptable standard because of its lower proof, or higher water content. If the gin that leaked onto the gun powder was at least 114 proof, or 57%, then the gun powder would still light. This is how Navy Strength Gin was tested, and in turn popularized. Now today, we get to enjoy a higher proof gin for a more stiff and flavourful drink.

BC SPIRITS NOTES

This was a recommendation from my Friday night live stream, the Spinnaker’s Botanical Beach Navy Strength. As soon as you crack the bottle, you get the huge piney forest on the nose; in the glass, that pine is complimented by grapefruit, mandarin and woody juniper. On the palate, layers of flavor from the pine to the earthy juniper to the bright citrus peel. Bold gin, perfect for a Gimlet.

Alcohol - 57% / 114 proof

Color - Clear

Nose - Huge whack of pine flows through to complimentary notes of grapefruit and mandarin

Taste - Big texture obviously with the alcohol content, the pine notes subdue for complex notes of woody juniper, earthy botanicals and bright citrus notes

Finish - Long and lingering pine, grapefruit and woody juniper

Best Enjoyed - Gimlet

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BC Spirits "Spirits a Day" #233 - Spinnaker's Botanical Beach Navy Strength Gin

Shawn Soole