{"product_id":"the-botanist-islay-dry-gin-70cl","title":"The Botanist Islay Dry Gin 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003eTwenty-two botanicals go into The Botanist, and nine of them are foraged by hand from the hills and shorelines of Islay itself — the island far better known for its smoky whisky than its gin. That local plunder is the whole point.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt comes from Bruichladdich, the Islay distillery, and it is distilled slowly in a battered old Lomond still nicknamed the “Ugly Betty”. The pace matters: a long, low-temperature distillation coaxes out the delicate herbal and floral character of the wild botanicals rather than boiling it into oblivion. Bottled at a generous 46% ABV, it has real presence for a gin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe nose is a garden in full swing — bright citrus, a cool thread of menthol and flowers seemingly everywhere. The palate opens cool and composed before warmth builds, citrus keeping everything fresh and lifted through the middle. It closes long, with a genuine hit of spice. There is a lot going on here without any of it feeling crowded.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt around £44 this sits above supermarket gin, and it earns the gap. The complexity is real, and the 46% strength means it stands up in a proper G\u0026amp;T rather than vanishing under tonic. This is a gin for people who actually taste what they drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to Serve\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePour over plenty of ice with a good, dry tonic and a sprig of mint or thyme rather than a wedge of lemon — let the herbal side lead. Neat and lightly chilled, it also makes a thoughtful martini for the botanically curious.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhere to Drink It\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSwift in Soho pours gin with real intent downstairs. The Connaught Bar for a martini treated as an event. Satan's Whiskers in Bethnal Green if you want it shaken into something inventive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA martini made with this alongside a plate of native oysters is hard to beat — the salinity and the wild herbs seem to have grown up together. Cured salmon works beautifully too.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"House of Decant","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56925270606148,"sku":"HO32201CNV","price":41.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0858\/2551\/9940\/files\/HO32201CNV.png?v=1784037568","url":"https:\/\/checkout.houseofdecant.com\/products\/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin-70cl","provider":"House of Decant","version":"1.0","type":"link"}