A relative newcomer to the gin scene, the distinct bottle sets the tone for this interesting gin, which is as complex in flavour as it is with its brand positioning. It is difficult to trace where the name itself came from, there have been claims that because the year it was released, 2006, was the Chinese Year of the Dog that they named it after a breed of dog. Whilst others claim that it is named after the famous British canine, as it is representative of the British spirit and symbolic of the nature of this gin. Regardless, the unique blend of botanicals sets it apart from others and the spirit itself (which had the highest rating ever received by a gin from Wine Enthusiast Magazine) is certainly worth persevering with.
This London Dry is quadruple-distilled in the UK and bottled at 40% ABV. Although the juniper is noticeably present, lotus leaves, lavender, liquorice, poppy and dragon eye (a cousin of the lychee fruit) to name a few of the 12 botanicals, all play their part in creating a complex flavour profile. Slightly spicy on the palate you will find the cinnamon, cardamom and citrus leaving you with a warm finish that lingers.
We’re advocates of this gin, but it must be said that this is in spite of their sometimes clunky branding and marketing to date. It would seem that despite wanting to appear to be quintessentially British, subtlety and an understated presence are not attributes that they seem to have adopted – think new Bond, not old (in the bad way). The liquid could quite easily make Bulldog a must stock on any shelf and for a dream that only started back in 2003, there is both time and room for it to grow as a brand. One can only admire Bulldog creator Mr Vohra as a man who saw an opportunity (long before the bandwagon had appeared) and has managed to make it a reality.