Often times when I see celebrities releasing products I roll my eyes and have as little interest as re-sitting the Leaving Cert.
When I heard that Graham Norton was releasing a gin however, I have to admit got a little excited. When his wine came out a few years back I wasn't mad to try it but after hearing through the grapevine (pun intended) that it was actually pretty delish, I went straight to my local to pick one up for the weekend.
I actually really enjoyed it and have bought it quite a few times since. I hoped that his gin would be no different.
At first, my estimation was that this would be middle-tier in gin land, around the same quality as Bombay Sapphire. It comes in at €42 a bottle, which is a little pricier than I had expected so straight away I was hoping it would surpass my expectations.
Welcome to Ginfluenced!
A weekly series dedicated to the spirit of life. This week is my very first time trying a gin made by a celebrity rather than a small craft distillery in Ireland, so it should be an interesting one.
The Bottle:
The bottle design took me by surprise. I expected it to follow a similar suit to the wines - plain and simple.
Instead, this bottle is super eye-catching with a unique purple palette of colour. Through the bottle you'll see purple fuchsia petals printed across the back label, giving it a unique appearance and character. It's definitely one that will stand out from the rest on a shelf in a bar or shop.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Btls5E9ANXk/
Background:
Graham Norton's Own Irish Gin is small batch distilled in West Cork, near his Irish home.
The gin itself is distilled with Irish grain and mixes a combination of twelve botanicals. The botanicals are picked when the weather's right, the flowers are blooming and it's all locally foraged.
It's distilled in a London Dry style.
Graham said:
"Great gin is a starting point. Add the right mixers, a favourite glass and a friend or two and you've got a recipe for something very special indeed."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bto4OwQIRib/
Botanicals:
- Angelica
- Fuschia Flowers
- Orris Root
- Rose Hip
- Basil
- Liquorice
- Gooseberry
- Lemon peel
- Orange peel
- Elderflower
- Juniper
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On the nose:
The first scent carries strong and distinctive notes of juniper berries followed by a unique floral note from the fuchsia petals.
It has a bittersweet woody aroma with citrus undertones.
Straight:
Initially, you'll taste the sweet fuchsia petals and lemon peel along with a bright botanical mix, rounding to a pleasant classic resinous juniper forward Gin.
With Tonic:
With tonic, you'll get a sharp citrus zest followed by a sweetness from the flora and berries. It's refreshing and will definitely be a good quencher on sunny days.
Signature Serve:
- Graham Norton's Own Irish Gin
- Slice of lime
- Schweppes Indian Tonic Water
Where To Find It:
A bottle will cost you €42 and is now available in Supervalu stores across the country.
Chin chin to GN Gin!
READ MORE: GINFLUENCED: Continue Dry January's Good Habits With Non-Alcoholic Gin
