Botanist Islay Dry Gin Navy Strength
The Botanist · Bruichladdich Distillery
Where the standard Botanist is approachable and delicate, this navy strength version demands engagement. The additional proof concentrates the 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals into a more assertive, layered expression. It holds its ground in a Negroni and rewards contemplation neat.
Nose
Intense juniper and gorse flower hit immediately, followed by lemon zest and a waxy, herbaceous quality. Deeper sniffs reveal chamomile, orris root, and a distant whisper of peppery warmth. The higher proof amplifies every botanical.
Palate
Big and bold, with juniper pine leading a charge of coriander seed and angelica root. The mid-palate softens with meadowsweet and a lavender floral note, while grapefruit peel adds a citrus edge. The texture is oily and persistent.
Finish
Long and warming, with woody juniper, chamomile, and a lingering peppery heat.
- Style
- Navy Strength Dry Gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, chamomile, lemon balm, meadowsweet, gorse, lavender, and 13 additional foraged Islay botanicals
- Base Spirit
- Neutral grain spirit
- Distillation
- Slow vapor infusion on a unique Lomond pot still (Ugly Betty)
Cocktail Suggestion
Islay Gimlet — 2 oz Botanist Navy Strength · 0.75 oz fresh lime juice · 0.5 oz honey syrup (2:1) · Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lime wheel.
Food Pairing
The gin's briny, herbaceous intensity complements the mineral sweetness of raw oysters, while the vinegar sharpness of mignonette echoes the citrus and peppery botanicals.
Distilled on a unique Lomond still named Ugly Betty at Bruichladdich on Islay, The Botanist uses 22 hand-foraged native botanicals from the island's windswept moors, bogs, and shoreline to create a gin rooted entirely in place.
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