Review:

Alambic's
Special Islay Gin

Made for Alambic Classique, Bad Wörishofen, Bayern, Germany, by an undisclosed distillery in Scotland, UK.

Alambic Classique.

Alambic Classique is an importer and wholesaler of specialist spirits, and was established in 1981 by owner Hermann Suppanz.

This is made with an undisclosed but “well established” Gin. It is distilled, matured and bottled in Scotland from a single cask, limiting the number of bottles available with each production run. Each run can vary depending on the barrels used to age the Gin:

2010 – Aged for 12 years (10 years in oak barrels and 2 years in whisky casks from the Port Ellen distillery on the Isle of Islay), limited to 298 bottles.

2012 - Aged for 14 years (12 years in oak barrels and 2 years in whisky casks from the Port Ellen distillery on the Isle of Islay), limited to 289 bottles.

2013 - Aged for 15 years (13 years in oak barrels and 2 years in whisky casks from the Port Ellen distillery on the Isle of Islay), limited to 335 bottles.

2014 - Aged for 16 years (15 years in oak barrels and 1 year in whisky casks from the Bunnahabhain distillery on the Isle of Islay), limited to 240 bottles.

The deep amber colored Gin is presented in a tall clear cylindrical whisky-style bottle with a bulbous neck. The large rectangular white colored label has blue colored text and design, with silver foil accents.

Barrel Aged Gin.

2010 - 56.8% ABV (114 Proof).

2012 - 64.3% ABV (129 Proof).

2013 - 61.8 % ABV (124 Proof).

2014 - 59% ABV (118 Proof).

An average of 60.5% ABV (121 Proof).

$$$$$$$$$. Not available in the USA. It is made for the German market and we have been unable to identify a suitable supplier to ship to the USA.

Unknown.

Alembic (Alambic in French) is the general term for the copper distillation equipment used to produce distilled spirits (specifically Cognac when using the French word) - the two spellings are often unknowingly used interchangeably. Here the French spelling is paired with a description of the spirit to create the Gin’s name.

Unfortunately with the limited availability and difficulty in sourcing a supplier, we have been unable to sample this Gin. However, as with most Cask Aged Gins, this should appeal to Gin and Whisky drinkers, although Gin drinkers and Whisky drinkers as individuals may not like this! Seek some adventure and keep an open mind with this choice; it has a long maturation period and should make it taste more like Whisky than most others. We’ve heard some comments and here’s an overview:

2010 – Starts with the typical light peaty taste familiar to Islay Whisky, followed by Gin flavors.

2012 – Starts with the light peaty taste familiar to Islay Whisky followed by creamy smooth spicy Gin notes with hints of tobacco, honey and oak.

2013 - Starts with the light peaty taste familiar to Islay Whisky followed by creamy smooth spicy Gin notes with smoky hints of tobacco, honey and oak.

2014 - Starts with the light peaty taste familiar to Islay Whisky followed by creamy smooth spicy Gin notes with smoky hints of caramel, tobacco, honey and oak.

Unknown.