Review

Jodhpur Reserve Gin

Beveland Distillers, Sant Joan les Fonts, Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Made by Langley Distillery, Birmingham, England, UK.

Beveland Distillers and Jodhpur Gin.

Beveland Distillers was founded by Ramón Masoliver in 1994. Originally focused on the manufacture and distribution of drinks within Spain, it has grown rapidly and today is an international company covering over 60 countries.

This Gin was launched in spring 2013 and is made in England by Langley Distillery, then shipped to Spain for bottling by Beveland Distillers.

Distilled four times in a traditional pot still. The botanicals are steeped for 7 days before the 4th and final distillation. The Gin is then aged for 2 years in barrels of American oak that used to hold Brandy.

The Gin is presented in a squat circular bottle, the same design but smaller (50cl) as the original Jodhpur Gin. This is screen-printed with golden etched images of juniper plants (with berries) on a smoky brown colored bottle, in anticipation of the light gold liquid inside. The production is limited to 3,000 bottles but we hope this will prove to be a regular run of 3 – 5,000 bottles each year.

Barrel Aged Gin.

43% (86 Proof).

$$$$$$$ - $$$$$$$$. Not available in the USA but can be purchased online from Absolut Trader in Germany. It is also available within Europe from: Vinus Vinis or Drinkology.

Made with 11 botanicals (their website states 13 but this includes two types of angelica and two types of coriander): almond (bitter), angelica (Belgium & Saxony), coriander (Bulgaria & Morocco), cassia bark, ginger, grapefruit peel, juniper berries, lemon peel, liquorice root, orange peel and orris root.

The name is inspired by the City of Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan in India. There is a strong correlation with the Empire days of the British Raj and Gin. Even today the British refer to horse riding breeches as Jodhpurs. Originally a traditional style of Indian pants known as Churidars, Pratap Singh the youngest son of the Maharaja of Jodhpur restyled them to his own personal design. Singh visited Britain for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897, and being a keen polo player, brought his team with him. After winning many matches, the pants became an overnight sensation, and the Brits started wearing them too. Interestingly, these ankle length pants meant long boots didn’t need to be worn (providing for increased leg flexibility and thus horse control) and cheaper shorter boots were substituted instead. These ankle height boots are also often known as “Jodhpur” boots but can also be called “Paddock” boots.

The City of Jodhpur is (broadly speaking) in the middle of the country and is known as “Sun City” due to the year round sunny climate it enjoys. The city sprawls outwards from an old landscape dominated fortification, Mehrangarh Fort, and many buildings around it are painted a bright royal blue color. This has given rise to it also being called the “Blue City”. This is synonymous with Spain, which is known for its sunny climate, old forts and use of vivid blue colors. All in all, Jodhpur seems an ideal name to use for this Gin.

On the nose is juniper and citrus notes with faint vanilla notes. On the palate this full-bodied slightly sweet (liquorice) spirit has juniper and tart citrus with bitter herbal and peppery spice aspects developing. On the close is a creamy vanilla flavor with hints of toast and caramel in the finish. A balanced and rounded Gin with complexity. 

This has all the elements of a classic London Dry Gin (just like the original Jodhpur) and finishes like a fresh smooth Whisky. It is quite mild in both Gin and Whisky like tastes, which are combined very well. Like many Cask Aged Gins it is overpowered in a Gin & Tonic, with the finish a little overwhelmed and the originating subtle base Gin muted. Whilst the result is not unpleasant it seems to be a waste of this Gin. It does however make a much better sipping Gin but is best of all in a Martini.

Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2013.