Review

Right Gin

Facile & Co., Malmo, Sweden. Distributed in the USA by Altamar Brands LLC, Corona Del Mar, California.

Right Gin, Facile & Co. and Altamar.

The company was founded by Henrik Facile in Malmo, Sweden in 1993. The company motto “Est unus modus verus,” translates as “There is a Right Way”. In 2003 he also founded Swedish Beverage Concepts, based in Stockholm.

This Gin was created, in 2007, by Lyons Brown (from Altamar) and Henrik Facile.

Made from USA corn and column distilled five times with each botanical distilled separately before being blended. Pure arctic water from Lake Bolmen, near Malmo, in Sweden is used throughout the distillation process. The Gin is presented in a squat cylindrical bottle with a coat of arms and company motto. One small but interesting feature: look for the "fly" underneath one the stags (standing either side of the coat of arms).

New Western Dry Gin.

40% (80 Proof).

$$$. Available online at: Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Arlington Wine & Liquor, Merwin Liquors and Drink Up NY.

Uses 8 botanicals including: bergamot - orange (Italy - Sicily), cardamom (India), coriander leaf (Russia), juniper berries (Austria), lemon (Italy - Sicily), lime (West Indies), orange - bitter (West Indies), and pepper - black Sarawak (Borneo).

Named after the company motto: "There is a Right Way."

On the nose is citrus (orange) and faint juniper with herbal notes. On the palate this smooth, medium-bodied spirit is slightly sweet (from the corn base) with juniper and citrus (bitter orange and refreshing lemon) flavors. This is followed by a slight bitterness (bergamot) and ends in a strong pepper and light spice (cardamom) finish.

Tasted neat, this is light on the juniper and for non-Gin drinkers should be a good entry into the world of Gin - indeed the creators who didn’t like Gin, had this purpose in mind. The dichotomy is for Gin drinkers, this is likely to disappoint due to the lightness of juniper, coupled with the sweet citrus taste. Having said this though, the bitter bergamot and the pepper gives an interesting twist, not found in many of today’s “soft” Gins. To many, Right Gin falls midway between a London Dry and a Genever /Old Tom style Gin.

Interestingly, this makes a good bright and refreshing Martini, with a slight sweetness, which many drinkers (including some classic Gin drinkers) are likely to enjoy. We did however, have a hard time (no consensus reached) in deciding what other Gin based mixed drinks we liked this Gin in: our overall view is, try it for yourself and your own palate to see what works. A Gibson, Gin and Tonic, Martinez, Negroni and Tom Collins should all render interesting results. Whatever your results we think you’ll agree this is a different Gin, which has its uses alongside Gins in more traditionally defined categories.

88 Points, Beverage Testing Institute.