Minimalist in Spirit: The Botanist Gin

In what seems like a previous life ago, ‘Minimalism’ was all the rage and made waves as a movement and a lifestyle. The Minimalist lifestyle - living with only what you need with little to no extras, was almost an act of defiance against a generally capitalist society that lusted after material goods and monetary wealth. To say that this movement was the catalyst for the rise of the likes of Marie Kondo and getting no flak for wearing the same t-shirt every day of the week would be a stretch, but it definitely played a part in the success of those two things. Some might even associate it with success itself, exemplified by celebrated figures such as Steve Jobs (well known for his signature of wearing the exact same outfit daily) who might have had a minimalist mindset, if not lifestyle. The assumption here is that this spilled over to his ever popular and profitable Apple products which have always boasted a clean, minimalist look and feel.

But I digress. My point is that if ever there were to be a minimalistic brand in the form of Gin, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin would be it. It checks all the boxes when it comes to the overall look and feel yet is complex where the process and flavor of the actual gin is concerned. Even their website screams an undeniable sense of stylistic cleanliness through their mesmerizing photographs of Islay, where much of the botanicals come from, and the various short films available.

If this little prelude does not do enough to make The Botanist Gin a brand you want to love, read on as we dissect the reasons why it should.

Bruichladdich – From Whiskey to Gin

When we think about everyday products, we unknowingly tend to follow brands. Some products are so strongly imbued with their brands that the brand and the product become one and the same. Take for example Kleenex or Panadol. It would be strange to even consider referring to them in your head as facial tissues and paracetamol, much less out loud.

It can thus become quite the debacle when well-known brands decide to branch out and move into unchartered territory. So, when Bruichladdich, a Scottish distillery operating out of the Island of Islay with over 135 years of history in making whiskey decided to start producing gin, it came as a surprise to say the least. Except instead of the story playing out to the tune of Harley Davidson going into cake decorating kits (yes, that happened), this move resulted in an outcome much like Michelin – known for both their tires AND their Michelin stars.

Having produced whiskey since 1881 with a short pause between 1995 – 2000, Bruichladdich, in their own words, are “proudly nonconformist” and ‘believe in innovation and progress’. They unequivocally lived up to their ideals with the production of The Botanist Islay Dry Gin in 2010, maintaining the same belief that all their spirits adhere to: Authenticity derived from where they are distilled.

This same belief is the reason that 22 out of 31 botanicals used in the spirit are handpicked locally by their own professional forager to truly capture the essence of the remote Scottish island that is Islay, in a cup.

Islay Dry Gin Distillation 

When it comes to the actual distillation process, the effort behind it deserves a story on its own. And it exists. A breathtaking, cinematic short film found on their website describes the process beautifully and you could almost feel the passion permeate through the screen. If this sounds like an exaggeration, well wait till you hear it in words.

Out of the 31 botanicals used, 9 make up the core and these are loaded in manually in a specific order into a pot containing the still, affectionately called the “Ugly Betty”. The temperature of the spirit in the still is increased until it is hand hot, literally. No thermometers are used and instead, the right temperature is determined by how hot it feels to the touch. This is then left to steep for 12 hours before the more delicate botanicals are added later during the distillation process. Throughout the whole process, only crystal clear, soft spring water from the island is used adding on to that stamp of authenticity.

Of course, this is merely a summary and we could go into so much more detail, but the main takeaway is the harmonious marriage between craftsmanship and modernization that results in the most delicate and sublime gin.

Botanist Bottling Spirit

Well, what about presentation? In a nutshell, sleek and minimal as expected. Although The Botanist Gin sports a more typical shape similar to that of a wine bottle, it does give off a Roku Gin vibe thanks to the color scheme. But that is where the similarities end. Unlike the intricate and inspired design of the Roku Gin bottle, The Botanist bottle is unashamedly straightforward and functional. The inscriptions on the bottle itself are the names of the 22 botanicals which could come in handy if curiosity strikes and/or you are short on reading material, albeit a tad difficult to distinguish.

That said, when put in the right environment, it would not look out of place at all in your monochromatic all-white, essentials-only home. The best environment would still have to be on Islay soil though, as depicted here:

(Photograph from The Botanist Gin Facebook page)

Talk about home pride. If you are not already left pining for a glass of whatever cocktail is in that photo, they most definitely spurred some thoughts about where your next vacation destination should be once the travel restrictions are lifted.

A Taste of Islay 

After raving about everything else, we all knew it comes down to this – the taste. Because what is the point if the taste disappoints? And of course, the smell that comes along with it.

Although we do not expect the layman to have a nose like a bloodhound and the taste palette of a seasoned chef, you would generally be able to detect an enveloping flowery aroma that is full of depth upon opening the bottle. It would be a near impossible task to sniff out each botanical so our advice would be to just let the warm, crisp scent take the wheel before your first sip. It is interesting to note that aside from the obvious traces of juniper and an overall citrusy scent, the distinct smell of alcohol is almost non-existent.

Don’t let that fool you into thinking this gin is a lightweight though. The kick does sneak up on you after a couple of sips despite the lack of a typical alcoholic taste since The Botanist is on a proper ABV. Neat is the way to go if you want the entire range of a complex, full-bodied, yet balanced gin. Cool upon entry, giving way to a warm, obvious juniper while maintaining a mint-like freshness throughout and ending off long-ingly with a good touch of spice.

Scottish Spirit, Delivered

You may not be able to make the trip to Scotland any time soon, but we might be able to bring Scotland (figuratively) to you. If you have been thoroughly enthralled by the brand, the ideals and the workmanship that goes into a bottle of The Botanist Gin, it is only logical that the next step would be to try it for yourself. And you have to look no further than right here at Cellarbration where we not only deliver it right to your doorstep, but we might even do it for free if you decide to grab a few other things to go along with your bottle of gin (Vermouth, to make yourself a martini perhaps?).

We are well and truly prepared to provide not only The Botanist gin, but also other equally amazing gins and spirits. If you can’t travel, you might as well indulge in the next best thing.