St George Botanivore Gin

St. George's Botanivore is a 45% ABV California gin built on 19 botanicals, which puts it in the contemporary, multi-botanical camp rather than the juniper-only London dry tradition. The reference notes describe a blend of herbal, floral and citrus character. Gins built this way usually keep juniper as a backbone but let the other ingredients share the front of the palate. Expect a layered nose with green, herbal lift and bright citrus peel, and a finish that moves between those elements instead of settling on pine alone. At 45%, it has more weight than the 40% bottlings common in this category. That extra strength helps the botanicals hold up when diluted by ice, tonic or vermouth, so the gin stays distinct in long drinks and doesn't get lost in stirred ones. Because the profile is wide rather than narrow, it tends to suit drinks where you want the gin to contribute more than a clean, piney base. In a Gin & Tonic, use a neutral, not-too-sweet tonic and a measured pour so the herbal and citrus notes come through. A wedge or wide strip of grapefruit or lemon peel works well, and a sprig of rosemary or thyme can echo the herbal side. Serve it in a balloon glass or a tall highball filled with plenty of large, cold ice, which slows dilution and keeps the drink crisp to the last sip. A Tom Collins follows the same logic: lemon juice, simple syrup and soda over ice in a highball, with the gin's citrus and herbal notes coming through the sour. For stirred drinks, a Negroni made with this gin should show more herbal complexity against the sweet vermouth and bitter aperitif than a strictly juniper-driven gin would, and a Martini, stirred cold with dry vermouth and finished with a lemon twist, lets the botanical range come through clearly. The reference copy also suggests it can be sipped neat. If you try that, a small pour over a single large cube, or chilled straight from the freezer, is a good way to see how the herbal, floral and citrus elements show up on their own.