Review: Revivalist Garden Gin
The trend in additive-free, “good-for-you” spirits continues apace with a new addition to the ever-expanding catalogue of gin options, Revivalist Garden Gin. Produced by Botanery Barn Distillery in Elverson, Pennsylvania, this gin is the product of collaboration with purported gin connoisseur and New York City mixologist Brendan Bartley. We already encountered another Revivalist expression years ago — Solstice, an exotic, barrel-aged special release that appears to have since been retired. While there appear to be other special releases in the current lineup, this new Revivalist (new to us, at least) is the flagship of the range.
In addition to being all-natural, Revivalist’s creators emphasize their use of “botanicals with purpose,” or ethnobotanicals, a concept I’ve never encountered. Turns out it’s not quite as graduate level as it sounds. Per the press release, ethnobotanicals are plants used for functional, spiritual, or culinary purposes. Which, well, I thought most traditional gin botanicals were already. Apparently, ashwagandha, verbena, rose, plum, and hemp seed fall into this ethnobotanical category and figure prominently in Revivalist. Let’s see what all that tastes like, shall we?
Billed on their website as a “softer, subtler” gin, this is indeed dialed way back from the juniper and citrus bombs that tend to dominate the category. The aroma is as flowery as it is juniper-laden with gentle notes of rose hip, mint syrup, and hydrangea. A bit of ripe juniper is laced throughout with glimmers of pine sap and wintergreen, but this is far from your classic London dry. The palate is well-balanced with a medium body and silky texture. It’s quite enjoyable to sip neat, mildly sweet with notes of pine needles, lemon peel, rosemary, and clove. There’s some energy in the midpalate with a bit of cracked pepper and cinnamon stick, and that spice builds modestly into a lively finish of licorice, tea leaves, and lavender. I’m not sure I can pick out the ethnobotanicals from the run-of-the-mill botanicals, but this is a solid little gin.
84 proof.
A- / $40 [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
Revivalist Garden Gin
$40
