The vast majority of gin undergoes a process to impart flavors of the botanicals and spices into the gin. Whether this is steeping, vapor infusing, or vapor distilling, gin receives the flavors, and then is typically ready to be bottled. For these reasons, it pretty easy to start your distillery with gin. What’s less common, is aging your gin. Thankfully the folks at New Holland have instead chosen to make an aged gin. Enter Barrel Knickerbocker.
Barrel Knickerbocker
Sight: Deep gold.
Smell: The smell of citrus, specifically multiple types of oranges (ranging from Curacao to Cara Cara) leap forth. Bergamot and juniper slide in quickly, and notes of angelica, herbs (possibly dill?), vanilla, and spice are present. Just a touch of oak and malted grain comes through. A hint of heat comes through. The nose is ultimately complex and inviting.
Sip: The flavor of oak and citrus pops forward with tons of orange notes again. The orange ranges from dried to candied, with a bit of pithiness. It isn’t quite sweet, but the start of vanilla notes seem to drive it that way. There’s a bright juniper note that pierces through with a gentle creamy vanilla. Herbal notes and juniper gradually build toward the back end.
Savor: The finish continues with a touch of spice, oak, herbs, and a lingering vanilla preserved orange note.
Barrel Knickerbocker is complex and intriguing, delivering significant vanilla and oak flavors but doesn’t lose the juniper. The resulting gin is surprisingly citrusy and vanilla forward, in a refreshing and lively way. The flavors beg to be sipped again and again, and keep evolving as you sip. Perfectly balanced between the gin and the barrel, nothing is lost.
In Cocktails
In a Martini, the citrus forward nature pairs lovingly with the herbs and wine notes of the vermouth. The vanilla and orange still hold a strong profile, giving it a smoothness and gentle spice. The net effect is a barrel aged influence on a Martini with a nice touch of citrus. The ending is equally as delightful, giving off vanilla and juniper notes with just a bit of spice.
In Review – Barrel Knickerbocker
Barrel Knickerbocker is delightful and unique. Priced in the low-to-mid $30s, there’s a lot of value added to this New Holland’s barrel aged offering. The spice and citrus nature pushes this toward contemporary, but the juniper is given a fair place. While it might seem like the kind of gin you can’t use in many places, it will offer a great way to place a twist in everything from a Negroni to a Gin Rickey. The aging process does still make this unique, so we recommend considering it as an expansion bottle, not a primary or starter bottle.
