Whitley Neill Black Cherry Gin

Whitley Neill is Johnny Neill's revival of a family distilling line that stretches back to 1762, and this Black Cherry edition takes its cue from South African cherry orchards. The gin is flavoured with the juice of ripe black cherries, layered over a familiar bill of juniper, coriander seed, cassia bark, orris and angelica root, sweet orange, lemon peel and liquorice root, so the fruit has a proper backbone to lean on.

The nose is fruity with ripe cherry, an almond note and a delicate touch of chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and rich, red fruits and stewed cherries carried on a light acidity that stops it cloying, before a long, intense and balanced finish. It pours a deep cherry red. Serve it over ice with a light tonic and a fresh cherry, or build it into a dark, fruit-forward cocktail.