Gin Review: Masons Gin, Limited Edition Steve’s Apple Edition

I’m rather fond of the ‘suck it and see’ approach.

Now don’t go getting rude on me. I mean the ‘hmmm. I wonder what happens if…?’ approach. It’s one of the reasons I’ve worked in science for so long. Yeah, sure it’s a little more technical than that, hypothesis, method, conclusion, but it’s still that wondering, that curiosity.

It’s probably why I love gin so much. You take your initial concept – alcohol and juniper – and then play around a bit. You might be taking an initial recipe and editing it. Or you might have a completely different idea to play with. And then sometimes, just sometimes, an opportunity presents itself.

Masons Yorkshire Gin may be a familiar one. Their London Dry has a good savoury base, fennel notes and, as you’d expect, a good strong juniper backbone. They’re not afraid to play around with flavour. If you like deep floral notes, their Lavender Gin might be your cup of tea. If not, just about everyone I know (including myself, it’s even my tea of choice and that’s ignoring my Yorkshire roots) is a fan of their Yorkshire Tea Gin. Trust me, try it. 

If you like something fruitier, their Slow Distilled Sloe (a distilled sloe gin, rather than infused) is available exclusively from Gin Festival. And that’s probably why when Steve’s (a member of their team) apple tree was particularly fruitful in 2015, Steve’s Apple Edition was born.

And why not?

 

 

Despite not yet managing to get my mitts on the Slow Distilled Sloe, this little limited edition did make it into my grubby little paws. And it’s a curious one.

Think apples and you think apple juice. Sweet, round, soft. You may, if you’re thinking gin, think of Caorunn, which uses caol blush apples as a botanical. But I want you to think again.

I want you to think green. I want you to think Granny Smiths. I want you to think light, sharp acidity because that’s what plays about in your mouth as you try this gin. It’s not overtly appley. What you get instead is a light freshness that means I’m actually stashing this gin away til the summer because this, a light tonic, a big handful of ice, and maybe a wheel of Granny Smith apple, and I’ve got my summer gin. 

 

 

I’ve got the refresher I need for those hot, muggy, summer days when all I want to do is sit in the sunshine, gin in my hand, and snooze. 

Now, the kicker is, that this is a limited edition and, as far as I’m aware, the chaps at Masons don’t have any more hidden away anywhere, so it’s completely sold out. But fear not.

I suspect that if we shout loud enough, ask nicely enough, come autumn this year, that apple tree might again be denuded and it’s fruit used for distillation.

 

Please?

This gin was received as a Christmas gift.