UP Black Label Gin Essence 20 ml

UP Black Label Gin Essence 20 ml

This is the gin for anyone who already has a favourite and wonders what lies one step up. Black Label starts from the bright, floral style of gin but turns up everything that adds depth: more pepper, more root, more oiliness in the mouthfeel. Where its younger siblings are airy and cautious, this one is dense and decisive – still elegant, but with a darker resonance underneath.

Think of the difference between a spring evening and a late-summer night. The same garden, but the scents are heavier and spicier. The flowers are still there, now with violet root and a hint of lavender in place of light citrus, and the peppers have been moved up to the front row. It is a gin that wants to be tasted slowly, and it makes its biggest impression in drinks with only a few ingredients.

Colour & Appearance

In the glass the gin is water-clear with a faint oily sheen. Give it a swirl and the legs fall slowly – it has more body than you expect from a clear spirit, promising a soft, almost creamy texture before the first sip.

Nose

The nose is met by freshly ground pepper – not the sharpness of black pepper, but the cool, resinous spice of cubeb and the warm ginger-and-cardamom note of grains of paradise. Beneath that the orris root spreads out, powdery and violet-scented, together with coriander, dried lemon peel and dark green juniper. Give the glass a minute and liquorice root and a hint of cinnamon bark appear.

Palate

The flavour takes charge at once. The juniper is firmer here than in the lighter style and provides a pine-fresh frame, but it is the spices that tell the story: pepper that warms without burning, coriander with its note of orange, angelica pulling towards the dry and earthy. At the centre lies a round, sweet core of liquorice root and almond that makes the gin feel velvety despite its intensity. The floral notes return towards the end, like perfume drifting over the spice rack.

Finish

The aftertaste is long and warming. The pepper stays longest, followed by powdery orris root and a dry, clean note of juniper. The citrus flickers back right at the end and leaves the mouth fresh.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit – choose a really clean spirit, as that lets the nuances come through. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished gin. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• Dry Martini, stirred and ice cold, with lemon zest or an olive.
• Negroni – the pepper and roots stand up to the bitter and the red vermouth.
• With premium tonic, pink grapefruit and a few whole pink peppercorns.
• Gimlet with fresh lime, where the spices are set off by the acidity.
• Neat over one large ice cube after dinner, for those who prefer clear spirits.

About the Essence

The Ultra Premium (UP) series holds the finest essences in the range, developed for those who demand depth and nuance. The 20 ml bottle makes one 75 cl bottle – perfect for trying a new style or giving to a gin lover.

For a lighter, more citrus-led take on the same theme, there are Gin Black Bull and Black Elephant. Black Label is the sibling in the black tie: the same family features, rather more gravitas.