UP Gin Dry 20 ml

UP Gin Dry 20 ml

A dry Martini has nowhere to hide. Two ingredients, ice and a lemon twist – if the gin is flabby or sweetish, you notice at the first sip. That is why Martini drinkers have always sought the same thing: a gin with steel in its spine, dry as chalk and with juniper enough to cut through the vermouth.

UP Gin Dry was created with that glass in mind. Compared with an ordinary dry gin, everything is dialled up a notch: the juniper is denser and oilier, the citrus keener, the sweetness non-existent. That doesn’t make it difficult – on the contrary, it is strikingly clean and precise, like a crisply ironed white shirt. But it has the authority to be heard even in powerful drinks, and it loves being served really, really cold.

Colour & Appearance

The gin comes out glass-clear with a slightly viscous movement in the glass. Taken from the freezer it turns thick and slow-flowing, and the surface takes on the faintly pearlescent sheen of a gin rich in juniper oils.

Nose

Concentrated juniper – dark blue berries, resin and almost a touch of turpentine freshness – followed by a sharp citrus note in which lemon zest mingles with more bitter orange peel. The coriander here is more lemon-scented than warm, and the angelica gives a dry, rooty undertone that calls to mind wet stone and woodland after rain.

Palate

The attack is taut and cool. The juniper fills the whole mouth, oily and piney, with a fine bitterness around the edges. The citrus peels cut through like a shaft of light and keep the flavour alive, while coriander and a pinch of white pepper provide a dry, spicy middle register. There is no almond here, no liquorice, nothing to round things off – just a faint salinity and an almost mineral purity. Even so, the mouthfeel is surprisingly smooth, thanks to the juniper’s natural fullness. It is a gin for anyone who regards dry as a mark of quality.

Finish

The finish is long, cool and chalky dry. Juniper and lemon zest echo for a long time, and last of all comes a clean bitter note that leaves you craving a salty olive.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit – the cleaner the spirit, the sharper the result. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished gin that can be served straight away. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• Dry Martini: ice-cold gin, a whisper of dry vermouth, lemon zest or an olive.
• Gibson with a pickled onion for those who like it saltier still.
• Gin and tonic with a dry tonic and nothing but a lemon twist.
• A Vesper-inspired cocktail with vodka and a blonde aperitif wine.
• White Lady with orange liqueur and lemon – acidity meets austerity.

About the Essence

UP stands for Ultra Premium, the top series in the range, where the essences are composed with extra sharpness and depth. The 20 ml bottle makes one 75 cl bottle and is an easy way to upgrade the home bar for a dinner where the cocktail should be as considered as the food.

For a softer, more all-round dry gin for long drinks in quantity, there are Gin Go and Dry Gin. Gin Dry is also available in 25 litres for those producing on a larger scale.