There is nothing particularly extraordinary about Old Bakery Gin to nose, but then, that’s the whole point. The gin is based upon a recipe created by people who lived so long ago that a taste of one of the star-botanical gins of today would cause some sort of revolution. No, this is a gin that smells like nothing but good old fashioned gin. Juniper is present, something rooty too, and a hint of something bright. An educated guess – but absolutely a guess – the four would be juniper, coriander seed, liquorice root and grapefruit peel.

Specifics aside, the taste is a little more nuanced, with that twang of zesty grapefruit meets caramelised blood orange sensation at the fore, joined by a weighty root that fills the cheeks with a soft, viscous sensation, easing the liquid down the throat with not a hint of burn in site. (This in itself is pretty incredible, actually, given that this is a 41.7% ABV spirit being sipped at room temperature. An incredible amount of skill has been deployed to get Old Bakery Gin as smooth as it is, which is remarkable given that Ron was new to distilling prior to this venture). The juniper oscillates wildly, flitting between an earthy, dusty pine and a more berry-like clarity, but never really overwhelming proceedings. It’s great, solid stuff, and something Gin geeks should strive to get hold of.

AROMA: Clean and fresh: aromas of lemon, lime and obviously juniper are to the fore of the first nosing. The next olfactory foray reveals verbena and a soft hint of marjoram. As a gin and tonic, the grapefruit slice highlights the citric aromatics with bergamot the most apparent.

TASTE: The dry, spicy mouthful of neat, cold gin is a sour, citrus sensation with a white pepper finish. For the grappa lovers amongst you, this is a must: cleansing, refreshing and smooth. I always try my London Dry gins neat, even though they’re made for mixing. In this instance, the burn comes across as a spicy balance to the fresh, light, liquid. The addition of tonic gives the Old Bakery a heavier, richer mouthfeel that adds a robust Seville Orange element, which adds a touch of bitterness. This is a rich, satisfying gin and tonic that will have you wanting more.

Initially, neat from the refrigerator. Subsequently, I added tonic water, ice, and a slice of pink grapefruit, as suggested on the bottle. My current tonic of choice is Thomas Henry. It is light, fresh and fizzy. As a mixer it enhances the spirit it is added to, not overwhelm or mask as many others do.