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{{About||the 2016 film|The Botanist (film)}}
{{advert|date=April 2012}}
{{Advert|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox Beverage
{{Infobox Beverage
|name = The Botanist
|name = The Botanist
Line 15: Line 17:
|variants =
|variants =
|related =
|related =
| website = [http://www.bruichladdich.com/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin The Botanist Islay Dry Gin]
| website = [https://www.thebotanist.com The Botanist Islay Dry Gin]
}}
}}


'''The Botanist''' is a dry [[gin]] made by the [[Bruichladdich|Bruichladdich Distillery]] in [[Islay|Islay, Scotland]]. It is one of two gins made on the island and is known for its hand-foraged [[botanicals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Botanist's 22 Island Botanicals is Islay's first and only dry gin |url=https://www.optionstheedge.com/topic/food/botanists-22-island-botanicals-islays-first-and-only-dry-gin |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=www.optionstheedge.com |language=en}}</ref> The name of the gin was inspired by two local botanists who helped develop the recipe for the gin alongside former Master Distiller, Jim McEwan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jim McEwan joins Islay's Ardnahoe distillery {{!}} Scotch Whisky |url=https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/latest-news/12614/jim-mcewan-joins-islay-s-ardnahoe-distillery/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=scotchwhisky.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2024 it was ranked the seventh-bestselling brand of gin in the world by Drinks International.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Gin |magazine=Drinks International Brands Report 2024 |page=23 |editor1-last=Waterworth |editor1-first=Shay |url=https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=56edebc1-6f81-4d3a-a70c-eb1335fb0247 |date=2024 |accessdate=2024-07-07}}</ref>
'''The Botanist''' is an artisanal Islay gin made by [[Bruichladdich|Bruichladdich Distillery]]. It is one of two gins made on Islay, and is distinctive for its addition to the nine customary gin aromatics of a further 22 locally picked wild Islay botanicals. It is these botanicals – and the two local botanists who collect them – that give the product its name.


==Distillation==
==Distillation==


The gin is distilled after an overnight maceration of the nine base botanicals – the seed, berry, bark, root and peel categories – in spirit and Islay spring water. This alcohol vapour infusion from the distillation then passes through the botanical basket containing the 22 more delicate Islay aromatic leaves and petals. This double infusion gives the Botanist gin its distinctive flavour, allowing the more delicate aromatic leaves and petals to influence the gin vapour without being destroyed.
The Botanist gin is distilled after an overnight [[Maceration (wine)|maceration]] of nine base botanicals (the seed, berry, bark, root, and peel categories) in 100% wheat spirit and Islay spring water. The alcohol vapor infusion from the distillation then passes through a botanical basket containing the collected leaves and petals. This double infusion gives the Botanist gin its distinct flavor.


The Botanist is slow distilled in “Ugly Betty”, a [[Lomond still|Lomond Still]], one of the last in existence. The distillation takes seventeen hours, four times longer than an average whisky distillation. Distilling takes place at 0.2 atmospheres of pressure.<ref>[http://www.bruichladdich.com/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin/the-botanist The Botanist distillation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512005852/http://www.bruichladdich.com/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin/the-botanist |date=2012-05-12 }}</ref>
The Botanist is slow distilled in the [[Lomond still]] "Ugly Betty," one of the last in existence.{{source needed|date=November 2023}} The distillation takes 17 hours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Make Gin - Distilling Homemade Moonshine |url=https://www.distilling-spirits.com/specialties/gin/?lang=en |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Distilling Spirits |language=en-US}}</ref>


===Ugly Betty===
===Ugly Betty===


Developed after [[World War II]], to meet the growing demand for single malt whiskies, the Lomond still was an experimental design that crossed a column and a pot still. It was created in 1955 by chemical engineer, Alistair Cunningham, and draftsman, Arthur Warren, to be a "one-stop-shop" with the ability to make a variety of whiskies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lomond |url=https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/2005/lomond/ }}</ref>
⚫
[[Tom Morton]] described Ugly Betty in his book ''Spirit of Adventure'' as "An oversized, upside-down dustbin made of copper".<ref>{{cite book|first=Tom |last=Morton |title=Spirit of adventure: a journey beyond the whisky trails | location= Edinburgh |publisher= Global Publishing |year=1992 |pages=188 |isbn=1851584986|lccn=93158608}}</ref><ref>Trip Advisor, [https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g1573338-d612018-i282776010-Bruichladdich_Distillery-Bruichladdich_Islay_The_Hebrides_Scotland.html ''Bruichladdich'']; retrieved: 05-09-2018. (with a photo of Ugly Betty)</ref>


⚫
[[Tom Morton]] described Ugly Betty in his book ''Spirit of Adventure'' as "An over-sized, upside-down dustbin made of copper."<ref>{{cite book |last=Morton |first=Tom |title=Spirit of adventure: a journey beyond the whisky trails |publisher=Global Publishing |year=1992 |isbn=1851584986 |location=Edinburgh |pages=188 |lccn=93158608}}</ref><ref>Trip Advisor, [https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g1573338-d612018-i282776010-Bruichladdich_Distillery-Bruichladdich_Islay_The_Hebrides_Scotland.html ''Bruichladdich'']; retrieved: 05-09-2018. (with a photo of Ugly Betty)</ref>
Developed after [[World War II]], the Lomond still was an experimental cross between a column and a pot still designed to meet the growing demand for single malt whiskies. It was designed as a "one-stop-shop" still by chemical engineer Alistair Cunningham and draftsman Arthur Warren in 1955 as a way to create a variety of whisky styles.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}


==Ingredients==
==Ingredients==
Two types of [[juniper]] are included, including prostrate juniper (''[[Juniperus communis]]'' subspecies) that grows in the exposed sea level habitats of the [[Rhinns of Islay]]. Only a symbolic amount of ''Juniperus communis'' is added.
Two types of [[juniper]] are used, including prostrate juniper (''[[Juniperus communis]]'' subspecies) which grows in the exposed sea level habitats of the [[Rhinns of Islay]]. Only a symbolic amount of ''Juniperus communis'' is added.{{Clarification needed|reason=What is a symbolic amount?|date=August 2022}}


The [[Islay]] spring water from which this gin is made comes from "Dirty Dottie’s spring" on Octomore farm, both for the distillation and the bottling at 46% <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bruichladdich.com/faq/islay-geology/|website=Bruichladdich website|title=Islay Geology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/02/11/spirit-guide|website=The New Yorker|title=Letter from Islay - Reinventing a great distillery}}</ref>.
The [[Islay]] spring water, from which this gin is made, comes from "Dirty Dottie’s spring" on Octomore farm. It is used for the distillation and the bottling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bruichladdich.com/faq/islay-geology/|website=Bruichladdich website|title=Islay Geology}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/02/11/spirit-guide|magazine=The New Yorker|title=Letter from Islay - Reinventing a great distillery}}</ref>


This artisanal dry gin is influenced exclusively by botanicals – no essences, oils or flavourings are added.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} The use of such aromatic plants for flavouring spirit is not new. [[Islay]]’s distillers have a long tradition of using whatever was at hand to improve their rustically produced [[usquebaugh]], distilled on small, portable stills, hidden away in remote glens.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/>
The gin is influenced exclusively by the foraged botanicals; no other essences, oils, or flavorings are added.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} The use of aromatic plants for flavouring spirit is not new. Islay’s distillers traditionally used whatever was at hand to improve their [[usquebaugh|usquebaugh (whisky)]], distilled on small, portable stills that were hidden in remote glens.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/>


===Botanicals===
===Botanicals===
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{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}


(*)= Non Islay Botanical<ref>[http://www.scottishislandsexplorer.com/ Scottish Island Explorer, July/ August 2011] [http://www.realmalt.com/botanist_gin_scottish_islands_explorer.pdf read pdf article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203023637/http://www.realmalt.com/botanist_gin_scottish_islands_explorer.pdf |date=2014-02-03 }}</ref><ref name="chicagotribune.com">{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-22/features/sc-food-0420-drink-islay-gin-20120422_1_gin-and-tonic-cassia-bark-botanist|title=Botanical bounty: With 31 aromatics in its mix, The Botanist dry gin is floral and complex |first1=Zak |last1=Stambor |work=Chicago Tribune|date=2012-04-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theginblog.co.uk/home/2011/12/the-botanist-gin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114153040/http://www.theginblog.co.uk/home/2011/12/the-botanist-gin/ |archive-date=2012-11-14 |title=The Botanist Gin |work=The Gin Blog |access-date=2012-04-24 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref>
(*) = non-Islay botanical<ref>[http://www.scottishislandsexplorer.com/ Scottish Island Explorer, July/ August 2011] [http://www.realmalt.com/botanist_gin_scottish_islands_explorer.pdf read pdf article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203023637/http://www.realmalt.com/botanist_gin_scottish_islands_explorer.pdf |date=2014-02-03 }}</ref><ref name="chicagotribune.com">{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-22/features/sc-food-0420-drink-islay-gin-20120422_1_gin-and-tonic-cassia-bark-botanist|title=Botanical bounty: With 31 aromatics in its mix, The Botanist dry gin is floral and complex |first1=Zak |last1=Stambor |work=Chicago Tribune|date=2012-04-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theginblog.co.uk/home/2011/12/the-botanist-gin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114153040/http://www.theginblog.co.uk/home/2011/12/the-botanist-gin/ |archive-date=2012-11-14 |title=The Botanist Gin |work=The Gin Blog |access-date=2012-04-24 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reviews and reception==
The Botanist has received generally positive critical acclaim for its first distillation, with features in both gin and whisky blogs and reviews.<ref >{{cite web
|url=http://yetanothergin.co.uk/index.php/reviews/gin-reviews/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin|title=Yet Another Gin, Feb 7, 2011|publisher=|access-date=April 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420151118/http://yetanothergin.co.uk/index.php/reviews/gin-reviews/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin|archive-date=April 20, 2012|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all
}}</ref><ref >{{cite web
|url=http://www.whiskycritic.com/islay-series-5-the-botanist-gin-by-bruichladdich|title=Islay Series #5: The Botanist Gin by Bruichladdich – Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky.|website=www.whiskycritic.com
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://theginisin.com/2011/07/the-botanist/|title=The Botanist Islay Dry Gin Review and Rating - the GIN is IN|website=theginisin.com
}}</ref><ref >{{cite web
|url=http://www.drinkhacker.com/2012/01/12/review-the-botanist-islay-dry-gin/|title=Review: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin (2012) - Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking|date=12 January 2012|publisher=
}}</ref><ref name=fdt2012 >{{cite web
|title=Spirit Review: The Botanist Gin |url=http://www.fdtreport.com/2012/01/spirit-review-botanist-gin.html
|dead-url=yes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422155911/http://www.fdtreport.com/2012/01/spirit-review-botanist-gin.html |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |work=Food and Drink Travel Report |date=January 10, 2012 |access-date=April 24, 2012 |df=mdy-all
}}</ref><ref >{{youtube|id=rJX6gCtE3rY|title=Scotch and Folk review 63. The Botanist Islay Dry Gin made by Bruichladdich}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
Diamond prize at the Monaco Concours of the [[Femmes et Spiriteux du Monde]], 2011.<ref>[http://www.femmesetspiritueuxdumonde.com/ Femmes et Spiriteux du Monde], 2011</ref>
The Botanist was awarded the Diamond prize at the Monaco Concours of the Femmes et Spiriteux du Monde in 2011.<ref>[http://www.femmesetspiritueuxdumonde.com/ Femmes et Spiriteux du Monde], 2011</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 97: Line 85:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.thebotanist.com/ }}
* [https://www.bruichladdich.com/laddie-shop/the-botanist/botanist-gin/ The Botanist official website]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120501094645/http://www.bruichladdich.com/the-botanist-islay-dry-gin/ugly-betty Ugly Betty]
{{Gin distilleries in the United Kingdom}}
* [https://www.justminiatures.co.uk/pages/search-results-page?q=the+botanist Just Miniatures]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Botanist Gin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botanist Gin}}

Latest revision as of 13:41, 7 July 2024

For the 2016 film, see The Botanist (film).

The Botanist
TypeGin
ManufacturerBruichladdich
Country of origin Islay, Scotland
Introduced2011
Alcohol by volume 46%
ColourClear
Flavour31 botanicals: 22 hand-foraged botanicals from the Isle of Islay and 9 core gin botanicals
WebsiteThe Botanist Islay Dry Gin

The Botanist is a dry gin made by the Bruichladdich Distillery in Islay, Scotland. It is one of two gins made on the island and is known for its hand-foraged botanicals.[1] The name of the gin was inspired by two local botanists who helped develop the recipe for the gin alongside former Master Distiller, Jim McEwan.[2] In 2024 it was ranked the seventh-bestselling brand of gin in the world by Drinks International.[3]

Distillation

[edit]

The Botanist gin is distilled after an overnight maceration of nine base botanicals (the seed, berry, bark, root, and peel categories) in 100% wheat spirit and Islay spring water. The alcohol vapor infusion from the distillation then passes through a botanical basket containing the collected leaves and petals. This double infusion gives the Botanist gin its distinct flavor.

The Botanist is slow distilled in the Lomond still "Ugly Betty," one of the last in existence.[citation needed] The distillation takes 17 hours.[4]

Ugly Betty

[edit]

Developed after World War II, to meet the growing demand for single malt whiskies, the Lomond still was an experimental design that crossed a column and a pot still. It was created in 1955 by chemical engineer, Alistair Cunningham, and draftsman, Arthur Warren, to be a "one-stop-shop" with the ability to make a variety of whiskies.[5]

Tom Morton described Ugly Betty in his book Spirit of Adventure as "An over-sized, upside-down dustbin made of copper."[6][7]

Ingredients

[edit]

Two types of juniper are used, including prostrate juniper (Juniperus communis subspecies) which grows in the exposed sea level habitats of the Rhinns of Islay. Only a symbolic amount of Juniperus communis is added.[clarification needed]

The Islay spring water, from which this gin is made, comes from "Dirty Dottie’s spring" on Octomore farm. It is used for the distillation and the bottling.[8][9]

The gin is influenced exclusively by the foraged botanicals; no other essences, oils, or flavorings are added.[citation needed] The use of aromatic plants for flavouring spirit is not new. Islay’s distillers traditionally used whatever was at hand to improve their usquebaugh (whisky), distilled on small, portable stills that were hidden in remote glens.[10]

Botanicals

[edit]

(*) = non-Islay botanical[11][10][12]

Awards

[edit]

The Botanist was awarded the Diamond prize at the Monaco Concours of the Femmes et Spiriteux du Monde in 2011.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Botanist's 22 Island Botanicals is Islay's first and only dry gin". www.optionstheedge.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Jim McEwan joins Islay's Ardnahoe distillery | Scotch Whisky". scotchwhisky.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  3. ^ Waterworth, Shay, ed. (2024). "Gin". Drinks International Brands Report 2024. p. 23. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  4. ^ "How to Make Gin - Distilling Homemade Moonshine". Distilling Spirits. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Lomond".
  6. ^ Morton, Tom (1992). Spirit of adventure: a journey beyond the whisky trails. Edinburgh: Global Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 1851584986. LCCN 93158608.
  7. ^ Trip Advisor, Bruichladdich; retrieved: 05-09-2018. (with a photo of Ugly Betty)
  8. ^ "Islay Geology". Bruichladdich website.
  9. ^ "Letter from Islay - Reinventing a great distillery". The New Yorker.
  10. ^ a b Stambor, Zak (22 April 2012). "Botanical bounty: With 31 aromatics in its mix, The Botanist dry gin is floral and complex". Chicago Tribune.
  11. ^ Scottish Island Explorer, July/ August 2011 read pdf article Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "The Botanist Gin". The Gin Blog. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  13. ^ Femmes et Spiriteux du Monde, 2011
[edit]
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