Caorunn Gin

When I talk to people about gin, they are often surprised how enthusiastic I am about Scottish gins. And then I tell them that one of their favorite gins is actually Scottish, they’re floored. When you think gin, most think London dry style. But there are plenty that are soften, more floral. Caorunn gin I’ve found lends itself very well to fruit forward cocktails. At a gin tasting last year, I really liked the Caorunn drink with apple.

Caorunn has an unique system to infuse the botanicals into their gin. They spread the juniper and other botanicals on trays and when the gin is distilled, the vapor meets the botanicals and picks up the various flavors. This is different from how some gins infuse the botanicals directly into the gin. By spreading the bontanicals around and away from the gin, only the vapors mixes in which is why it’s lighter in character.

Caorunn Ramos Milk Punch

At Bagatelle last Fall, I tried the Ramos Milk Punch made with Caorunn.

This was a take on a Ramos but made punch style. Along with the Caorunn, there was both lemon and lime juices, simple syrup, vanilla almond milk, orange blossom water, grated nutmeg and soda water. And if it’s a birthday, light up sparklers like Bagatelle. It’s just so festive.

Punch makes people smile

I was playing around with Caorunn and came up with a cocktail using Caorunn and a few things I had picked up from Tales of the Cocktail.

Shiso Lovely

• 2 oz Caorunn gin
• 1 oz Berentzen Pear liqueur
• 1 oz Dry Sack sherry
• .75 oz lemon juice
• . 25 oz agave syrup
• 3-4 leaves shiso
• 3 dashes Jerry Thomas Own Decanter bitters

Muddle the shiso with lemon juice and agave syrup in a mixing glass or tin. Add the gin, pear liqueur, sherry and ice.  Shake hard (for about 40 seconds), strain and serve up. Add a few dashes of bitters.

I don’t like sweet cocktails but if you like it sweeter, add more agave. The shiso adds a not uncommon but different herbal flavor.

Caorunn Gin

Bagatelle

© The Minty  // LA Cocktails 2013