Curiosity Killed the Tom Cat...

This story, like so many, begins with a man walking into a bar, the man engages the bartender and over the course of the conversation the subject of Jamaican Gin arrises, a gin made by Wray & Nephew exclusively for the Jamaican market, of course it isn't long till word of this gin finds it's way to a certain gin enthusiast and a search begins...

A few calls later it would seem a family member is holidaying in Jamaica, two weeks later a bottle of this cheeky looking Jamaican gin arrives...

The bottle bears an uncanny resemblance to certain own brand supermarket spirits, this impoverished attire made me weary of the gin from the start but we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover now, should we... The labelling is rather simple standing out yet does not reveal much about the liquid inside, simply 40% and 750ml, oooh an extra double, one must remain calm and not leap for joy as of yet.

Considering it's Caribbean background I am going to make the brash assumption that this gin is distilled from molasses, i'm also curious as to weather it meets the EU criteria of being distilled to a minimal 96%, as this is made exclusively for the Jamaican market it is doubtful much consideration is given to the laws governing gin production on the other side of the world.

So enough of the mystery surrounding the gin, time to crack it open... dear lord! A whif from the bottle was not appealing in the slightest, slightly reminiscent of every studious evening spent imbibing cheap vodka, but in the interest of fairness let's decant the gin to a tasting glass to allow it to breathe and release it's finer aromas.

Once I acclimatised to the potency of the alcohol I began to pick up slight notes of citrus, an ever so soft hint of juniper and a surprising hint of cookie dough ice cream, although it wouldn't be to much of a stretch to imagine vanilla being used in a Caribbean gin.

And now time for the taste test... gulp!    

Despite it's potent aroma the taste is remarkably bland, giving away little, perhaps slight peppery notes but little more. The mouth feel is extremely oily which initially masks the alcohol burn, a burn which continues to evolve long after the liquid is gone.

So Jamaican gin... there seems to be more than one reason why rum is so popular in the country and this token gin would do little to sway anyones preference, so on the gin shelf you go Wray & Nephew Old Tom, at the bottom, towards the back, categorised under morbid curiosity.

I hope you never attempt to enjoy,

Umpleby