The Silverfox Guide
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Drinks
    • The SilverFox's Guide to Cocktails
    • Cocktails
    • Spirits
  • Spirit Guide
    • Drink & Barware
    • Gin
    • Whisky & Bourbon
    • Vodka
    • Other Spirits
  • The Fox
    • The SilverFox's Guide
    • Contact the Fox
  • Style

Test Valley Gin

21/3/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
​We all like a little gin from time to time right ? (Well if you don’t you’re probably on the wrong website).

​What if that love of the juniper juice slowly matured into a hobby and then a business ? You’d have Test Valley gin that’s what !
The Test Valley is in Hampshire and named after the river Test that meanders through the countryside, it’s hard to imagine a more quintessentially English place to make gin. Test Valley gin is an infused gin in the London Dry style and is bottled at 37.5%.

I’ve had a go at infusing gin myself and it can be a bit of a hit and miss business, so I take my hat off to anyone who can get it right, whether it’s through arduous experimentation or natural talent I don’t know, but this is what the creator Kate Griffin has done.
​
The gin is infused at Kate’s grandfather’s house by hand, which gives a nice family feel to the gin. No essences are used in the infusions, only the freshest locally sourced herbs will do, which come from the local Leckford Estate. Thyme and basil are the two powerhouses for the infusion, two herbs which I often like to use myself in cocktails.
Fox’s Tasting Notes
Like taking a stroll through a herb garden on a warm summer’s day. The air is busy with the hum of bees, whose tiny wings gently fan the subtle hints of woody thyme and sweet basil into your waiting nostrils.
Picture
​Test Valley Tasting Notes
Nose: Complex, with hints of thyme
Palate: Warm, woody, with a hint of sweet herb
Finish: Fresh and subtly herbaceous 

Average Price: £34.95 (or £39.95 incl p&p) available here 
Rating: 7/10
it This gin certainly makes a refreshing G&T, the recommended serve is to accompany with a sprig of thyme. Cocktail wise is works very well in one my own creations, the Mother’s Ruin -​​
In a highball glass muddle four or five basil leaves and 1cl of lime juice. Add ice and slowly poor 4.5cl of Test Valley gin over it. Top with soda to taste and as a finishing touch add a dash of Peychaud’s bitters. Give it and little stir and enjoy.
​For more cocktail ideas why not try my book.


The SilverFox
2 Comments
Gavin Blackman link
28/5/2017 21:18:04

Please may I quote your review and put up a link to it? I'm organising a walk in which Test Valley Gin will be sampled. Many thanks.

Reply
The SilverFox
29/5/2017 08:28:58

Sounds great Gavin, you are more than welcome to quote my review.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    Gin
    Spirits
    Vodka
    Whisky

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Drinks
    • The SilverFox's Guide to Cocktails
    • Cocktails
    • Spirits
  • Spirit Guide
    • Drink & Barware
    • Gin
    • Whisky & Bourbon
    • Vodka
    • Other Spirits
  • The Fox
    • The SilverFox's Guide
    • Contact the Fox
  • Style