Black River Bliesgau Bio Gin
Berries with a kick
- Country
- Germany
- Alcohol
- 44%
- Bottle size
- 500 ml
- Producer
- Blackriver Gin GmbH
- In short
- Fruit meets herbs
- Botanicals
- Juniper, Lemon peel, Apple mint, Ribwort plantain, Lavender, Bilberries, Raspberries, Lemon mint, Coriander seed, Rosemary
These are paid links. See advertising disclosure
Watch the profile video
Aromacode®
- 1 Pine, 22 of 100
- 2 Citrus, 19 of 100
- 3 Fruits, 65 of 100
- 4 Blossoms, 38 of 100
- 5 Grass, 8 of 100
- 6 Herbs, 61 of 100
- 7 Wood, 15 of 100
- 8 Spices, 8 of 100
- 9 Sharpness, 34 of 100
The Aromacode® shows how strongly each aroma comes through. The larger the wedge, the stronger the aroma. Numbers match the list.
Mixers tested with this Gin
-
Berries and bitterness
Schweppes Indian Tonic Water
With ice and the right proportions, the berries come forward. The spicy herbs take a back seat, with just a little heat coming through.
-
-
Sweet and spicy
Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water
The gin's sweetness disappears into the tonic. Interestingly, though, its heat remains. An intriguing kick!
-
-
A bit of everything, nothing in full
Thomas Henry Tonic Water
Rather dull. The berries are the most prominent part, but I wouldn't recommend it.
-
-
No need
Thomas Henry Botanical Tonic
In short: if you like the tonic, you can still hide this intense gin in it. Save yourself the trouble.
-
-
Bitter, with few herbs
Thomas Henry Dry Tonic
Not entirely convincing. There's a little heat, but nothing particularly interesting overall.
-
-
Berries by way of cucumber
Doctor Polidori Cucumber Tonic Water
If you like this tonic, you'll find the G&T acceptable, too. It's hard to get excited and call it a perfect serve, though. You can try it, but you don't need to.
-
-
Fresh
Mistelhain Ambition Tonic
The distiller's perfect serve. It works quite well and brings out both sides of the gin. The tonic's fresh notes make this a pleasant mix.
-
About this bottle
We know the story: two mates meet up, drink gin and decide they can do better. We've heard that one often enough. This gin comes from the Saarland home of its founders, Christian and Christian, and carries fairly direct references to the UNESCO Bliesgau Biosphere Reserve and the village of Schwarzenbach in its name. Their aim is a gin that embodies local ties and sustainability. They use exclusively organic ingredients in 100% organic wheat distillate, with the botanicals sourced locally.
How it's made
The production method at Genussbrennerei Monter is what makes this gin distinctive. Eight botanicals are distilled conventionally. Bilberries and raspberries, however, are macerated, and after a period of steeping, that macerate is added to the distilled gin. That explains its light pink colour. It's then reduced to 44% ABV and bottled.
Nose and palate
The first sniff reveals a very strong aroma, as with quite a few gins. Neither alcohol nor rosemary hits you head-on. You can pick out rosemary, and the berries and fruit are there, too, without an overpowering perfume.
The first taste begins with fruitiness, which quickly gains a touch of spice. Rosemary and herbal nuances take over. Juniper stays more in the background, in New Western style. The shifts between fruit and herbs are particularly interesting, with even a little earthiness coming through. Depending on the tonic or cocktail, you can play up one side of the gin or the other.
A cocktail idea
During the tasting, I also created a cocktail for the European Craft Club that, to my mind, puts the gin to interesting use. You'll find the Twisted Season among the gin cocktails.
A gin for …
Probably not everyone's gin, but an interesting product. With its two faces, it's something not everyone has tried, making it a worthwhile gift for gin enthusiasts and an invitation to experiment. Don't expect a Brockmann's Gin, though.
A gin that's almost a shapeshifter: herbal one moment, fruity the next. You can build drinks with it almost like Lego bricks.