The Illusionist Dry Gin Distiller's Cut 2021
Their first Distiller's Cut
- Country
- Germany
- Alcohol
- 45%
- Bottle size
- 500 ml
- Producer
- The Illusionist Distillery GmbH
- In short
- A colour-changing gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, Angelica root, Cardamom, Cranberries, Lemongrass, Lemon peel, Orange, Makrut lime leaves, Yerba mate, Figs, Hibiscus, Red clover, Rose petals, Pink peppercorns, Bitter orange
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Mixers tested with this Gin
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The distillers' tip
Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water
You should certainly try the makers' tonic recommendation for this gin.
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About this bottle
New botanicals
Of course, the Distiller's Cut 2021 from The Illusionist is a colour-changing gin too. As always, it turns from blue to pink when acidity is added through tonic or another tart mixer. Butterfly pea flowers are responsible.
Some of the organic botanicals from the original The Illusionist Dry Gin are changed for this Distiller's Cut 2021. There are 18 in total instead of the usual 16, with new additions including hibiscus, yerba mate leaves, makrut lime leaves and figs. A new botanical mix brings a new flavour to the gin.
Gift box
Unfortunately, my bottle didn't arrive in particularly good condition. That certainly wasn't just down to how the couriers handled the parcel, but also the bottle's rather thin outer packaging. Whereas Monkey 47 Distiller's Cut comes in an almost blast-proof box of very stiff card, this is softer cardboard. A shame, because the otherwise lovely reflective printing immediately suffers when it's creased. It's something they could improve in future to avoid disappointment.
The bottle and label
The bottle itself is the usual clay Illusionist Gin bottle with its dark lacquer or glaze. But it looks considerably more exclusive, with a very restrained label almost entirely in black and copper. Definitely a more mysterious look than the regular edition.
Just in time for special-edition season 2021, The Illusionist Distillery launches its first Distiller's Cut. The first release for 2021 comprises 1,200 bottles.