Slingsby rhubarb gin review
Pair the tart flavour of rhubarb with gin botanicals and you’re in for a treat. Find out how Slingsby rhubarb gin fared in our taste test.
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Slingsby rhubarb gin – 40% ABV
Overall rating: 5/5
In a nutshell: A well-balanced spirit from an award-winning Yorkshire distillery. The gin is made from water sourced from Harrogate’s natural springs, giving it a truly unique base. It’s packed with complex flavours thanks to botanicals like primrose, rosehip and green tea from Taylors of Harrogate.
Full review of Slingsby rhubarb gin
Over 400 years ago, William Slingsby put Harrogate on the map when he discovered properties in the local spring water that were thought to give it restorative and therapeutic properties. Today, it is used across the entire Slingsby range, including this rhubarb gin.
The recipe was developed using Slingsby London dry, which includes an impressive array of botanicals, grown in and arround Harrogate. Primrose, sweet cicely, nettle, milk thistle and rosehip all make it into the mix, as well as both green and jasmine tea sourced from Taylors of Harrogate. It’s then infused with rhubarb from the famous Rhubarb Triangle.
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In the glass, the gin has a bright pink hue. Our first inhale captured sweet jammy summer fruits – think raspberries, strawberries and of course, rhubarb. The spirit then develops further with a contrasting tang from pink grapefruit that really lifts the flavour to something much brighter. Notes of citrus, spice and juniper play a supporting role and add complexity, both when neat and once tonic is added.
Undiluted, the mix of sweet and sour flavours keeps dancing on the palate, ending in a smooth yet pleasingly tart finish. If you’re convinced that rhubarb gin might be a little too sweet for your taste, this one may change your mind.
Finally, the bottle is presented in an attractive red box, making it great for gifting.
The perfect pour
As Slingsby is quite tart, it can really stand up to the sweetness of elderflower tonic. Pour over plenty of ice and add either a slice of pink grapefruit or a handful of frozen mixed berries.
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This review was last updated in July 2019. If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
