Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, 70 Cl

Product Information

Puh, I did not like it the first impression as a Gin & Tonic. I tried it with our Polidori Tonic. Second try: Fentimans Tonic. Not my taste. Third try: Britivic Tonic, not my palate again.

It’s warming yet bright and summery, and most importantly, still tastes like a gin, with the juniper notes cutting through the bold flavour profile, which can often become diluted in a fruit spirit. Bartenders should be forewarned— Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin is not a gin to just plug in and replace other gins with. It is in its own category altogether with heavy sweetening. Though their Blood Orange Gin also has the sweetening, the citrus is more traditional in the gin canon and therefore it works in more places. Here, unfortunately, it’s just a lot of rhubarb and ginger candy. I find that pairing this gin with nearly anything that is sweet already— it becomes a bit cloying. It’s got a cork-style lid rather than a screw top, with the latter traditionally being considered cheap, which gives Aldi’s bottle a subtly elevated feel.Inactive - Do very little exercise, going for the occasional walk (moderate pace, low intensity). Spend majority of leisure time doing activities such as watching TV, playing computer games, on the internet, reading, cooking, driving, general household chores. During the competition judging, the Aldi gin was described as: “Magnificently well balanced with full, rich flavours of mouth-watering rhubarb, fiery ginger and chaste juniper”, scoring a total of 98 points. Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin is one of many in Whitley Neill’s lineup of flavored gins. Like others in the line, despite the vivid purple bottle the gin isn’t purple— this isn’t one of those magic gins. It’s a legitimately rhubarb and ginger flavored gin. But to my surprise, the Aldi tipple was in fact 40 per cent ABV - it also happens to be vegan, too, which is good news for those looking for a suitable spirit to celebrate the three upcoming bank holiday weekends. Usually, I avoid rhubarb and ginger gins because I find the ginger overpowering, instead opting for juicy rhubarb gins like Warner’s and Whitley Neill. However, I was really surprised at how well rounded the Aldi tipple was, with a tartness from the fruit and subtle spice from the root ginger, one that leaves a tingly aftertaste in the mouth without being bitter or earthy.

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK says: “We are extremely proud to have received the highest possible accolade for our own brand spirits. Now more than ever, we want to show that low prices don’t mean compromising on quality or taste.”If you want a gin and tonic, look for Fever Tree Light on the sweet end— maybe something more bitter like Q helps balance things out. I found it to be almost unbearably sweet in a Negroni. There’s no amount of the other two ingredients, which are sweet already, that can make this a balanced drink. While for P(our) in London, I met Johnny Neill and talked about his Gins. Next, to his new Rum Cask aged Marylebone Gin, we talked about his best selling new version of Whitley Neill Gins. A little bit than two years ago Team Whitley Neill created Gins with Flavour. Now there is a Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin, an Blood Orange Gin, Quince Gin, Parma Violet Gin, Protea and Hibiscus Gin, Aloe, and Cucumber Gin, Lemongrass & Ginger Gin and a Rhubarb and Ginger Gin. I have never heard about this portfolio extension. Johnny told they are really successful in the UK. all served in a Highball Glass, garnished with Cucumber! Or if you prefer it more classic: with an orange twist. Sipped, Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin hits you hard with the sweetness. Unlike some other rhubarb gins which have a strong sour component, this one is almost full blown strawberry rhubarb pie with a heavy heavy dose of sugar.

But if mixology isn’t your thing, then please don’t worry, the flavours of our gins speak for themselves. Perfect to pair with premium Classic mixers and a fruit garnish, from Indian Tonic, lemonade or just a light and refreshing soda water, our gins are expertly crafted to bring out the best flavours from around the world. Moderately active - Do light to moderate intensity exercise 3-4 times a week. E.g. going to the gym / swimming / cycling / horse riding / dance classes / playing golf. Daily dog walking (brisk pace, twice a day). The Rhubarb and Ginger gin comes in a vibrant purple glass bottle, complete with an orange and gold foil label illustrated with pictures of rhubarb and ginger. It certainly looks the part - and for such an affordable price, the design work is really smart.

Moderate - On your feet for much of the day, either standing or occasional slow paced walking. Typical jobs: shop assistant, teacher, chef/cook, bar worker, engineer. We started to note Gin Drinks which go in the same direction. The Richmond Gimlet with fresh mint came in our mind. The Gin Gin Mule will need a little adjustment but will definitely work like hell. These are now all ideas we will give to the MONKEY BAR Cologne to work in this direction for a perfect AUGUST Summer Drink. We will definitely bring over a palette of Johnny Neils WN Rhubard and Ginger Version to do some unusual Summer Rhubarb and Ginger Drinks in our 25hours / Boilerman Bars. And we will definitely fine tune the recipes and let you know results on our channels. Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin gets it flavoring from natural flavors, some of which are added after distillation. There is added sweetening as well. Despite coming in at 43% ABV, gin drinkers should be aware that it may come across as a gin liqueur. Tasting Notes

I tried another G&T with Fever Tree, and this got my first attention. Not perfect for my taste, but I could understand why some people would love this mixture. What fascinates me was, that mixing this Gin with the regular Fever Tree (quite rich in sugar) did taste as a Gin & Tonic less sweet than the other ones before. Strange thing: when you do the math, the amount of sugar is the same, but it tastes less sweet. We started classic with a Thomas Henry Tonic, which was much better as a combination than the ones I tried days before, but still not one of my favorite Highballs. Before I needed to run to another appointment, we mixed it with SUPASAWA instead of fresh lemon. What was interesting here was that fresh lemon very much features the Rhubarb Taste while SUPASAWA makes it a spicy drink featuring Ginger. Do not ask me why. Just a tasteful fact. Light - Have a job that involves long periods of sitting (office-based / driving) or are home-based and sitting for much of the day. Typical jobs: office worker, sales rep, bus/taxi/lorry driver.

At the awards, the supermarket scooped up 17 awards in a variety of categories - more than double the number of achieved by competitor Waitrose, who only scooped up seven medals. However negative this sounds, I think that Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin has a place behind the bar as an ingredient that is used sparingly. For example just a splash on top of a gin and tonic adds sweetness and a really beautiful ginger/rhubarb note, without overwhelming the drink. I was definitely in the mood that a classic Gin & Tonic is not my favorite way to mix Whitley Neill Rhubard and Ginger.