Upstate New York, my ancestral homeland*. Though I have special place for all American craft gin, I do hold a special place in my heart for gins from the agricultural farmlands and vast wine countries of upstate. Myers Farm hails from Finger Lakes Wine Country, only a little up the road from another Gin is In favorite, Finger Lakes Distilling’s Seneca Drums. Though both hail from the contemporary gin tradition, Myers Farm Gin stands on its own as a great example of modern gin distilling and grain-to-glass philosophy.
First Thoughts
Very contemporary on the nose, quite sweet. Clove, cinnamon, lavender. A complex but inviting bouquet of contemporary aromas. A hint of citrus as well.
Tasting
An almost carmelized sweetness. Intense and vivid, a bit spicy with some strong floral hints too. Let’s try and dissect this a little bit. Neat and up front, cinnamon, and clove, mixed together in a very holiday spice way, intimations of ginger and even nutmeg, though not sure if I’m reading it wrong or those are actually in there. Floral bouquet along side, lavender seems most prominent though I detect hints of hibiscus and iris in the background too. These sort of run side by side, overpowering the juniper, until it makes its presence known on the close. Things just when they seem like they might be a tad too sweet come back down to earth, juniper and a citrusy cleansing bitterness, lemon and orange rind, a bit of juniper and a faint jammy floral note on the close. Finishes mildly spicy on the back of the palate with a touch of heat. Overall, very smooth and very complex. Quite interesting
Mixing
I quite early on recognized that this particular bouquet worked swimmingly in a martini. That was among my favorite cocktails to enjoy this in. Though I found a good gin and tonic tended to shift the notes emphasis towards the closing notes, it was no less enjoyable. It tasted perhaps less contemporary in this arrangement, though there were still pronounced floral notes on the citrus and juniper finish.
The Negroni came out equally as well. I found the notes to be subtle but present. A rich almost fruitcake sweetness, with a touch of citrus on the close. Well balanced and highly recommended. Though I’m not the biggest proponent of the gimlet, I thought this was actually an example of one of the best drinks it put together. Well balanced, floral and lime cordial perfection. Along these same lines, I thought the Tom Collins and Gin Fizz were equally worth noting.
Closing Thoughts
I found this to be one of my favorite contemporary styled gins I’ve had in quite some while. Well balanced with a complex taste, but one that works successfully in an array of cocktails. If you’re looking for well made contemporary gin that has a challenging taste, that has florals but doesn’t end on the same note, I think you’ll find Myers Farm a worthy addition to your bar.
Price: $24/750mL
Proof: 85.4
Origin: New York, United States
Best consumed: Great gimlet, martini and gin fizz. Also stellar neat.
Availability: New York state stores, quite limited [see their list of available retailers]
Rating: Balanced, interesting contemporary gin that works well in mixed drinks. Though it’s probably going to appeal to fans of contemporary gin already, it’s a well executed spice/floral contemporary gin.
****~ (4/5)
*Ancestral? Aaron, you were only born there…
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