First Impressions
Banyuls — the sweet, fortified wine from France's Roussillon region near the Spanish border — produces casks with intense dried fruit, chocolate, and raisin character. Master of Malt rested their Bathtub Gin in these casks for 19 months, creating a gin that bridges the gap between spirit and dessert wine.
Tasting
Bathtub Gin botanicals aged 19 months in ex-Banyuls casks. The nose is dried fruit and raisin with chocolate notes and Bathtub's cinnamon underneath. On the palate at 43.3%, sweet and rich: Banyuls wood contributing dried fruit and chocolate while juniper and spice provide structure. The finish is dried fruit and chocolate — sweet but structured.
The Bottom Line
Master of Malt Banyuls Cask earns a 7 — the most dessert-like of the experimental cask series. The Banyuls wood adds a richness that no other cask type can match, and the 19 months of ageing produce genuine integration rather than just flavouring. Best as an after-dinner sipper or in a chocolate-based cocktail. At £45, a limited edition experiment that succeeds.
