First Impressions
Batch X Defiance is a collaboration between two award-winning North West distilleries — a meeting of minds that chose English heritage garden botanicals as their canvas. Rosemary, thyme, and carrot are not standard gin ingredients, but in the hands of two experienced distillers, they create a savoury, herbaceous gin that is genuinely different from anything else on the shelf.
Tasting
Heritage garden botanicals: rosemary, thyme, and carrot alongside juniper and citrus. The nose is fresh and savoury — herbaceous rosemary and thyme with carrot's earthy sweetness. On the palate at 40%, savoury and herbal: rosemary and thyme provide depth, carrot adds unexpected earthy sweetness, juniper maintains structure. The finish is herby, warming, and satisfying.
The Bottom Line
Batch X Defiance earns a 7 — the carrot botanical is the conversation piece, adding an earthy sweetness that works surprisingly well with the rosemary and thyme. This is a gin for food lovers: the savoury profile pairs beautifully with roast dinners and Mediterranean cuisine. Best in a G&T with Indian tonic and a sliced carrot garnish. At £38, a collaboration gin with genuine imagination.
