First Impressions
Bathtub Gin is the gin that reminded the world that the old ways work. Before the craft gin boom, before the copper-still fetishism and the 47-botanical arms race, there was compound gin — spirit infused with botanicals rather than redistilled with them. It is the oldest method of gin production, predating the column still by centuries, and Atom Brands revived it with this brown paper-wrapped, string-tied bottle that looks like it arrived from a Victorian apothecary.
The method is simple: pot-still spirit is infused with crushed botanicals. The resulting spirit is slightly cloudy, faintly amber-tinted, and intensely flavoured. At 43.3% ABV — a very precise strength — it has the body to carry the bold botanical character that the compound method produces.
The Distillery
Atom Brands produces Bathtub Gin by first distilling a basic gin from core botanicals, then infusing a portion of that gin with crushed cardamom, cassia, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, and orange peel. The infused spirit is then blended back with the original distillate. This two-stage process — distillation followed by infusion — gives the gin both the clean juniper backbone of a distilled spirit and the intense, oily, richly textured character of a compound gin. The faint amber tint comes from the infusion, not from ageing.
Tasting
The nose is an announcement. Fresh, bold juniper leads the way — proper, resinous, and commanding — with fragrant citrus and cardamom providing aromatic lift. Fresh orange peel and cinnamon add warmth, and the overall effect is of juniper exploding in all its resinous splendour, followed by spicy and earthy notes — liquorice, roots, earth, and anise arriving with quiet confidence. It is a nose of considerable power.
On the palate, the gin roars. Juniper leads with what one reviewer memorably described as a 'supernova explosion' — piney resin in full effect, intense and unapologetic. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy — the infusion method contributing a textural richness that redistilled gins cannot match. Cloves, coriander, and cardamom offer depth and complexity, each spice clearly articulated rather than blurred together. Peppery heat cuts across the tongue with real vigour, and the 43.3% ABV provides the body to carry all of this botanical intensity without feeling hot or aggressive.
The finish is where the supporting botanicals truly shine. Lingering cardamom and orange peel provide the tail — a warm, aromatic conclusion that extends well beyond what the initial juniper assault might suggest. The finish is warming and persistent, the compound method's gift of retained botanical oils ensuring a lingering farewell.
How to Drink It
Bathtub Gin makes an extraordinary G&T — the compound method's intensity means the botanicals hold their character against generous tonic. Use Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and garnish with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick. For a Negroni, Bathtub's creamy texture and spice-driven character create a drink of remarkable depth.
Neat, slightly chilled, it is a genuinely contemplative drinking experience — the thick mouthfeel and evolving spice notes reward slow sipping.
The Bottom Line
Bathtub Gin earns an 8 for reviving the compound method with conviction and quality. The thick, creamy mouthfeel, the bold spice character, and the intense juniper create a gin that is unlike anything the redistillation mainstream produces. The brown paper wrapping is charming rather than gimmicky, and the 43.3% ABV is perfectly judged. At around £28, the value is outstanding for a gin of this character and quality. It is the gin that proved old methods still work — and sometimes work better than anything modern technology has replaced them with.
