First Impressions
Blackwater Distillery uses Wexford strawberries grown just outside Enniscorthy — County Wexford's famous 'Sunny South-East' produces some of Ireland's finest soft fruit. The production method is thoughtful: strawberries are co-distilled with twelve other botanicals, then additional berries are delicately infused after distillation. Crucially, no sugar or sweeteners are added. The sweetness comes entirely from the fruit itself.
Tasting
Thirteen botanicals with strawberry the largest. The nose is sweet and jammy — inviting, with spice and citrus underneath. On the palate at 40%, unmistakeably sweet and jammy strawberry, but perfectly balanced with the other botanicals. The strawberries appear and disappear in a mist of spice and citrus — co-distillation ensures the fruit is integrated into the gin rather than sitting on top. The finish is fruity with spice, strawberry fading into juniper and pepper, clean and balanced.
The Bottom Line
Blackwater Wexford Strawberry earns a 7 — a strawberry gin that respects both the fruit and the spirit. The zero-sugar approach forces the strawberries to earn their sweetness naturally, and the co-distillation technique produces a far more integrated flavour than simple infusion. Best with lots of ice, tonic, crushed strawberry, torn basil, and a crack of black pepper as the distillery recommends. At £32, an Irish strawberry gin with genuine craft credentials.
