First Impressions
Blackwoods is a vintaged gin — the Shetland botanicals vary each year with the harvest, making every vintage unique. Wild thyme, meadowsweet, sea pink and other island botanicals are foraged seasonally. The syrupy texture is a distinctive feature.
Tasting
The nose is fresh with orange, lemon and spice. On the palate, sweet orange and meadowsweet with violet-iris notes — juniper from vanilla-violet custard, pine hints, then white pepper-nutmeg spice. Delightful syrupy texture. The finish is medium-dry with warmth.
The Bottom Line
Blackwoods earns a 7 for the most genuinely vintaged gin concept — each year's Shetland harvest creates a unique expression. The syrupy texture is distinctive, and the vanilla-violet-custard character creates something memorable. If you find a year you love, buy more — it won't taste the same next vintage.
