First Impressions
East London Liquor Brighter Gin (Batch 1) is their original expression — Darjeeling tea joins pink grapefruit and cubeb berries in a copper Holstein still at Bow Wharf. The tea brings tannic dryness that gives the gin distinctive character and a remarkably long finish.
Tasting
The nose shows juniper and sweet grapefruit with evident Darjeeling. On the palate, grapefruit building to sweet spice and tea tannins — nutty balsawood with peppery cubeb. The finish is long with Darjeeling dryness.
The Bottom Line
East London Batch 1 earns an 8 for a genuinely distinctive use of Darjeeling tea in gin. The tannins add dryness and length that conventional botanicals cannot achieve, and the grapefruit provides bright counterpoint. A gin with no secrets from East London's craft pioneers.
