Kinsale Gin: Twenty Foraged Botanicals from County Cork's Countryside — Meadowsweet, Elderflower, and Madagascar Vanilla

Item: Kinsale Gin: Twenty Foraged Botanicals from County Cork's Countryside — Meadowsweet, Elderflower, and Madagascar Vanilla
Rating: 7
Author: Joe Whitfield

Joe Whitfield December 30, 2025 1 views

7 /10

EDITOR

Distillery: Kinsale Spirits Co.
Type: London Dry
ABV: 40% ABV
Price: £32.95
Botanicals: juniper, meadowsweet, elderflower, lemon verbena, geranium, spearmint, bitter orange peel, lemon peel, Madagascar vanilla

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Tasting Notes

Nose

Juniper forward — bitter orange and lemon citrus, complex spiciness, spearmint freshness, the foraged botanicals creating a wild, countryside character

Palate

Smooth mouthfeel — immediate burst of berries, apples, and citrus, unusual fruity tones from lemon verbena, floral undertones from meadowsweet and elderflower, warm and layered at 40%

Finish

Sultry spice warmth — roots and seeds, then juniper, dried lime and lemon, Madagascar vanilla sweetness, the twenty botanicals fading gradually through spice to fruit to floral

First Impressions

Kinsale Spirits Co. in County Cork uses over twenty botanicals to create their London Dry, with key flavours foraged from the Kinsale countryside. Meadowsweet, elderflower, lemon verbena, and geranium are gathered seasonally and sensitively — leaving enough behind for the birds and future crops. Gold at The Gin Masters 2019, Silver at ISC 2020.

Tasting

Over twenty botanicals. The nose is juniper-forward with bitter orange, spearmint, and complex spice. On the palate at 40%, smooth with berries, apples, and citrus, lemon verbena's unusual fruity tones, meadowsweet and elderflower florals. The finish is sultry spice fading to vanilla.

The Bottom Line

Kinsale earns a 7 — a London Dry where the foraged botanicals create genuine Cork countryside character. The sensitive harvesting approach adds ethical credentials. Multiple award-winning. Best in a G&T with a twist of lime. At £33, Irish craft gin from one of Ireland's most beautiful coastal towns.