First Impressions
Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin is, for better or worse, the bottle that catalysed the UK's flavoured gin explosion. When it launched, it proved that a gin flavoured with fruit and spice could appeal to a mass audience without entirely abandoning the spirit's botanical foundation. The shelves of every supermarket in Britain now groan with flavoured gins of varying quality, and while Whitley Neill can't be held responsible for the worst of them, it can claim credit for demonstrating the commercial potential of the category.
Setting aside the broader market impact, the question is straightforward: is this a good gin? The answer, with caveats, is yes.
The Distillery
Whitley Neill was created by Johnny Neill, an eighth-generation member of the Greenall's distilling dynasty. The original Whitley Neill gin uses African botanicals — baobab and cape gooseberry — reflecting Neill's family connections to Africa. The Rhubarb & Ginger variant was developed as a more accessibly flavoured expression, using the same City of London Dry Gin base with added rhubarb and ginger essences.
Production is handled by Halewood Artisanal Spirits, and while the scale is considerable (this is a mass-market gin), the base spirit is well-made and the flavourings are genuine rather than synthetic. The rhubarb provides authentic tartness, and the ginger has real warmth — details that separate Whitley Neill from cheaper flavoured gins that rely on artificial flavourings.
Tasting
The nose is immediately rhubarb-forward. Tart, pink, and fruit-driven, the rhubarb character is unmistakable and quite appealing. Warm ginger spice provides counterpoint, adding depth and a savoury edge. Juniper is present but restrained — audible rather than loud. Citrus peel adds brightness, and there's a general pink sweetness to the nose that's inviting if not particularly complex. Cassia bark contributes a subtle cinnamon warmth in the background.
On the palate, the rhubarb-ginger combination works well. Rhubarb tartness leads — it's genuine, mouth-puckering tartness rather than the synthetic sweetness of lesser flavoured gins — and ginger warmth follows, building gradually and providing a welcome spiced heat. There's moderate sweetness, but it's controlled by the rhubarb's natural acidity. Juniper provides enough structure to maintain gin identity, and coriander spice adds a layer of complexity in the mid-palate. Citrus peel lifts the overall profile, preventing it from becoming heavy or cloying.
At 43% ABV, this has more backbone than many flavoured gins, which tend to drop to 37.5% or lower. That extra strength gives the botanicals room to express themselves and ensures the gin holds up in mixed drinks. The mouthfeel is clean and medium-bodied.
Where Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger falls short is in depth. The flavour profile is pleasant but straightforward — rhubarb, ginger, and a gin base. There's no evolving complexity, no hidden layers to discover on repeated tastings. It is exactly what it says on the label, no more and no less.
The finish is medium, with rhubarb tartness persisting alongside a ginger fade and a dry, spiced close.
How to Drink It
A G&T is the natural home for this gin. Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and a slice of fresh ginger or a stick of rhubarb makes for a pretty, refreshing serve. The tartness cuts through the tonic's sweetness effectively, and the ginger heat provides warming depth. It also works well with ginger ale for a longer, more casual drink.
In cocktails, it makes a decent Cosmopolitan variant (replacing citrus vodka) and a surprisingly good Paloma riff with grapefruit juice and soda. Keep cocktails simple — the flavour profile isn't complex enough to withstand too many competing ingredients.
The Bottom Line
Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin earns a 7 for quality execution of a simple concept. At $28, it's well-priced, and the genuine rhubarb tartness and real ginger heat set it apart from the legion of inferior flavoured gins it inspired. It doesn't pretend to be something it isn't — this is an accessible, easy-drinking flavoured gin with a solid base spirit and honest flavourings. For gin purists, it may not be your thing. For everyone else, it's a reliable, enjoyable bottle that does its job well.
