Gin Tabar Review And Tasting Notes Of A Superb Italian Distillate
Gin Tabar was born in the foggy Modena plain, in Finale Emilia, by the hand of Casoni SPA, the historic company that also produces the famous Anicione and Amaro del ciclista.
It is a very complex and sumptuous gin but never difficult. It’s rich, baroque in some ways; we are not dealing with a hard and pure London Dry gin, and in fact, the botanicals are all very pungent and strong.
Anise, juniper, angelica, rosemary, bitter and sweet orange, cardamom, chamomile, and coriander: an intricate forest of spicy aromas and flavors that mark the aromatic profile.
However, the development of the aromas is pressing but always well-measured, there are no smudges or edges, and it opens in an elegant crescendo.
Its characteristics are having a not very fruity or floral profile but very spicy and ethereal.
Once again, we can only applaud the courage of a producer who puts his soul and story into a distillate because everything revolves around anise, the “historic ingredient” of this company that has consistently produced an aniseed liqueur.
But the whole area of Modena is famous for Sassolino; the Tabar was not born by chance. It has its roots in the distillation tradition of these foggy but so generous lands.
And in these lands, once, we wrapped ourselves in a tabarro, a cloak that surrounded the body and closed around the neck, hence the name.
The production of Gin Tabar is artisanal, with small batches of 300 bottles and long macerations of the botanicals, which are then distilled with double distillation with discontinuous stills in an impeccable way. Head and tail are eliminated during the process, but it goes without saying, we are talking about a very thick, artisanal gin.
The bouquet
Very intense and spicy nose, sharp, balsamic with anise that dominates. The other botanicals arrive, and a fresh citrus note creeps in to play down. Nothing to say: excellent persistence and finesse. Everything is perfectly dosed and calibrated.
The flavor
Very clean and tasty resinous mouth, the juniper caresses the palate with a dry, pleasant slap. The body is well defined and has a good drinkability given by freshness and variety. Again, the anise guides the tasting, but there is also room for spicy and mentholated notes mixed with orange.
It is a good gin, very good and courageous, elegant, but you must like anise: it is the spark that lights up the beating heart of this distillate.
Cost
40 euros.
What cocktails to make with Gin Tabar
Gin and Tonic, Negroni, Paradise, Tom Collins, Heidi, Bramble, Negroni, Gin Fizz, French 75, Tuxedo, and Dry Martini.