Edinburgh Gin has built a well-deserved reputation for pushing the boundaries of what a London Dry can be, and their Gooseberry and Elderflower expression is a lovely example of that adventurous spirit. At 40% ABV, this sits at the standard strength for the category — approachable and sessionable, designed to let those fruit and floral characters really sing without the heat getting in the way.
Style & Character
What fascinates me about this gin is the botanical pairing. Gooseberry brings a tart, almost green acidity — think of that sharp bite you get from an underripe berry — while elderflower provides a delicate, honeyed sweetness that rounds everything out. It's a combination that speaks to the British hedgerow tradition, and when done well, it creates a beautifully balanced interplay between sour and sweet. The London Dry classification tells us the botanical character is achieved through distillation rather than post-distillation flavouring, which I always appreciate from a craft perspective. It means the distiller has had to coax those fruity and floral notes through vapour or maceration, which takes real skill.
Best Served
This is a gin that was practically made for a long serve on a warm afternoon. I'd build a simple Gooseberry Collins — 50ml of this gin, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml elderflower cordial, topped with soda and plenty of ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a few gooseberries if you can find them. The cordial doubles down on the elderflower while the lemon lifts that natural tartness. At £27.25, it sits in a competitive mid-range bracket, and while the unconfirmed botanical bill leaves me wanting a little more transparency, the concept is sound and the price is fair for what Edinburgh consistently delivers.
