The Botanist Islay Dry Gin: Wild Hebridean Foraging in a Glass
Contemporary 46% ABV ABV Bruichladdich Distillery
4 March 2026
Islay's other spirit
The Botanist proves Islay isn't just about whisky. At 46% the 31 botanicals create a herbal, fresh Contemporary gin with heather, chamomile, and wild meadow character. The coastal saline note from the Islay terroir is gorgeous.
8 February 2026
Complex herbal character
The herbal complexity of 31 botanicals at 46% is remarkable. Meadowsweet, thyme, chamomile — it reads like a herbal medicine cabinet in the best possible way. The juniper and lemon peel keep it grounded as a gin.
4 February 2026
Foraged flavour at its best
Bruichladdich's gin arm delivers wild, foraged flavour at 46%. The chamomile and thyme with meadowsweet sweetness is lovely. The earthy dryness from wood sage on the finish adds real depth. A Contemporary gin of genuine terroir.
3 February 2026
Islay terroir in a bottle
The Botanist captures Islay's wild landscape at 46%. The dried gorse flowers, heather honey, and apple mint create something no other gin can replicate. Cassia bark and cinnamon bark add warmth. The long, warming finish is magnificent.
22 January 2026
The wildest gin on earth
The Botanist at 46% is an extraordinary achievement. 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals alongside 9 classics create a Contemporary gin of breathtaking complexity. Wild meadow herbs, heather honey, apple mint, gorse, chamomile — each sip reveals something new. The long finish with mint, heather, and earthy wood sage is unforgettable. Bruichladdich's gin masterpiece.
22 November 2025
Wild meadow magic
The hand-foraged Islay botanicals make this unlike any other gin. Wild meadow herbs, heather honey, apple mint — all backed by juniper, cassia bark, and coriander seed at 46%. The long, warming finish with mint and heather is superb.
30 October 2025
Wild but unfocused
With 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals plus 9 classic gin botanicals, The Botanist at 46% is ambitious. The wild meadow herbs and heather honey are interesting, but sometimes the sheer number of botanicals creates a muddled profile. The juniper and cassia bark struggle to provide a clear through-line.