Empire Alpine Dry Gin
Whenever I see a new gin I’m usually pretty quick to buy it. I recently saw Empire Alpine, made by Highland Distillers in Alberta, and it turns out to be one of the better new ones I’ve had in a while. It’s not a showstopper, but it’s a solid, well-made gin that I’d happily pour again.
The nose is clean and crisp, with a fresh, woodsy character that fits the “alpine” name. On the sip it’s smooth and balanced, and it’s juniper forward without going so far that it overpowers the other botanicals. Nothing jumps out and bites you, and nothing gets lost in the mix. Everything works together instead of one botanical hogging the spotlight, which is more than I can say for some gins that lean hard on a single note. It finishes dry and clean, with a bit of lingering freshness that makes you want another sip.
I used it in a limoncello gin fizz, and it was a great fit. The gin’s dry, crisp backbone kept the sweetness of the limoncello in check, and the botanicals came through nicely against the lemon and the bubbles. It’s pleasant enough that I wouldn’t mind sipping it over ice either, but the fizz is where it really earned its spot.
It won’t change your life, but it holds its own, and it sits comfortably above the average bottle on the shelf.
Score: 7/10