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Glendalough Rose Gin – a must-try!

A very special gin: Glendalough Rose Gin. | Today I'm introducing you to a very special gin from Ireland: Glendalough Rose Gin from the Glendalough Distillery. This gin is truly unique because, after distillation, it's refined and flavored with rose petals. This gives it its wonderful pink hue and the aromas of fresh rose petals. I've tasted it and delved into its history and special characteristics.

Discover the Rose Gin from Glendalough

Don't worry, even if you're not a huge gin connoisseur, it's a real pleasure to explore Glendalough's Rose Gin. I always enjoy learning about the story behind a new product, in this case, a drink.

First, let's get to the bottom of the name. Why is Glendalough Gin called "Rose Gin"? – It was originally created to honor the late mother of the Rooney brothers and was therefore served at the wedding of distiller Rowdy Rooney's brother. Thus, the first batch of Glendalough Rose Gin was indeed made from roses from Rooney's garden. Since the gin was so well received by the guests and many other tasters, it was released as Glendalough Rose Gin.

To properly understand this Rose Gin, it's important to know that it's not a typical pink gin, like the many others on the market. It's more of a rose gin that just happens to be pink. Glendalough's Rose Gin is completely different from a typical pink gin. Pink gins are predominantly artificially flavored and colored, often very sweet, and usually not primarily distilled with juniper. The aromas of this Rose Gin, on the other hand, come from fresh, wild botanicals and a variety of fresh roses. It's also juniper-based and has distinctly floral notes.

A true masterpiece, whether served on the rocks or used in cocktails!

Glendalough's Rose Gin is produced in four main steps. The process begins with maceration. This means that the fresh rose petals, along with the other botanicals, are left to steep overnight in a copper pot still. This ensures a deliberately slow and gentle extraction of the aromas – distillation doesn't begin immediately. Only then, in the second step, does distillation take place in the copper pot still. During this process, the rising steam is heated and extracts even more essential oils. Next comes steam distillation – a crucial step for the Rose Gin. Here, the steam from the pot still is passed through baskets filled with rose petals. While this is a time-consuming method, it extracts even more of the delicate aromas from the rose petals. The final, important step is infusion. A net of fresh rose petals is added to the distillate. This further intensifies the pink color and enhances the floral notes. As you can see, a lot of time and know-how are invested in achieving the top quality and excellent taste of Glendalough Rose Gin, and several extra steps are carried out in its production.

The perfect companion for relaxed summer hours: Glendalough Rose Gin

Special features and ingredients of Rose Gin

Glendalough's Rose Gin uses numerous botanicals, many of which are also used in their previous Wild Botanical Gin. These include juniper, coriander, angelica root, fresh organic lemons, elderflower, heather, and many other botanicals. In addition, new botanicals (pink peppercorns, cardamom, whole oranges, hibiscus blossoms, and of course, fresh roses) are added to accentuate and highlight the floral notes.

What makes Glendalough Rose Gin so special, besides the diverse range of aromas and botanicals, is of course the fresh roses used to produce it. Glendalough uses three varieties of roses, all cultivated on-site: Heritage Roses, Damask Roses, and Wild Wicklow Roses. Each of these three varieties has its own unique story. The Heritage Rose is a traditional garden rose, cultivated primarily for its aromas, in addition to its beauty. The blossoms last only a few days before wilting and are incredibly fragrant. The Damask Rose, rich in essential oils, is the oldest rose variety and was cultivated in antiquity – once for the production of rose oil, perfumes, and rose water – and is now an ingredient in the Rose Gin. The Wild Wicklow Rose, on the other hand, is extremely rare and difficult to find. It can take days to gather even a small handful of its blossoms. Like many wild botanicals, it also boasts a wealth of wonderful aromas. Although the three rose varieties are available in different colors, only red and pink blossoms are used for Glendalough's Rose Gin – so the beautiful rosé shimmering color of the gin is not distorted.

Which cocktail will you mix first? Or would you prefer it straight?

Taste the Glendalough Gin

Before using this gin in my various mixed drinks, I naturally try it neat or on the rocks first. The nose is dominated by aromas of lemon, blood orange, and a juniper note, along with the deep aromatics of fresh roses. When you taste the gin, you'll clearly taste what you already perceived on the nose: a distinct rose note, berries, and citrus with a delicate and, in my opinion, very pleasant and not at all overpowering sweetness. The finish is long, underpinned by floral notes, pink peppercorns, and a hint of earthy spice. Definitely try this gin on the rocks or with refreshing tonic water. I'm really curious to see if you can also taste how special this rose gin is.

Create cocktails with Glendalough Rose Gin

Now let's get to the bar. I've already tried three different cocktails with the Rose Gin. First, the Glendalough Rose Gin & Tonic (60 ml Glendalough Rose Gin and classic tonic water), then the Glendalough Rose Collins (45 ml Glendalough Rose Gin, 30 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and soda water) and the Glendalough Rose Gin Spritz (with 60ml Glendalough Rose Gin, 30ml fresh lime juice, and grapefruit soda). I really enjoyed all three drinks – the gin is the perfect companion, especially on warm summer days. It also makes any classic gin and tonic something truly special. I'm so glad I had the chance to discover this very special and delicious gin. You can buy it at select retailers.

+++ This article was created in cooperation with Glendalough Rose Gin. Thank you! +++

HARD FACTS / CONTACT FOR INQUIRIES

Rose Gin from Glendalough

Details: Glendalough Rose Gin made with three different rose varieties;
Alcohol content: 37.51% vol.; 750 ml bottle – €37.00

Glendalough Rose Gin can be purchased at local specialist retailers.

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