ScotlandContemporary Dry · Sipping Gin
The Botanist
"22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals. A botanical archive in a glass."
BENO Gin DNA
A flavor map, in ten lines.
An in-house flavor read across ten axes. Not a lab test — a guide from people who pour this gin every night.
- Juniper2
- Citrus3
- Floral5
- Spice3
- Herbal5
- Fruit1
- Earthy3
- Coastal3
- Sweetness2
- Complexity5
Flavor Notes
Nose, palate, finish.
Nose
Pungent, resiny pine juniper leads with eucalyptus, subtle parma violet, heather, candied ginger, and sage.
Palate
Floral and complex botanical profile driven by overnight maceration and vapor basket infusion
Finish
Long, botanical complexity from 17-hour slow distillation
Dominant Botanicals
What's in the still.
Choose This If
You want a deeply herbal, contemplative gin.
Avoid This If
You want anything fast or simple.
Best Served As
How we'd pour it.
BENO Note
"Made by Bruichladdich on Islay. The forager's gin."
The Story
Where it comes from.
Born from necessity in 2010 when repairs to Bruichladdich's wash still freed space in the stillhouse, The Botanist emerged from head distiller Jim McEwan's vision to capture Islay's wild essence in gin. Initially resistant, McEwan became the project's most passionate advocate, looking to his native island for signature botanicals hand-picked from hills, peat bogs, and coastal shores.
Why This Bottle Matters
Ugly Betty is the last surviving operational Lomond still with its original baffle plates intact—a 1959 experimental hybrid designed to mimic multiple still styles by adjusting internal fins. McEwan added his own twist: a honeycomb of 80 copper tubes dubbed 'Jim's Gatling Gun' to soften the spirit.
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