Scottish Gin, 70cl, Small Batch, Handcrafted Premium Dry Gin, 41.8% ABV, Infused with 5 Celtic Botanicals, Distilled & Bottled at Balmenach Distillery

Caorunn isn’t just another “artisan” gin with a fancy label — it genuinely stands out. From the first pour, you can tell it’s crafted with care. The aroma hits you right away: crisp juniper, a hint of apple, and something herbal that feels unmistakably fresh — like walking through a Highland garden after rain. On the palate, it’s beautifully balanced. There’s none of that harsh alcohol bite you get with cheaper gins; instead, it’s smooth and layered. The botanicals unfold gradually — a clean piney start, subtle citrus brightness, and a dry, peppery finish that lingers just long enough. It’s classic London Dry in spirit, but with a Scottish soul. The apple note (from the local Coul Blush apples, apparently) is what makes it unique — gentle, not sweet — and it gives the gin a natural freshness that pairs perfectly with a simple tonic and slice of red apple instead of the usual lime. Packaging-wise, the bottle is stunning — heavy glass, minimalist design, and that five-pointed star motif symbolising the botanicals. It feels like something you’d be proud to gift, not just drink. If I had to be picky, I’d say it’s not the gin for syrupy cocktails — it shines best when kept simple, so you can actually taste the craftsmanship. After a few evenings of “testing” (strictly for review purposes, of course), I can confidently say this has earned a permanent spot on my shelf. It’s elegant, refreshing, and unmistakably refined — the kind of gin that quietly impresses rather than shouts. Would I buy it again? Absolutely. It’s everything a premium gin should be — clean, characterful, and effortlessly drinkable. (Reviewed after multiple tastings and several tonic pairings — for accuracy, naturally.) 🍸

It's a delight on the palate - a superb gin.

Great gin bought at a great price. I have already ordered another bottle. It was a lovely smooth gin and went with elderflower tonic beautifully.

Great gin a treat to drink

I'm not much of a gin drinker myself, but my wife likes the stuff, and I thought I'd treat her to something for Christmas that was different from the usual brand she drinks. It comes in a nice looking bottle, and this was one of the reasons I went for this one. I've not tried it myself, but it certainly went down well with my wife, and she definitely enjoyed drinking it.

Smooth and clean tasting - makes for an excellent home-measure gin and tonic

Bought as a gift for my sister and she loved it.

This is one of several reviews I will be doing of various gins. I have something of a gin habit and rather geekily score gins for both g&t and martini on a spreadsheet (I mix 1:5 with a twist of lemon, well I don't mix it myself thats what husbands are for ) . I score out of ten and I give my go to gin (Bombay London) a 5 out of 10 to act as a baseline to judge against. We score more than once so I get an idea of how they taste over different times and occasions. Please remember these scores are personal and what I like you might not. So on to Caorunn G&T 8/10 Martini 7/10 The bottle is an unusual shape and would make a lovely gift. The G and T is nice and refreshing. It is a mellow, gently favoured gin with a slightly sweet flavour. We compared it to Botanist, the famous Scottish gin from Islay, in a blind test, and we both felt that it came out slightly ahead. It is wonderful served with a slice of red apple. We also plan to try it with a slice of mango as we think that will work well. For the martini we paired it with Noilly Pratt and found it to be very smooth, not at all harsh like some other gins. In terms of small batch gins this is a good price. We are onto our second bottle so it is definitely on our buy again gin.