When I first got into gin, everybody was talking about this bottle & the advertising made me really curious. My sister gave me one for my last birthday & I can say its reputation is well-earned. The distillery mentions that their spirit captures the essence of the Boreal Forest, just like talking a morning stroll through the forest in early spring & that speaks to me deeply. So this is a gin review, one among the best I’ve ever tasted.
KM12
Produced by Distillerie du Fjord
Type: Modern Gin
Region: Monts-Valin, Québec, Canada
Age: N/A
ABV: 40% (80 proof)
Botanicals: Balsam Tree Shoots (Québec), Sweet Gale (Québec), Organic Juniper Berry, Sweet Fern (Québec), Green Alder Pepper (Québec), Wild Raspberry Leaves (Québec).
Appearance: 7.5/10
The bottle comes with a colourful label containing very little information other than some tasting note & the idea behind the spirit. I would’ve like more data on the ingredients in order to unravel the gin’s complexity. The bottle is clear although the label covers a big part of it, maybe decreasing the effect of the light. Anyway, I still vouch for darker shades of glass as a way to protect any spirit against UV rays. It is topped with a corked cap that has a sort of wood finish that complements the forest look. The liquid is completely clear & when I tilt it against the sides of the glass, a large crest forms from where some unusually thick legs drop at a slow pace. It might indicate a presence of residual sugar or more texture to the gin.
Nose: 14/15
The first impression of the nose is one of freshness. It indeed brings me back to some walks I’ve taken in the forest. There are some fragrances of pine & spruce as well as a mineral undertone, almost like lake freshwater. As it breathes, the gin evolves into spicier & fruitier notes, reminiscent of blueberries, raspberries, lime peel, pink pepper, green cardamom & lemongrass. I can barely keep my nose out of the glass, it smells wonderful. Every time I take a whiff, some new aromas form while others vanish, making it quite complex to follow, but incredibly captivating. The whole experience is very similar to smelling anything you would come across while strolling through the woods. It’s rejuvenating with an amalgam of well-integrated aromas.
Mouth: 13.5/15
The visual predicted the texture pretty well. It’s a bit viscous with some fine-grained, almost powdery tannins. The ethanol gives a sharp bite without ever being unpleasant. It’s drier than I would’ve imagined from the appearance & the aromas. The flavours are more precise than on the nose without letting that marvellous complexity go. However, the alder pepper & the raspberry leaves are clearly dominating the gin profile. There is a hint of woody flavours as well as zesty citrus & some fresh laurel bay. The backbone is made of the juniper berries blending in with balsam, spruce & piney notes. Again, the resemblance with an excursion through the Boreal Forest is striking.
Finish: 9.5/10
The finish ends on more raspberry leaves, but a definite fern flavour emerges. The spiciness & the fruitiness is tamed down, creating a green, earthy & vegetal profile. It lasts for a while before slowly fading away.
Overall: 90/100
I already mentioned it at the beginning, but this is definitely one of the best gin I’ve ever had the chance to taste. The flavours all meld together perfectly creating an emotion rather than simply an enjoyable spirit. It brings back memories & vivid images. This bottle will always have its own spot on my shelves.
3-word Description:
Boreal, Raspberry leaves & Spicy.
The Reference:
More information @distilleriedufjord.com
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