{"product_id":"the-botanist-islay-gin","title":"The Botanist Islay Dry Gin - 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Botanist Islay Dry Gin. Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland — the first and only Islay dry gin, built on 31 botanicals including 22 hand-foraged from the hills, bogs, shores, and machair of Islay, distilled for 17 hours in a resurrected Lomond pot still nicknamed Ugly Betty.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe Botanist came to life in 2010 at Bruichladdich, the Islay distillery better known for its whisky. The idea was to create a gin that was an honest expression of Islay — its specific landscape, its botany, its latitude. Nine classic gin botanicals form the backbone: orris root, cassia bark, coriander seed, angelica root, juniper, licorice, lemon peel, orange peel, and white pepper. Layered over these are 22 botanicals hand-foraged responsibly from the island itself by Bruichladdich's own team of botanical scientists: meadowsweet, water mint, wood sage, hawthorn, creeping thistle, red clover, downy birch, bog myrtle, lemon balm, spearmint, mugwort, yarrow, sweet cicely, chamomile, heather, apple mint, elderflower, gorse, lady's bedstraw, tansy, white clover, and wild thyme.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe still is the key to what makes The Botanist singular. Ugly Betty — a Lomond pot still, resurrected from the defunct Inverleven Distillery and barged to Islay — was originally designed to produce a range of malt whisky styles. Its unusual design allows for an exceptionally slow distillation: each batch runs for approximately 17 hours, versus the 4–6 hours typical of most gin distillations. This achingly slow process allows the most delicate, volatile botanicals — many of which would be driven off quickly in a conventional still — to be captured intact in the spirit. The result is a gin with a satin-smooth texture and botanical depth that reveals something new in every glass.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Complex and overtly floral — elderflower and water mint stand out, alongside juniper, lemon balm, chamomile, and wildflowers. Citrus notes of lemon zest and orange peel weave through meadowsweet and heather. Herbaceous green aromas of wood sage and thyme. Subtle coastal salinity.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich, mellow, and satin smooth. Cool on entry then warming. Juniper leads with pine and citrus, followed by a complex mid-palate of sweet and earthy botanicals — apple mint, chamomile, coriander, and cassia. Anise, peppery spice, and a subtle sweetness of elderflower and apple.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long, relaxed, and balanced. Water mint, hawthorn, wood sage, sweet cicely, cinnamon, soft juniper, and citrus in harmonious combination held together with a gentle, satin-soft texture. A lingering minty freshness at the very end.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Islay Dry Gin\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eClassic Botanicals (9):\u003c\/strong\u003e Juniper, orris root, cassia bark, coriander seed, angelica root, licorice, lemon peel, orange peel, white pepper\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHand-Foraged Islay Botanicals (22):\u003c\/strong\u003e Meadowsweet, water mint, wood sage, hawthorn, lemon balm, elderflower, heather, gorse, chamomile, apple mint, bog myrtle, mugwort, yarrow, red clover, spearmint, sweet cicely, downy birch, lady's bedstraw, creeping thistle, tansy, white clover, wild thyme\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStill:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lomond pot still “Ugly Betty” — 17-hour distillation\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 46% (92 Proof)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBrowse our full selection of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/gin\"\u003egin at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat does The Botanist taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e Complex and overtly floral on the nose with elderflower, water mint, lemon balm, and chamomile. The palate is satin smooth with juniper, citrus, sweet spice, anise, and a revolving botanical kaleidoscope. The finish is long and balanced with mint, hawthorn, soft juniper, and lingering freshness.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Ugly Betty?\u003c\/strong\u003e Ugly Betty is Bruichladdich's Lomond pot still, salvaged from the old Inverleven Distillery in Dumbarton and barged to Islay. Its unusual design allows for a 17-hour distillation that captures the most delicate botanical volatiles that conventional stills would drive off quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy does The Botanist use 22 foraged botanicals?\u003c\/strong\u003e To create a gin that is a genuine expression of Islay as a place — its specific latitude, landscape, and flora. The 22 botanicals represent the island's hills, bogs, Atlantic shores, and machair, all hand-foraged by Bruichladdich's own botanical scientists.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDoes The Botanist contain peat from Islay?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — despite being produced at Bruichladdich, which is famous for its peated whiskies, The Botanist gin contains no peat in its production. Its character comes entirely from the 31 botanicals and the long Lomond still distillation.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat cocktails is The Botanist best in?\u003c\/strong\u003e Outstanding in a G\u0026amp;T with a garnish of lemon, fresh thyme, or rosemary where its herbal complexity can shine. Also exceptional in a Martini served with a lemon twist, and genuinely pleasant to sip neat — rare among gins.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e {   \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",   \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",   \"mainEntity\": [     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"What does The Botanist taste like?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Complex and overtly floral on the nose with elderflower, water mint, lemon balm, and chamomile. The palate is satin smooth with juniper, citrus, sweet spice, anise, and a revolving botanical complexity. The finish is long and balanced with mint, hawthorn, soft juniper, and lingering freshness.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"What is Ugly Betty?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Ugly Betty is Bruichladdich's Lomond pot still, salvaged from the old Inverleven Distillery and barged to Islay. Its unusual design allows for a 17-hour distillation that captures the most delicate botanical volatiles that conventional stills would drive off quickly.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"Why does The Botanist use 22 foraged botanicals?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"To create a gin that is a genuine expression of Islay as a place. The 22 botanicals represent the island's hills, bogs, Atlantic shores, and machair, all hand-foraged by Bruichladdich's own botanical scientists.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"Does The Botanist contain peat from Islay?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"No — despite being produced at Bruichladdich, which is famous for its peated whiskies, The Botanist gin contains no peat. Its character comes entirely from 31 botanicals and the long Lomond still distillation.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"What cocktails is The Botanist best in?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Outstanding in a G\u0026T with lemon, fresh thyme, or rosemary. Also exceptional in a Martini with a lemon twist. Genuinely pleasant to sip neat — rare among gins.\"       }     }   ] } \u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"The Botanist","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42904571805767,"sku":"00008723670036","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/The-Botanist.jpg?v=1782426492","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/the-botanist-islay-gin","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}