Black Tomato Gin is so named for the use of its signature botanical, the Black Tomato. An unusual variant of the common tomato, they are especially bred to have a high level of anthocyanins, the pigments which give blueberries and blackberries their colour and noted for their antioxidant properties. The result is a tomato with a strange and exotic deep purple or black colour. The black tomatoes, juniper, and one other secret botanical are each distilled separately before blending together. The spirit is then combined with purified salt water from the Oosterschelde national park which the distillery calls its home, before finally reducing to 42.3% ABV with purified water for bottling. To taste, the gin is dominated by the tomato flavour. There is a little saltiness to the character, but this is soon overwhelmed by fresh, sweet tomato. A touch of juniper can be found, bringing extra complexity and enhancing the tomato. Served in a G&T, basil is an ideal garnish to compliment the drink. Alternatively, the distillers also suggest the flavours are better suited to a serve using tomato juice instead, to create a Red Snapper (essentially a Bloody Mary made with gin instead of vodka). |
