The Botanist Islay Cask Aged Gin
The Botanist Islay Cask Aged Gin takes Bruichladdich's wild Islay gin somewhere gin rarely goes: into oak, for years. The classic Botanist spirit — distilled with 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals — is matured in fine American and European oak casks for a minimum of three years before bottling at 46% ABV (92 proof). The result is a golden, creamy, whisky-lover's gin that sips like a spirit a category apart.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Origin: Islay, Scotland
- Maturation: Minimum 3 years in American and European oak casks
- Casks: Around six types, including bourbon, rum, Sauternes, Amarone, Pauillac and St. Emilion
- Botanicals: 22 wild Islay botanicals, hand-foraged
Three Years in Oak on Islay
The Botanist is conceived, distilled and hand-crafted at Bruichladdich Distillery on the Isle of Islay, built on 22 botanicals foraged from the island's hills, bogs and shores — from apple mint, bog myrtle and gorse to meadowsweet, heather and wild thyme. Head Distiller Adam Hannett selected a small family of casks for the Aged expression: bourbon, rum and fine wine casks including Sauternes, Amarone, Pauillac and St. Emilion. Three-plus years in that company turns the bright The Botanist Islay Dry Gin golden and rounds it into something closer to a fine aged spirit. Its sibling, The Botanist Islay Cask Rested Gin, takes the same idea for a shorter six-month rest — the Aged is the deep end of that experiment. The expression has been recognised at the top level, with Gold at the Global Gin Masters and Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Tasting Notes
Creamy vanilla and sugared almonds lead, with sweet fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream through the middle and lightly toasted oak and toasted oats behind, the Islay botanicals softened into gentle earthy spice and a subtle herbal finish. The mouthfeel is the headline: rounded, silky and long, closer to a sipping whisky than a mixing gin.
How to Enjoy
The distillery's advice is simple: neat, or over a single cube of ice with a twist of orange peel. In cocktails it belongs in spirit-forward classics — a Martinez with sweet vermouth and a maraschino cherry is the house recommendation, and it makes a remarkable Negroni or Old Fashioned. Browse the rest of the shelf in our gin collection, including its higher-proof sibling, The Botanist Distiller's Strength Islay Dry Gin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cask Aged and Cask Rested?
Time and casks. Cask Rested spends a minimum of six months across roughly sixteen cask types; Cask Aged matures for a minimum of three years in a tighter selection of around six cask types — bourbon, rum and fine wine casks. The Aged is deeper, creamier and more oak-driven.
How should I drink a cask aged gin?
Neat or over ice is the distillery's recommendation — this is a sipping gin. It also shines in spirit-forward cocktails like the Martinez, Negroni and Old Fashioned.
Is The Botanist Cask Aged Gin gluten-free and vegan?
Yes — Bruichladdich confirms the gin is gluten-free (distillation leaves gluten proteins behind) and suitable for vegans. The distillery is also a certified B Corp, and its 22 botanicals are responsibly hand-foraged on Islay.
The Botanist Islay Cask Aged Gin is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor — three years in the cask, ready when you are.