Nolet's The Reserve Dry Gin 750ml

Since1691, the Nolet family has beendistilling spirits in Schiedam, Holland— the town where Dutch gin, jenever,was born, and the Nolet Distillery isthe oldest still operatingin the country. Ten generations of thatunbroken family history, and it tookthe tenth generation — Carolus NoletSr. — to decide that the family shouldattempt something no one in gin hadquite done before: build a gin meantnot for the cocktail shaker but for thesame kind of contemplative, unhurriedsipping that a fine aged Scotch orCognac commands.

The Reserve isCarolus Nolet Sr.'s personal creation,and every detail of its productionreflects that personal stamp. A myriadof botanicals — saffronand verbena disclosed among them,others held as house secret — are eachmacerated or distilled entirelyseparately, according to their ownspecific extraction requirements,before being blended together by hand.Saffron, the world's most expensivespice, contributes the gin'sdistinctive golden hue along with awarm, rich, faintly exotic characterthat few gins anywhere attempt toincorporate. Verbena adds a delicate,soothing citrus lift that threadsthrough the entire profile. Juniper ispresent, as it must be in any gin, butit recedes into the background here,playing a supporting role to the moreprominent floral, spicy, andfruit-forward botanicals that definethe house style. Every single batch ispersonally tasted and approved byCarolus Nolet Sr. himself beforerelease — a level of hands-on oversightthat few spirits producers, at anyprice, still practice.

Bottles areallocated annually, individuallynumbered by hand, and presented in agenuinely prestigious gift box — thekind of packaging and scarcitystructure typically reserved for rareaged whisky rather than gin. Thereviewer at The Gin is In described theopening nose as "fruity, almoststrawberry candy, rich — enveloping,very inviting," with rose petals,honeysuckle, and bright pungentflorals. "Very contemporary, not a lotof obviously gin-like character." Thepalate arrives hot and complex:raspberry and fruit up front, hints ofsomething rich and earthy, angelica andbright saffron, building to a longfinish that begins with raspberry andfades into lemon and citrus. Hisconclusion, weighing the gin honestlyagainst its price: "a worthy noveltyfor those who can afford its loftyprice point to seek it out... a quitegood contemporary gin." This is not agin for a Tuesday night G&T. It is agin built to be poured slowly, in goodcompany, and genuinely savored.

Origins & Craftsmanship

TheNolet family has distilled spirits inSchiedam, Holland — the historic centerof Dutch gin production —since 1691, making the Royal NoletDistillery the oldest continuouslyoperating distillery in theNetherlands. Carolus Nolet Sr., thetenth generation to lead the familybusiness, personally developed TheReserve with the explicit ambition ofcreating a gin unlike any other in theworld — one built on the family's three centuries of distilling heritage but pushed intogenuinely new territory in both flavorarchitecture and intended use.

Production follows a meticulous, artisanalprocess: a wide range of botanicals —prominently featuring saffron andverbena, alongside additionalingredients the house keeps proprietary— are each macerated or distilledentirely separately from one another,according to the specific requirementsof that individual botanical, beforebeing blended together by hand underCarolus Nolet Sr.'s direct and personaloversight. Every batch is personallytasted and approved by him beforebottling — a quality-control commitmentthat places The Reserve in a genuinelyrare category of hands-on,founder-verified production. Thefinished gin is bottled at 52.3% ABV /104.6 proof, a significantly higherstrength than most gins on the market,deliberately calibrated to carry andsustain the full depth and persistenceof the botanical complexity through along, evolving finish. Bottles areallocated annually rather than producedcontinuously, individually numbered byhand, and presented in a distinguishedgift box befitting the gin's positionas the crown jewel of the Noletportfolio.

Critics Reviews

No published numerical critic score isavailable for Nolet's The Reserve DryGin.

The Gin is In (extended review):
"Fruity, almost strawberry candy, rich.Enveloping, very inviting. A touch ofalmond too. This is a very complexsmelling spirit, but one that willdefinitely draw you in. Verycontemporary, not a lot of obviouslygin like character. The palate is quitehot — that's the first thing I remarkedupon, that it was strong tasting. Whileit has smoothness, it did have anundeniable edge about it. Raspberry andfruit up front, hints of something richand earthy, almost imitating a brightoak-like flavor with notes of angelicaand bright saffron. That's when the burst of heat hits, followed by afruit-forward middle — echoes ofraspberry, strawberry, and peach — andthat's when a second dose of heat hits,less intense than the first. The finishis long, but begins with a bit moreraspberry, fading into lemon andcitrus. Rose petals, honeysuckle andbright pungent floral aromas on thenose."

Nolet's / Caskers official tasting notes:
"Golden hued. Bright floralaromas, rose petals, honeysuckle, andstrawberry draw you in, followed by agentle backdrop of juniper. The palateis strong with raspberry and fruit,notes of angelica, and bright saffron.The finish is long, beginning withraspberry and fading into lemon andcitrus."

Nolet's official tasting notes:
"Aroma: Fragrant, with fruity and floralnotes. On the Palate: Warm and spicy,with notes of verbena and citrus.Finish: Smooth."

Alcohol Provision (extended):
"Aroma: Fragrant, often described with warmand inviting saffron notes alongsidefruity and floral hints. Some detectrose petals and honeysuckle. Palate:Opulent and refined, with a warm andspicy character from the saffron."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Golden hued — the saffron's most immediatelyvisible and most specificallydistinctive contribution to a gin whosecolor alone sets it apart fromvirtually every other expression on themarket. Bright floral aromas open first— rose petals, honeysuckle, andstrawberry drawing the drinker in withfruity, almost confectionary richness.A touch of almond adds warmth. A gentlebackdrop of juniper is present butdeliberately restrained, playing asupporting role rather than leading.Fragrant and complex throughout, morecontemporary and less classicallygin-forward than the London Drytradition.

Palate
Strong and warmfrom the first sip — the 104.6 proofmaking itself immediately known.Raspberry and fruit lead the entry,joined by hints of something rich andearthy alongside angelica and bright,unmistakable saffron. A burst of heatfollows, giving way to a fruit-forwardmiddle carrying raspberry, strawberry,and peach, followed by a second,gentler wave of warmth. Warm and spicythroughout, with verbena's citruscharacter threading continuouslybeneath the fruit and saffron.

Finish
Long, beginning withraspberry and gradually fading intolemon and citrus. Smooth despite thegin's considerable strength, the highproof extending and deepening thepersistence of every botanical noterather than simply adding heat. Afinish that continues to evolve for agenuinely extended period after thesip.

Quick Overview

Serving Note

Nolet's TheReserve is designed as a sipping ginfirst and a cocktail ingredient second.Serve neat, in a snifter or tulipglass, at room temperature or lightlychilled, allowing the saffron andverbena to unfold slowly. For those whoprefer a cocktail application, a simpleMartini with the barest whisper of dryvermouth allows the botanicalcomplexity to remain the centerpiece.