Flat lay of a gin tasting setup on a wooden table, featuring a tulip-shaped glass and shot glass filled with clear gin, surrounded by botanicals including juniper berries, cardamom, citrus peel, and licorice root, with a notebook labeled 'Notes' and a black pen.

How Do You Actually Taste Gin? A Beginner’s Guide to Tasting Notes

Expertise

You don’t have to be a mixologist to taste gin the right way. In fact, the best gin experiences come from slowing down and noticing what’s in your glass. From juniper to citrus, smooth to spicy — tasting gin is about paying attention to what your senses are telling you. Here’s how to get started.

Start with the Smell

Hold the glass just under your nose and take a soft sniff. You should catch the scent of:

  • Juniper (that piney, herbal backbone)
  • Citrus peel (lemon, orange, or lime)
  • Spices (cardamom, coriander, or pepper)
    The Old G leans into smooth citrus and cardamom notes, with a clean herbal layer underneath.

Take a Small Sip

Let the gin hit your tongue and spread. Don’t gulp — just let it sit and roll around your mouth. Now ask:

  • What hits first? (Citrus? Spice?)
  • What lingers afterward? (Warmth? Bitterness?)
  • Is it smooth or sharp?

The Old G is oxygen-infused, so it goes down smoother than most — even at 42% ABV.

Check the Balance

A good gin should feel layered, not one-note. That means you’re not overwhelmed by juniper or sweetness. You should taste:

  • Top notes – citrus, floral, or fresh herbs
  • Mid notes – earthy roots, spices
  • Base notes – warmth, sweetness, or a clean finish

Well-balanced gin has a beginning, middle, and end — just like a good story.

Try It Three Ways

  1. Neat – to taste the full flavor
  2. With ice – to mellow and open up botanicals
  3. With soda or tonic – to see how it plays with mixers

The Old G was built for all three — smooth, adaptable, and never overpowering.

Final Pour

Tasting gin isn’t about impressing anyone — it’s about noticing what you like. The Old G is layered for flavor and clean enough for real discovery. So slow down, sip smart, and taste the gin, not the hype.

Black and white image of The Old G gin pouring from a botte into a clear glass against a dark background. The water flow is steady, creating small ripples in the glass.
Buy The Old G

The Old G Gin is unlike any other. It’s smooth, with no burn, no bite, and none of the bitterness that defines traditional gin. Its bold flavor profile stands out, whether sipped neat or mixed into a cocktail.