Cadenhead's Blue Old Raj Dry Gin

Old Raj Blue Label is one of the strongest classic gins on the market, and one of the most distinctive: 110 proof (55% ABV), with a faint golden tint that comes from saffron — the most expensive spice in the world — added after distillation by hand, historically by the company chairman himself to keep it consistent. William Cadenhead Ltd., Scotland's oldest independent bottler, founded in Aberdeen in 1842 and now based in Campbeltown, has had Old Raj made to its specification since 1972 and bottles it there. The recipe is old-school: juniper, coriander, Seville orange and lemon peel, angelica, orris, licorice, cinnamon, cassia, nutmeg, and almond, distilled with the base spirit, with the delicate saffron infused afterward. The Gin Is In found the saffron incorporated with subtlety, nicely integrated without compromising what a gin should be, and really enjoyed it — recommending a snifter with a splash of water rather than chilling it. Cocktail Hacker found a fierce burn that faded quickly, then juniper strongly at the outset mellowing into the other botanicals; one taster summed it up as "Holy... crap." Bottle Raiders calls 110-proof Old Raj truly a bartender's gin, capable of retaining character in nearly any cocktail. Cadenhead's own serve: neat, or with Indian tonic "after the hunt." Honest note: the saffron is muted rather than bold, and the price reflects the spice. A colonial-era gin at full strength — the ultimate Martini, or a G&T that holds its shape.

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