Gin-Blend: G'Vine Gin Connoisseur 2011 World Finals

The second round of the G'Vine Gin Connoisseur 2011 World Finals in Cognac was a challenge to blend a gin from distilled ingredients. But first the contestants learned how G'Vine is made. 

First a grape neutral spirit is produced on a column still. Then four other distillates are made: one of grape vine flowers, one of juniper, and two more of multiple botanicals. In the final stage, all of these distillated are blended together and then redistilled in the pot still. (Images of the distillate makeup are at the end of the post.)

With that in mind, the finalists were given a set of distilled ingredients and asked to blend their own gin. The goal was to have it be a consumer-friendly, commercially-viable product. 

I didn't get a chance to try any of the final gins, so we'll have to wait and see who won this round...

Click below to see pictures about the makeup of G'Vine gin.

 These are the separate distillates that go into G'Vine gin. Then they're redistilled together.