Glendalough Wild Rose Gin
February 18, 2025
TL;DR: A fragrant, floral-forward Irish gin distilled with hand-picked wild roses from the Wicklow Mountains, delivering a delicate balance of sweet, citrus, and earthy spice.
Glendalough Wild Rose Gin is a love letter to Ireland’s untamed beauty, distilled with wild roses carefully foraged from the Wicklow Mountains. This small-batch botanical spirit captures the essence of fresh petals, blending their soft, floral sweetness with bright citrus and a whisper of earthy spice. Each sip is a delicate yet complex journey, where nature and craftsmanship meet in perfect harmony. Whether served simply with tonic or in an elegant cocktail, Glendalough Wild Rose Gin offers an aromatic experience that lingers long after the last sip. It’s not just a gin—it’s a taste of the wild Irish landscape in bloom.
Flavor Camp Taste Profile
Overall Review
- Overall Assessment: 90/100
- Distinctiveness: 8.5/10
- Bottle Appeal: 8/10
- Value for Price: 8.5/10
- Crushable / Daily Drinker
- Cocktail Worthy
- Special Occasion Sipper
- Weird & Wonderful
- Skip It
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Clear, Pink
- Aroma: Light, floral, grassy and lightly sweet on the nose. Rose petals delicately tickle the nose. It's delicate and not at all potpourri-like. After a second pass, there are touches of mint/parsley, lemon/orange, verbena and coriander.
- Taste & Mouthfeel: The palate is also quite delicate - once again the balance between juniper and botanicals is excellent. Rose and citrus lead in a very pleasant manner.
- Finish: There's a bergamot/earl grey tea note on the finish with a touch of astringency.
- Distinctiveness: It may seem counter intuitive, but because of the delicateness of the botanicals, it's quite distinctive and signature to Glendalough's gins.
- Overall Drinkability & Balance: This is definitely a floral gin for non-floral gin drinkers! The floral notes are very delicate and subtle but still come through. Whether it's Valentine's Day or just a random Tuesday, this is a great bottle to cocktail with if you're looking for a #pinkdrink.
Product Details
- Distiller: Glendalough Distillery
- Type: Gin
- Origin: Wicklow, Ireland
- ABV: 40% ABV
- Botanicals: Wild Wicklow Moutain Roses, Heritage Roses, and Damask Roses and other botanicals (not disclosed)
- Price: $50-$55 CAD (2025)
Comments / Notes:
Three things to remember about this gin:
Foraged Wild Roses – The gin is distilled using hand-picked wild roses from the Wicklow Mountains, ensuring a unique and naturally floral character in every batch.
Slow Distillation Process – To preserve the delicate aromatics of the wild roses and other botanicals, Glendalough uses a slow, careful distillation method, resulting in a smooth and well-balanced gin.
No Artificial Flavors or Additives – The pink hue and floral notes come purely from the natural ingredients, with no artificial colors or flavorings added—just wild Irish botanicals at their best.
Food Pairing Recommendations: Shortbread Cookies / Sugar Cookies
Cocktail Recommendations: Rosagroni, London Fog, Gallica, Martina, Belt of Venus, El Diablo (substitute Glendalough Wild Rose Gin for the Tequila).
