Right here’s a humorous origin story. Waterloo Gin acquired began in 2009 at Texas’s Treaty Oak distillery, and it was bought by them till September 2024 when it was spun off from Treaty Oak and bought to John Paul DeJoria’s spirits firm. DeJoria is a giant deal in spirits, having beforehand bought the Patron model and making into the bazillion greenback machine it’s right now. (Patron was bought to Bacardi in 2018.)
DeJoria’s nonetheless dabbling in spirits, and the Waterloo acquisition is a curious one. The gin continues to be being made at Treaty Oak — and it may well even be tasted there — utilizing the identical botanicals and manufacturing strategies as earlier than, solely with DeJoria’s crew readily available to supervise issues now. Comprised of corn-based spirit and infused with Texas-grown botanicals, Waterloo is now accessible in three expressions, all of which we evaluate under.
Waterloo No. 9 Gin Evaluation
9 for the botanicals within the combine — “a love letter to Texas” — together with juniper, lavender, grapefruit, pecan, lemon zest, coriander, anise, ginger, and licorice root. Solely two of these I might significantly affiliate with Texas, although all of the botanicals are sourced domestically. Lavender is robust on the nostril, although it’s wanting turning into soapy. Time in glass sees the florals blowing off and people extra brooding coriander and anise notes taking heart stage. Juniper is restrained, extra seen after a half hour of air time, giving the gin a barely peppery observe because the end builds. The conclusion is a return to florals, rose-scented, gently candy with brown sugar notes, and a last sprint of licorice. Flowery all through with its juniper restrained, relaxation assured that London dry followers won’t like this gin. 94 proof. B+ / $35
Waterloo Barrel-Aged Gin Evaluation
This expression makes use of the identical botanicals, then it spends 2 to three years in first-use medium char American oak barrels. It was once known as “Vintage Barrel-Aged Gin” underneath the Treaty Oak banner, however now it’s misplaced the vintage from the title. I didn’t love this gin underneath the Treaty Oak label and I’m nonetheless probably not loving this in 2025 — although it appears to have extra age on it right now. Fairly floral with a lot of lavender seen, the oak growing old solely appears to compound the perfumed character, including in a layer of vanilla and ample seen anise. The palate’s extra balanced, and whereas these florals nonetheless dominate fully, they’re tempered by a little bit wooden tannin, mint, and a nutty contact from the pecans. Vanilla is robust however higher built-in right here, giving the entire affair the sensation of one thing that lands someplace between whiskey and gin. (To make sure, of us make Previous Fashioneds out of this.) Notes of nougat imbue a end that in any other case sees extra lingering lavender and hints of coriander, however finally it pulls you again into the whiskey vs. gin debate. In the long run I simply wished the spirit to choose a aspect. 94 proof. B- / $45
Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin Evaluation
This new expression provides prickly pear, hibiscus, and rose to the No. 9 ginbill. It’s pink. The additional florals make an already perfumed gin much more so, punctuating the nostril with deep aromas of contemporary rose petals, paired with a way more seen grapefruit character. A contact of spice-dusted citrus rounds out the aromatics. The palate is of course fairly floral however surprisingly not overblown, as ample citrus perks issues up and counterbalances these aromas pushed by the backyard. Silky and creamy with heavy notes of vanilla and coriander, the gin is decidedly New World in its styling, turning to strawberry and cinnamon because it develops additional within the glass. It’s fairly cosmo-like in building — an effusive and fairly gin that works delightfully properly in lengthy drinks and with fruit-heavy mixers. I didn’t assume I’d like this gin in any respect, however, properly, right here we’re. 94 proof. A- / $40
Waterloo Prickly Pear & Rose Gin
USD40
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