The Botanist
Islay, Scotland
Wheat neutral spirit distilled at Bruichladdich in the Lomond pot still "Ugly Betty" over about 17 hours, with 9 core botanicals and 22 foraged on Islay. Bottled at 46% and not chill-filtered. Systembolaget lists sugar under 0.3g per 100ml, a ceiling rather than a measured value.
- Ingredients / botanicals
- juniper, cassia, angelica, coriander, cinnamon, lemon peel, orange peel, liquorice, orris, 22 foraged Islay botanicals
In its favor
- ✓No added colour or sugar reported
- ✓Slow, low-pressure pot still run
What to watch
- !46% means about 15% more ethanol per pour than a 40% gin
- !31 botanicals is a heavy load for sensitive drinkers
Factor by factor
Congeners Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Very Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
The Botanist is distilled at Bruichladdich in a modified Lomond pot still over roughly 17 hours, with nine core botanicals and 22 plants foraged on Islay. The base is wheat neutral spirit.
At 46% a 1.5oz pour carries about 15% more ethanol than a standard 40% bottling.
The Botanist questions
Is The Botanist gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. The Botanist is distilled from a gluten-containing grain, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What proof is The Botanist? ▾
The Botanist is 92 proof, which is 46% alcohol by volume.
Does The Botanist give you a bad hangover? ▾
The Botanist scores 4/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 3/10 for gin overall. It is low on every hangover factor we track, so most of the morning after comes down to how much ethanol you drink.
Is The Botanist vegan? ▾
Yes. The Botanist is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.