The Gin Wheel

Begin by thinking about the most dominant impression in your glass. Does it smell of pine and juniper? Bright citrus? Something floral and perfumed? Find that broad category in the innermost ring and tap it — this is your Flavour Zone. There are eight to choose from, covering the full spectrum of gin styles from classic piney London Drys to exotic savoury and coastal expressions.

Once you have your zone, move out to the middle ring to refine the feeling. Each zone contains three sensations that describe how the flavour behaves — for example, within Citrus you might choose between Zesty, Tangy, or Bitter Citrus. Think about the texture of the taste: is it sharp and bright, warm and round, or dry and complex? Tap the sensation that best matches what you are experiencing.

The outermost ring names the specific botanical ingredient likely responsible for what you are tasting. Each zone contains five botanicals — tap any of them to read a full profile including its origin, how intensely it registers in the glass, how distillers typically use it, and what serves or garnishes it pairs with best. This is where the wheel becomes a genuine learning tool, connecting your senses directly to the ingredients in the bottle.

Flavour perception is personal — what you detect in a gin is entirely valid, even if it differs from the tasting notes on the bottle. The wheel works in both directions: use it to identify what you are tasting as you sip, or use it beforehand to explore and understand the botanicals in a gin you are about to try. Tap any segment at any time — tap it again to deselect, or simply tap elsewhere to move on.