This is a yarn-spinner of a gin, packed with a massive 18 botanicals.... They're doing things a bit differently down in Wellington, macerating their botanicals using sound waves—infrasound, no less—and even chucking some AI into the mix. It's bottled at 44% ABV.

The bottle itself is a bit flash, with a stout shape and a cool cut glass effect representing the frequency wavelengths used and the Bauhaus movement.

Tasting it neat was complex, but in a Gin & Tonic, it proved to be easy drinking. Despite all those botanicals, they blend together into a subtle, almost wildflower-like single flavor, rather than competing. There wasn't a massive hit of juniper or orris/licorice for either of them. They found it had a subtle sweetness.

Picked up on special for around $60, it generally sits between $65 and $74, and they reckon that's a good price for what you get.

The verdict? Whistlebird is a nice contemporary gin that's great for pretty much any occasion. It looks sharp, tastes pleasant, and is a ripper for impressing guests. It's more of a gin to sip slowly and chat over than a sculler. Despite initial chuckles about the 18 botanicals and techy maceration, they concluded it's a good tasting gin and one of the few contemporary ones they've genuinely liked recently