Since 1691, the Nolet family has been distilling spirits in Schiedam, Holland — the town where Dutch gin, jenever, was born, and the Nolet Distillery is the oldest still operating in the country. Ten generations of that unbroken family history, and it took the tenth generation — Carolus Nolet Sr. — to decide that the family should attempt something no one in gin had quite done before: build a gin meant not for the cocktail shaker but for the same kind of contemplative, unhurried sipping that a fine aged Scotch or Cognac commands.

The Reserve is Carolus Nolet Sr.'s personal creation, and every detail of its production reflects that personal stamp. A myriad of botanicals — saffron and verbena disclosed among them, others held as house secret — are each macerated or distilled entirely separately, according to their own specific extraction requirements, before being blended together by hand. Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, contributes the gin's distinctive golden hue along with a warm, rich, faintly exotic character that few gins anywhere attempt to incorporate. Verbena adds a delicate, soothing citrus lift that threads through the entire profile. Juniper is present, as it must be in any gin, but it recedes into the background here, playing a supporting role to the more prominent floral, spicy, and fruit-forward botanicals that define the house style. Every single batch is personally tasted and approved by Carolus Nolet Sr. himself before release — a level of hands-on oversight that few spirits producers, at any price, still practice.

Bottles are allocated annually, individually numbered by hand, and presented in a genuinely prestigious gift box — the kind of packaging and scarcity structure typically reserved for rare aged whisky rather than gin. The reviewer at The Gin is In described the opening nose as "fruity, almost strawberry candy, rich — enveloping, very inviting," with rose petals, honeysuckle, and bright pungent florals. "Very contemporary, not a lot of obviously gin-like character." The palate arrives hot and complex: raspberry and fruit up front, hints of something rich and earthy, angelica and bright saffron, building to a long finish that begins with raspberry and fades into lemon and citrus. His conclusion, weighing the gin honestly against its price: "a worthy novelty for those who can afford its lofty price point to seek it out... a quite good contemporary gin." This is not a gin for a Tuesday night G&T. It is a gin built to be poured slowly, in good company, and genuinely savored.

Origins & Craftsmanship

The Nolet family has distilled spirits in Schiedam, Holland — the historic center of Dutch gin production — since 1691, making the Royal Nolet Distillery the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Netherlands. Carolus Nolet Sr., the tenth generation to lead the family business, personally developed The Reserve with the explicit ambition of creating a gin unlike any other in the world — one built on the family's three centuries of distilling heritage but pushed into genuinely new territory in both flavor architecture and intended use.

Production follows a meticulous, artisanal process: a wide range of botanicals — prominently featuring saffron and verbena, alongside additional ingredients the house keeps proprietary — are each macerated or distilled entirely separately from one another, according to the specific requirements of that individual botanical, before being blended together by hand under Carolus Nolet Sr.'s direct and personal oversight. Every batch is personally tasted and approved by him before bottling — a quality-control commitment that places The Reserve in a genuinely rare category of hands-on, founder-verified production. The finished gin is bottled at 52.3% ABV / 104.6 proof, a significantly higher strength than most gins on the market, deliberately calibrated to carry and sustain the full depth and persistence of the botanical complexity through a long, evolving finish. Bottles are allocated annually rather than produced continuously, individually numbered by hand, and presented in a distinguished gift box befitting the gin's position as the crown jewel of the Nolet portfolio.

Critics Reviews

No published numerical critic score is available for Nolet's The Reserve Dry Gin.

The Gin is In (extended review):
"Fruity, almost strawberry candy, rich. Enveloping, very inviting. A touch of almond too. This is a very complex smelling spirit, but one that will definitely draw you in. Very contemporary, not a lot of obviously gin like character. The palate is quite hot — that's the first thing I remarked upon, that it was strong tasting. While it has smoothness, it did have an undeniable edge about it. Raspberry and fruit up front, hints of something rich and earthy, almost imitating a bright oak-like flavor with notes of angelica and bright saffron. That's when the burst of heat hits, followed by a fruit-forward middle — echoes of raspberry, strawberry, and peach — and that's when a second dose of heat hits, less intense than the first. The finish is long, but begins with a bit more raspberry, fading into lemon and citrus. Rose petals, honeysuckle and bright pungent floral aromas on the nose."

Nolet's / Caskers official tasting notes:
"Golden hued. Bright floral aromas, rose petals, honeysuckle, and strawberry draw you in, followed by a gentle backdrop of juniper. The palate is strong with raspberry and fruit, notes of angelica, and bright saffron. The finish is long, beginning with raspberry and fading into lemon and citrus."

Nolet's official tasting notes:
"Aroma: Fragrant, with fruity and floral notes. On the Palate: Warm and spicy, with notes of verbena and citrus. Finish: Smooth."

Alcohol Provision (extended):
"Aroma: Fragrant, often described with warm and inviting saffron notes alongside fruity and floral hints. Some detect rose petals and honeysuckle. Palate: Opulent and refined, with a warm and spicy character from the saffron."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Golden hued — the saffron's most immediately visible and most specifically distinctive contribution to a gin whose color alone sets it apart from virtually every other expression on the market. Bright floral aromas open first — rose petals, honeysuckle, and strawberry drawing the drinker in with fruity, almost confectionary richness. A touch of almond adds warmth. A gentle backdrop of juniper is present but deliberately restrained, playing a supporting role rather than leading. Fragrant and complex throughout, more contemporary and less classically gin-forward than the London Dry tradition.

Palate
Strong and warm from the first sip — the 104.6 proof making itself immediately known. Raspberry and fruit lead the entry, joined by hints of something rich and earthy alongside angelica and bright, unmistakable saffron. A burst of heat follows, giving way to a fruit-forward middle carrying raspberry, strawberry, and peach, followed by a second, gentler wave of warmth. Warm and spicy throughout, with verbena's citrus character threading continuously beneath the fruit and saffron.

Finish
Long, beginning with raspberry and gradually fading into lemon and citrus. Smooth despite the gin's considerable strength, the high proof extending and deepening the persistence of every botanical note rather than simply adding heat. A finish that continues to evolve for a genuinely extended period after the sip.

Quick Overview

Serving Note

Nolet's The Reserve is designed as a sipping gin first and a cocktail ingredient second. Serve neat, in a snifter or tulip glass, at room temperature or lightly chilled, allowing the saffron and verbena to unfold slowly. For those who prefer a cocktail application, a simple Martini with the barest whisper of dry vermouth allows the botanical complexity to remain the centerpiece.