Ketel One begat Belvedere begat Grey Goose and countless citrus infusions which offered barkeeps endless new drinks to invent and name. The stock-market boomers returned to the cachet offered by endlessly aged barrels of whiskey bearing labels and medals and bouquet and notes in a flurry of appellations once reserved for wine. Tequila made a similar stab at revitalization, with moderate successes like Patron and Herradura. Bored and fickle generation that we are, it was inevitable that the bottle industry's bad boy would raise a few eyebrows after a makeover and better-quality distillation. Unlike more well-known bottlings like Tanqueray, Beefeater and Bombay Sapphire, Van Gogh is decidedly subtler.
Spanish lemon softens the more extreme flavors, while Javanese almonds binds others together.
Van Gogh gin, like its namesake, is a highly integrated masterpiece.