Building a flight and taking notes
Comparative tasting
Tasting several gins side by side reveals differences far more clearly than single tastings spread across different days. A well-thought-out flight and good notes make all the difference.
What a flight is and why it helps
A flight refers to several small samples of different gins tasted one right after another. The advantage over separate single tastings on different days: flavor memory is short, and after just a few hours, subtle differences become nearly impossible to compare reliably. Tasted side by side, however, it's immediately obvious which gin shows more citrus, which tastes more strongly of juniper, or which has a longer finish.
Three to five gins are already enough for a flight – any more quickly leads to fatigue of the nose and palate, and the last samples get judged less accurately. Between individual gins, as with single tastings, a bit of water and a neutral snack helps reset the senses.
Putting together a meaningful flight
A good flight has a clear theme, otherwise the comparison becomes arbitrary. One option is a flight featuring only London Dry gins from different producers, to see pure stylistic differences within a single category. Equally worthwhile is a flight that deliberately contrasts different styles – say, a classic juniper-forward gin alongside a citrus-driven one and a floral one – to experience the full range of the category.
The order within the flight should move from milder to bolder gins, just as with a single tasting. A very intense, high-proof gin at the start would dull the palate for the more subtle samples that follow. Deciding the order in advance and sticking to it gives you a fairer impression of each individual gin in the flight.
Notes that actually help with comparison
When comparing several gins, it's worth using a simple, consistent structure for your notes: the gin's name, first impression on the nose, main flavors on the palate, texture, length of finish, and a brief overall verdict. This structure doesn't need to be complicated – a few keywords per category are enough, as long as they're organized the same way for each gin in the flight, so you can genuinely compare them later.
A collection of notes like this becomes especially valuable over time. Going back through your own records after several flights often reveals patterns in your personal taste – say, a preference for citrus-forward gins or for bold, juniper-heavy ones. This makes future purchases much easier, since you can search more specifically for gins with exactly the qualities you've enjoyed most in past comparative tastings.
Sharing comparative tastings with others
A flight works well with a partner or a small group. Different people often smell and taste things slightly differently, and comparing impressions shows just how subjective individual perception can be. What one person clearly describes as citrus, another might perceive more as orange peel or grapefruit. Such differences are normal and don't mean anyone is wrong.
It's still important to let each person smell and taste on their own first, before discussing impressions. Hearing what others notice too early can easily sway your own perception, and you'll no longer form an independent judgment. Only after this quiet, individual tasting does comparing notes become worthwhile – that's when a simple tasting turns into a conversation that noticeably sharpens your own perspective on gin over time. Such shared sessions also reveal just how differently preferences can be distributed. One person likes it juniper-heavy, another prefers it citrus-fresh – both are valid, as long as your own nose remains the foundation. That's exactly the value of a comparative tasting: it reveals the best gin in the lineup, and at the same time, what suits you personally best.