First Impressions
Wolfe Bros Jade Cut is the first in a series of special edition gins from the Leeds micro-distillery, and it is the most conceptually daring: a Mexican Old Tom Gin combining traditional botanicals with jalapeño, ancho pepper, tomatillo, and sweet agave. The concept is designed for cocktails that would traditionally call for tequila — Picantes, Palomas, and tomato juice-based serves — and the Old Tom sweetness from the agave bridges the gap between gin and Mexican spirits.
Tasting
The nose carries warm Mexican spice — jalapeño and ancho pepper with sweet agave undertone. On the palate, traditional gin botanicals are bolstered by the Mexican additions — jalapeño providing fresh chilli heat, ancho adding smoky depth, tomatillo contributing savoury tang, and agave sweetening in the Old Tom tradition. The finish is warming with chilli-tinged persistence.
The Bottom Line
Wolfe Bros Jade Cut earns a 7.5 for genuine cross-cultural innovation — a Mexican-inspired Old Tom gin that creates a bridge between gin and tequila cocktail culture. The jalapeño-agave combination is inspired, and the Old Tom sweetness makes it immediately mixable. At around £40, the special edition status and the 20-litre batch scale justify the price. Mexico meets Leeds in the most delicious way.
