The GINSPLOSION

Gin is wonderful on its own. Ice cold on the rocks, or neat at room temperature. Do try some on their own to get a good idea of the base flavours you’ll be working with.

But when you do start mixing in the accoutrements, the secret is the interplay between complements and contrasts. For example, a citrus-forward gin like New Amsterdam doesn’t need more citrus… but what contrasting flavor could highlight and compliment it? On the other hand, with a light and floral gin, you want to be careful not to overpower it, so you might choose a more subtle complementing flavor to enhance the floral notes.

We have a whole variety of ingredients, ranging from spicy, to sweet and fruity, to citrus, to herbal, and savory. A good strategy might be to pick a palate of two of those, then select one ingredient to represent each. As you get more adventurous, you can try more complex combinations.

Some examples could be:

• Sweet and spicy; raspberries and peppercorns
• Citrus and herbal; lemon and mint
• Fruity and savory; blueberries and sage

There’s more to gin than just tonic. But that’s a good place to start. Remember that a good old G&T is mostly tonic, so make sure to pick something that will bring out the flavors you’ve chosen. Sip some of the different choices and see what you like. And if you’re not a fan of the mediciney flavor of quinine, there’s nothing at all wrong with plain seltzer.

Once you’re ready to branch out, experiment with some other combinations or recipes. A greyhound is gin with grapefruit juice; an orange blossom is gin with sweet vermouth and orange juice; Aria gin would go really well with Earl Grey black tea and a lemon slice. And let’s not forget the fabulous French 75 which pairs some nice bubbly champagne with gin and a good squeeze of lemon.

If you’re aiming to impress, you can make the gorgeous Sparkling Elderflower with the Empress 1908. Add heavy splashes of lime and elderflower syrup, then top with tonic and a few mint leaves.

Get funky with it and share the recipes to your favorite creations!

Aria Portland Dry Gin

Tasting notes

Aria is full bodied and boldly aromatic. Juniper is up front—obvious on the first nosing and initially on the palate. Underneath the juniper, layers of bright citrus, earthy undertones, floral highlights and subtle spicy notes reveal themselves, both on the nose and palate, though none are overpowering. All of the layers of flavor are balanced. The pristine Bull Run water use to cut Aria after distillation provides a rich, creamy mouthfeel. The finish is long and soft.

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

Tasting notes

The Botanist is famed for its versatility and complexity. Its 31 botanical ingredients mean there’s a wealth of subtle flavours that drinkers and bartenders can go on to pull out according to their preference.

Bourbon Barreled Big Gin

Tasting notes

Warm and woody with a hint of spice and notes of juniper turned up just right, Bourbon Barreled Big Gin is crafted for the curious. It's rested for 6 months in once-used bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill Distillery, so their flagship is enriched with flavors of vanilla, charred oak and tannins. Bourbon Barreled Big Gin will highlight the smokiness of grilled dishes. Try it with salmon or pork, and grilled garden veggies like carrots or asparagus.

Citadelle

Tasting notes

In the southwest, there is first of all the sun. Then there is the sea, then the junipers, with which we make Citadelle Gin. Citadelle is a castle gin made using an open flame Pot Still distillation process.

Empress 1908

Tasting notes

On top of traditional botanicals, Victoria Distillers adds a signature blend of black tea served at the Empress Hotel and butterfly pea blossom, an exotic herb that balances the traditional citrus notes of gin with a warm herbal earthiness, and gives the gin its natural indigo colour. Empress 1908’s combination of exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation provide the perfect base for a new aesthetic of cocktail creation and enjoyment.

Freeland Geneva

Tasting notes

Inspired by genever, the Dutch grandmother of gin, Freeland’s Geneva showcases Oregon grown rye with an array of sultry and savory botanicals. A rich grain backbone heightened by peaks of alluring spice and hints of Willamette Valley hazelnuts. Enjoy neat or stirred into a classic whiskey cocktail. Geneva is hand-crafted grain to glass in Portland, Oregon. Rich layered rye and buckwheat with undertones of hazelnut, juniper and spice with a lengthy and contemplative finish.

Freeland Dry Gin

Tasting notes

Freeland Spirits Dry Gin is a London Dry-style dry gin distilled in Portland, Oregon. For all you rebels defying the odds and breaking through the glass ceilings, we created a Navy Strength Gin, because strong gals deserve strong gin. The aromatics are concentrated and bold, tickling the senses with hints of spice, citrus peel, and the ever present juniper berry. Our women owned and operated distillery offers the best of the Pacific Northwest in every sip. Leads with juniper and is backed up with notes of pine forest, mulled spices, green olive and a hint of citrus.

Freeland Gin

Tasting notes

Freeland Spirits Gin is small batch crafted using a unique blend of traditional heat distillation along with vacuum distillation, which allows us to use fresh, Pacific Northwest ingredients. Fresh herbal essences of rosemary, mint and crisp cucumber lift the nose. Grapefruit and lemon peel brighten the brisk juniper and bold spice. Pink peppercorn, coriander and star anise mingle with 10 additional dried botanicals in the copper pot still. Layered spice balanced by freshness, strikingly smooth texture, rounded body.

Grey Whale

Tasting notes

Citrus, with lemony notes, hints of mint and evergreen inspired pine. As it sits, a warming, earthy nuttiness begins to emerge. A faint nuttiness with gentle echoes of mint on the entry. Pine-forward juniper mid-palate echoes both juniper and fir needles. Slightly sweet, the botanicals evoke a texture and richness to the palate. A good suggestion is to take any vodka cocktail recipe and replace the vodka with Gray Whale Gin. Suddenly, your tasteless cocktail is interesting.

Hendrick’s Lunar

Tasting notes

Hendrick's Lunar is a delightfully smooth and alluring gin that is rich with night blooming floral essence, offering a delicate balance of warm baked spices, and finished with a crisp burst of citrus. LUNAR is best enjoyed during casual nights at home and is a curious companion for sundowners and starry nights with friends.

Monkey 47

Tasting notes

Fresh and fruity, with a lot of complicated nuance. There’s two levels on which you can enjoy this spirit: firstly, you can just appreciate the way it blends together to create a single powerful presence. Secondly, you can sit down as if to study it and probe the way this myriad of botanicals unravel on your palate. The palate starts with some minty, herbal notes. Herbaceous juniper, blackthorne, lavender and an acute resiny pine note that comes across as more spruce/rosemary. As the taste progresses, we get peppery, vegetal notes, harmoniously entwined as if a single botanical.

New Amsterdam Stratosphere

Tasting notes

This is a citrus-forward gin with a crisp, clean taste. Enjoy in a classic Gin & Tonic with citrus notes of orange and lime.

Sipsmith London Dry

Tasting notes

Floral, summer meadow notes, followed by mellow rounded juniper and zesty, citrus freshness. Reveals lemon tart & orange marmalade, before all the flavours harmonise.

Stillweather American Gin

Tasting notes

London Dry meets the New World. A bold yet utterly smooth 90.8 proof Gin built on a London Dry style base of Juniper berries and Coriander, big Orange Citrus follow with clean Pepper to back up this very well layered Spirit. Pour this Gin over ice and enjoy it as a sipper, or use it in amazing cocktails! This Award winning Gin is very versatile and keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Two James Old Cockney

Tasting notes

Old Cockney is a contemporary style gin crafted from a base of organic winter wheat. The botanical blend of coriander and orange peel provide nice floral and citrus aromas and flavors, which are balanced by spice from black peppercorn and earthy elements from orris root, angelica root and gentian root. Our gin possesses heavy juniper, but pine notes serve as an undertone in the flavor profile. The result is a dry, smooth gin with a unique but harmonious balance of flavors—a true cocktail connoisseur’s gin.

Wilderton Lustre ^{zero proof}

Tasting notes

Bitter orange, tarragon, and lavender combine for citrus, herbaceous, and floral notes. Bright, tangy, and lush with a long-lasting finish. Pairs well with Coconut Water, Iced Tea, Lemon/Lime, Egg White, Berry, Pineapple, Lavender, Tarragon

Wilderton Earthen ^{zero proof}

Tasting notes

White peppercorn, pine-smoked tea and cardamom combine for notes of exotic spices, wood, and smoke. Robust, sultry, and warm with a lingering finish. Pairs well with orange juice, apple cider, ginger beer, warm tea, coffee, cream, mint, cherry.