Gin

In 1895, Samuele Sebastiani emigrated to the United States from Tuscany. A stonemason by trade, he quarry-mined the hills of Sonoma, California for cobbletones that were used to build the streets of San Francisco. He worked long hours, lived frugally and saved carefully, and in 1904, purchased enough land in Sonoma to open the doors to Sebastiani Winery. Sebastiani Winery was the only winery in Sonoma to remain open during Prohibition, and, as the Great Depression set in, Samuele carried out major construction projects in Sonoma including building an ice-skating rink and hotel in order to create jobs.Today, August Sebastiani, Samuels great-grandson, is the President of 35 Maple Street Distillery, the makers of Uncle Vals Restorative Gin. The Gin is named after Vaerio Cecchetti, Sebastianis favorite uncle and a retired physician near Lucca, Italy. "In addition to being a highly regarded doctor, Uncle Val is a great cook and avid gardener," says Sebastiani.While Uncle Vals Botanical Gin is crafted from a botanical bill composed of five ingredients (juniper, lemon, sage, lavender and cucumber), Uncle Vals Restorative Gin uses only four botanicals: juniper, coriander, cucumber and rose petals. Sebastiani uses immersion bags (think big tea bags) in order to infuse the Gin with the flavors from the botanicals. The immersion bags are steeped in the Gin for several hours, although some remain in the Gin longer in order to impart a heavier aroma and flavor.The juniper adds a hint of spice to the Gin, which is complemented by the cooling effect of the cucumber and assertive touches of coriander. The rose petals contribute a silky texture, and have a calming, soothing effect. After the Gin is distilled five times over, Sebastianis team filters it using carbon and lava rock (or pumice), which has a porous density thats perfect for filtering Gin. Then, the Gin is brought to proof using naturally sweet spring water from the Cascade Mountains before being bottled and labeled by hand."Gin was invented in the Netherlands by a doctor, Franciscus Sylvius, who was a professor of medicine in Leyden, Holland, back in the 1650s," Sebastiani says. "He was trying to find a cure-all for kidney and stomach disorders, so he infused juniper berries into distilled spirits. The elixir became so popular that distillers began commercial production and by the end of the 1680, the Dutch were exporting more than 10 million gallons of Gin each year. Gin is the only spirit that started out as a medicine, so its fitting that we named ours after Uncle Val."Uncle Vals Restorative Gin earned a score of 94 points from The Tasting Panel Magazine. Pick up a bottle today!

The Detroit River represents the border between Ontario, Canada and the United States and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. Each day, freighters use the river to transport iron ore from Michigans upper peninsula to the bustling automobile factories in Detroit, while barges pass through the waterway to carry timber from Michigan and Wisconsin to Cleveland, Buffalo and Toledo. During Prohibition, the Detroit River represented one of the largest thoroughfares for the importation of illicit liquor into the United States. "With the Detroit River less than a mile across in some places, and 28 miles long with thousands of coves and hiding places along the shore and among the islands, it was a smugglers dream," says Jenny Nolan of The Detroit News. "Along with Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River, these waterways carried 75 percent of the liquor supplied to the United States during Prohibition." Inspired by Detroits "rebellious swagger,"Rifino Valentine founded the first distillery in Detroit since Prohibition in 2009. Valentine, a Cornell University graduate, was originally an investment banker in New York City before he decided to begin distilling spirits. "I just stopped and asked myself, Is that what you are gonna do for the rest of your life?" Valentine says. "I literally quit that day." After leaving New York in 2005, Valentine took an artisan distillation course at his alma mater before moving back to Michigan and opening the doors to Valentine Distilling Company. Valentine Woodward Limited Whiskey, which is technically a bourbon, is crafted from over 50 percent corn, with the remainder of the mashbill being composed of rye and malted barley. Once the grains are purchased from local farmers, Valentine mashes and ferments them at this distillery, which is situated in an old brick building just off Woodward Avenue. After the mash has been fermented, it is distilled twice, first through a 600-liter copper-pot still, and then again through a 180-liter, Christian Carl copper-pot still. Following distillation, the whiskey is aged for a minimum of four years in new, maple-infused, American oak casks. The maple casks impart sweet notes of caramel, brown sugar, molasses and maple syrup to the whiskey, and complement its notes of rye, cinnamon and woody spices. Valentine Liberator Gin, named after the B-24 Liberator Heavy Bomber produced in Detroit during World War II, is made from a blend of ten unique botanicals, including juniper berries, orange peel and lemon zest. "We distill the gin using two unique methods," says Valentine. "First, we macerate the botanicals that will provide the gin with its bolder flavors, and then distill the gin through a traditional alembic still. Then, we use a botanical vessel for the softer flavors, and distill the gin so that only the vapors pass over the botanicals." As a result, the gin has an aroma of juniper and pine that is well-balanced by hints of coriander, caradmom and citrus peel. The initial bursts of juniper berries are mellow and tame, and are followed by touches of vanilla, white pepper, cardamom and cinnamon. Liberator Gin earned the Gold Medal and the titles "Best in Class"and "Best in Show"at the American Distilling Institutes 7th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits. In addition, it earned a score of 90 points from the Beverage Testing Institute in 2013. "We are maniacally obsessed with doing things the right way," says Valentine, "and just taking time and care in the whole process, you know, using good ingredients. Its really hard to find that nowadays." Try an incredible whiskey and gin today!

Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives.Waterloo gin pours together limestone-fed springs and local botanicals in a bouquet of Hill Country flavors.At Treaty Oak distillery they harvest botanicals unique to the Texas Hill country and arrange them in basket in the still column.This vapor infusion technique allows the essence of each ingredient to find an even brighter expression in the resulting spirit.Building on centuries of tradition, Waterloo Antique gin is aged in medium-char, white oak barrels to create body and complexity of flavor and a robust mouth-feel unusual in gin.It has rich woody vanilla notes with the botanical backbone of a gin Already botanically hearty, Waterloo gin is aged for 18 to 24 months, allowing the interaction between wood and spirits to create richer, deeper flavors and aromas, engaging the palate in a long conversation about taste and expectations.Pick up your bottle today!

Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives.Waterloo No.9 Gin is a Texas contemporary style gin infused with expressive, beautifully balanced local botanicals. Being bottled at 94 proof maximizes the botanicals that are vapor infused during the distillation process. While paying homage to traditional dry gins with ingredients like juniper, coriander and anise, Waterloo No.9 builds in Hill Country flavor with pecans, lavender and grapefruit zest all harvested in Texas.The result is a blend of science and art, a confluence of gin culture and terroirthe crisp, clear representation of Treaty Oaks constant purposeful experimentation and pursuit of the curious.Pick up your bottle today!

Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives.Waterloo gin pours together limestone-fed springs and local botanicals in a bouquet of Hill Country flavors.At Treaty Oak distillery they harvest botanicals unique to the Texas Hill country and arrange them in basket in the still column.This vapor infusion technique allows the essence of each ingredient to find an even brighter expression in the resulting spirit.Waterloo Yaupon Gin is a special take on an Old Tom Gin. With a unique botanical blend of Yaupon Holly, Juniper, Makrut lime, anise, orris root and wildflower honey, this gin will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about this spirit.Pick up your bottle today!

Johnny Neill comes from a family with a rich tradition in distilling. As a child, he came upon a box of gin bottles in his grandmothers house and wanted to learn more about the liquid that his family had been making since 1762. He learned about the impact various botanicals have on spirits and was instantly drawn to spirit-making. He set out to create a gin that would honor the tradition and passion of his family, with an exotic and modern twist. To that end, he added the baobab fruit and South African Cape gooseberry, which added a South African dimension to the spirit.The 100 percent grain spirit is distilled in an antique century-old copper pot still named Constance using exceptionally pure water and a careful balance of 9 quality botanicals. Juniper, coriander, citrus peel, and angelica are all there. The Blood Orange Gin expression adds an infusion of Sicilian blood oranges to the mix, making for a crisp, zesty, and citrusy spirit. The idea comes from a honeymoon spent in the Sicilian countryside, ripe with fragrant orange trees. The result is a sweet and refreshing gin that is equally suited for sipping or cocktails.Grab a bottle today!

Johnny Neill comes from a family with a rich tradition in distilling. As a child, he came upon a box of gin bottles in his grandmothers house and wanted to learn more about the liquid that his family had been making since 1762. He learned about the impact various botanicals have on spirits and was instantly drawn to spirit-making. He set out to create a gin that would honor the tradition and passion of his family, with an exotic and modern twist. To that end, he added the baobab fruit and South African Cape gooseberry, which added a South African dimension to the spirit.The 100 percent grain spirit is distilled in an antique century-old copper pot still named Constance using exceptionally pure water and a careful balance of 9 quality botanicals: juniper, coriander seeds, cassia bark, lemon, cape gooseberry, and baobab. The latter is an homage to his wifes African homeland, the entire drink a tribute to his familys distilling heritage. Its a softer and smoother gin with a unique exotic twist that has won several awards, including the coveted "Double Gold" at the 2019 edition of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.Grab a bottle today!

Johnny Neill comes from a family with a rich tradition in distilling. As a child, he came upon a box of gin bottles in his grandmothers house and wanted to learn more about the liquid that his family had been making since 1762. He learned about the impact various botanicals have on spirits and was instantly drawn to spirit-making. He set out to create a gin that would honor the tradition and passion of his family, with an exotic and modern twist. To that end, he added the baobab fruit and South African Cape gooseberry, which added a South African dimension to the spirit.The 100 percent grain spirit is distilled in an antique century-old copper pot still named Constance using exceptionally pure water and a careful balance of 9 quality botanicals. Juniper, coriander seed, cassia bark, orris root, angelica root, licorice, sweet orange, lemon, and Turkish quince make up the Whitley Neill Quince Gin expression. Its fruity and juniper-forward with quince in the spotlight. After distillation, the spirit is sweetened and the quince is added. The gin is inspired by Frederick Neills visit to Persia at the turn of the century, where he came upon various exotic fruits and spices that would eventually find their way into the familys gin recipes. Pick a bottle up today!

Johnny Neill comes from a family with a rich tradition in distilling. As a child, he came upon a box of gin bottles in his grandmothers house and wanted to learn more about the liquid that his family had been making since 1762. He learned about the impact various botanicals have on spirits and was instantly drawn to spirit-making. He set out to create a gin that would honor the tradition and passion of his family, with an exotic and modern twist. To that end, he added the baobab fruit and South African Cape gooseberry, which added a South African dimension to the spirit.The 100 percent grain spirit that serves as the base for Whitley Neills lineup of gin is distilled in an antique century-old copper pot still named Constance using exceptionally pure water and a careful balance of botanicals. A total of 10 botanicals go into the Rhubarb and Ginger Gin. Juniper, coriander, cassia bark, orris root, angelica root, licorice, sweet orange, lemon, and the stars of the show rhubarb and ginger. This pair brings a tartness and warmth to the sweet, fruity, and juicy profile. While many flavored gins in Whitley Neills range take their inspiration from far-away places, this one takes after the rural English countryside. With it, Johnny Neill remembers visiting his grandparents farm, where rhubarb was a staple. Pick a bottle up today!