New Riff Distilling’s Kentucky Wild Gin Bourbon Barreled is thoughtfully crafted with local wild foraged Kentucky botanicals, capturing the native flavors of the Ohio Valley and reflecting historical Kentucky gin ingredients. Twelve botanicals are distilled right in the pot, including a range of typical European gin ingredients (such as angelica, orris and licorice root, and three kinds of citrus). To these we add two local, hand foraged wild seasonings, including a wild juniper berry and the amazing American Allspice (Spicebush)—both of which are on the Slow Food Ark of Taste—plus a dash of Kentucky’s state flower, goldenrod. At the last, we blend in a bit of our new make rye whiskey spirit, enriching the texture and lengthening the flavor. The gin then rests in dripping fresh New Riff Bourbon barrels for five to seven months, achieving a mellowing note of vanilla oak.

New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin Bourbon Barreled makes a fantastic Gin Cocktail with the bitters of your choice. Try it also in a Martinez—basically, a Manhattan made with our gin in the place of whiskey—delicious as the borders between gin and whiskey fade away.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Spicebush and vanilla oak form a tantalizing duo, while wood spices tangle playfully with local juniper.

Palate: Subtle oak tannin serves to amplify the dryness from angelica; orange peel is a bit more prominent.

Finish: Lovely angelica dryness, continued orange peel.

Appearance: This non-chill-filtered gin preserves all the flavor and aroma from our copper pot still. It may cloud slightly when chilled. This is not only natural, it is delicious.