OREGON
GETS INTO THE GIN BUSINESS
By Michael Hepworth
The development of small distilleries in
Oregon
is an interesting trend and we will start with one of the newest called
ORGANIC NATION. They started out with organic vodka in 2008, and have
recently launched O-N Organic Gin, a surprisingly good organic gin that is
made special by having 12
Oregon
botanicals giving it a fresh citrus savory taste.
It is one of only 4 organic gins in the world, and
just shows that with a bit of planning, hard work and some spare capital,
it is possible for the small time operator to make their mark in the
competitive world of spirits.
The gin just like the Vodka is Oregon Tilth Certified
Organic (OTCO) certified, and is the results of a lot of research and
effort by the company founders Diane Paulson and David Eliason. The OTCO
organization is a third party group used by all vendors which
authenticates and certifies the product is organic.
Whilst Diane brings business experience to the venture, David is
more involved with the production side, having worked inn the water
industry in
Oregon
for ten years. With 12 botanicals being used, the overwhelming taste is
that of basil and citrus. Maybe
that is one reason the gin in particular is fresh tasting, but some of the
credit must also go to master distiller Thomas McKenzie, brought in from
Alabama
. He reputedly learned his skills from old bootleggers and moonshiners in
that part of the world. Distribution is limited to
Oregon
and
California
at this time, but it well worth the effort to check them out at this time.
CRICKET CLUB GIN is from another
Oregon
distillery, Indio Spirits, slightly more established than Organic Nation,
and a gin named after one of my favorite sports. Gin and Cricket go
together ever since 1730, when the first recorded game of cricket took
place in
England
. This version has been around about three years and is a fruity
London
style gin with a hint of lemongrass. Master distiller John Ufford likes it
that way, and blends it well with the coriander, juniper and citrus to
create an 86 proof gin that is ultimately clean and crisp.
Probably best on the rocks, this is an unassuming gin that anyone
can enjoy, but especially those expatriates dreaming of lazy summer days
watching the sport loosely described as “the sport of prime
ministers.” The water up inn Oregon is the secret that makes both these
gins well worth searching the internet to find a source to buy them both
even if you don’t live in
Oregon
.
Fact Sheet
Organic
Nation
Website:
www.cascadepeakspirits.com
Price:
$30 (Vodka: 80 proof, Gin: 86 proof)
Cricket
Club Gin
Website:
www.indiospirits.com
Price
$22.95
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