Club Corner
Quarter 2 Gin Club: Bobby's Schiedam Dry Gin
Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin A Journey Between Two Worlds Some spirits belong to a place. Bobby’s belongs to a journey. Our voyage begins in Schiedam, the old Dutch city of stills and genever, then follows the ancient spice routes eastward toward Indonesia. It is there, between two worlds, that Bobby’s finds its soul. Juniper and coriander carry the cool, familiar character of European gin, while lemongrass, clove, cinnamon and cubeb pepper arrive like treasures from a distant shore - fragrant, warm and wonderfully exotic. Each botanical is distilled separately before the eight are brought together, allowing every aroma to tell its own part of the story. At 42% ABV, Bobby’s is bright and dry, but beneath its freshness lies something deeper: citrus, flowers, pepper and spice unfolding like the memories of a long voyage. A Dutch gin with an Indonesian compass - made for those who still believe the best discoveries begin with curiosity. Fabien Damman Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin Origin: Schiedam, Netherlands Bobby’s combines classic Western gin botanicals with Indonesian spices. Juniper and coriander give the gin its familiar dry backbone, while lemongrass brings freshness and lift. Clove, cinnamon and cubeb pepper add warmth, aromatic spice and a gently peppery finish. Fennel and rose hips round out the profile with subtle sweetness and floral character.Tasting Notes:Nose: bright citrus, lemongrass, fennel and warm spicePalate: juniper, coriander and floral citrus with clove and cinnamonFinish: dry, aromatic and peppery with lingering cubeb and juniper ABV / Size: 42% / 750 mL Botanicals:Juniper berries, fennel seed, coriander, rose hips, lemongrass, cloves, cinnamon, cubeb pepper. Bobby & Tonic2 oz Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin4–5 oz premium tonic waterOrange wedge or peel1 cloveFill a tall glass with ice. Add gin and tonic and stir gently. Garnish with orange and clove. Bobby’s Collins2 oz Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin¾ oz fresh lemon juice½ oz simple syrup2 oz soda waterShake gin, lemon and syrup with ice. Strain over fresh ice, top with soda and garnish with a citrus twist.
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Gin Club Quarter 2: Gunpowder!
We’re one month into Spring and we can’t think of a better time to unveil our newest Gin Club pick, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. This eponymous gin is produced at The Shed Distillery in the town of Drumshanbo. This gin features 12 botanicals, with its signature ingredient being the slow-dried Chinese gunpowder tea. Four of the ingredients are vapor-infused while the other eight are placed directly into medieval copper pot stills. This is a bone-dry, 43% ABV, clean and crisp gin with style to spare. Sláinte! Will Popko PlumpJack Spirits Buyer Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Origin: Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland Originating in the 17th century, the small town of Drumshanbo (meaning “ridge of old huts”) resides in Northern Ireland in the rural, hilly County Leitrim. With a long history of coal and iron mining, this historic town boasts just over 1,000 residents. Fast forward to 2014, and The Shed Distillery opens in Drumshanbo. P.J. Rigney founded The Shed Distillery after 30 years in the drinks business. It is touted as being the world’s largest family owned gin distillery. Born from the bones of a shuttered jam factory which severely hurt the small town, The Shed Distillery is reinvigorating the town and community of Drumshanbo. Head distiller Brian Taft makes an Irish whiskey for the distillery but it is far and away the gin that is their shining star. They now offer 4 other distinctive gins and a vodka in their lineup. Tasting Notes: Nose: dry floral, juniper, citrus, earthy Palate: intensely herbal, oily, refreshing Finish: crisp with hints of earthy sweet cream Price: $44.99/750mL Botanicals: Vapor Infused - gunpowder tea, lemon, grapefruit, Kaffir lime Pot Still - juniper berries, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet, cardamom, star anise Gunpowder Paloma 2 oz Drumshanbo Gin 1 oz grapefruit juice ½ oz lime juice ½ oz simple syrup 3 oz Mexican Squirt or grapefruit soda Add gin, grapefruit, lime, and simple syrup to a shaking tin. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 8 - 10 seconds. Strain into Collins glass. Top with grapefruit soda. Garnish with grapefruit half moon. Obituary 2 ½ oz Drumshanbo Gin ½ oz dry vermouth 6 dashes absinthe Add gin, dry vermouth, and absinthe to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir for 12 - 15 seconds. Strain into coupe glass. Express and discard lemon twist.
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Gin Club Quarter 4: Gin Mallorca Sorient
Gin Mallorca Sorient There is no shortage of gin in the world and certainly not on Mallorca, a Spanish island just south of Barcelona in the Balearic archipelago. Llubi is the village in Mallorca where sits the Pareis Distillery. This quarter’s club features their newest offering, Gin Mallorca Sorient. This gin comes to us from a tiny importer out of Sonoma so, kind of a rareish gem. Cheers! Will Popko PlumpJack Spirits Buyer Gin Mallorca Sorient Origin: Mallorca, Spain In the center of Mallorca is Llubi, a small traditional town with a long history of making spirits and liqueurs. It is in this hamlet that Mallorcan natives, David Fajardo and his wife Susana Caceres, founded the Pareis Distillery, so named after a small cove framed by the Tramuntana mountain range. In addition to other spirits, they make three gins currently: the Mercant (their first which heavily features warming spices), the Mascori (a bright, fruity offering that arguably reminds one of California gin), and the Sorient gin. The Sorient, their newest, sees them marrying local produce with botanicals more commonly found in the exotic locales of India and Nepal. The gins are produced in small batches, distilled in copper stills, and all steps of production are done by hand. The distillery holds Artisan Certification No. 904 granted by the Consell de Mallorca. Tasting Notes: Nose: sweet citrus, floral notes Palate: mineral-rich, creamy texture, dry pepper Finish: dry citrus Price: $44.99/750mL Botanicals: Juniper, apples, coriander, white pepper, allspice, cardamom, anise Sherry Martini 2 oz Gin Mallorca Sorient 1 oz Fino or Manzanilla sherry 1 dash orange bitters Add the gin, sherry, and orange bitters to a mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir until well-chilled (about 20 seconds). Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist or olive. Gin Fizz 2 oz Gin Mallorca Sorient 1 oz lemon juice ¾ oz simple syrup 1 egg white Club soda Add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to your shaker tin and dry shake (no ice) for 15 seconds. Add ice and shake vigorously. Double strain into Collins glass and top with club soda.
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Q3 2025 Gin Club: Pacific House Seaside Gin
Pacific House Seaside Gin The Bay Area is arguably the epicenter of Craft Distilling in the United States–from stalwarts like St. George and Hotaling & Co. (formerly known as Anchor Distilling), to upstarts like Common Ground (previously featured in this club) and Wright & Brown. This quarter’s club features a gin from another new Bay Area distillery, Pacific House. Cheers! Sam Crocker Resident Ginthusiast Pacific House Seaside Gin Origin: Alameda, CA Pacific House Gin is hand-crafted with eleven coastal botanicals on Alameda, in the heart of the San Francisco Bay. The distillery is housed in a repurposed naval hangar at the north end of Alameda Island, the former home of Hangar One Vodka, and the brand also operates a full bar and tasting room on Treasure Island. Master Distiller Montgomery Paulsen produces four different gins, each vapor-infused to highlight select notes, giving distinctive aromas and flavors. The name Pacific House takes inspiration from the ‘Pageant of the Pacific’ – the International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1939. An exhibit hall of artworks depicting the flora and fauna living within the Pacific rim, located near the Treasure Island facility, was aptly named the Pacific House. Tasting Notes: Nose: fresh ocean breeze, hint of citrus Palate: classic juniper, herbal spice Finish: Clean, smooth, refreshing Price: $37.99/750mL Botanicals: Juniper, blood orange, grains of paradise, grapefruit peel, coriander seed, lime, cubeb berries Seaside G&T 1.5 oz Pacific House Seaside Gin 5 oz Premium Tonic water Fresh lime Dash of sea salt Pour Seaside gin and tonic into a glass filled with ice. Squeeze fresh lime and add a dash of sea salt as garnish. Stir and enjoy! Marine Layer (Recipe by Bay Area Mixologist Eli Ewing) 2 oz Pacific House Seaside gin ¾ oz simple syrup ¾ oz fresh lemon juice ¼ oz creme de violette (optional) 1 egg white Small pinch of finishing salt and zested lemon Blend or shake very well with ice until frothy. Serve in a chilled cocktail glass with a light sprinkling of lemon zest across the foam.
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Gin Club Quarter 2 2025: Etsu 'The Original' Japanese Gin
Summer–aka prime gin-drinking weather–is right around the corner! Despite the advent of hard seltzers, ready-to-drink canned cocktails, and the like, I still find the gin and tonic to be the most refreshing warm weather beverage. I am not alone in this as it is consumed the world over. Cheers to a beautiful summer! かんぱい! Sam Crocker Resident Ginthusiast Etsu Original Japanese Gin Origin: Hokkaido, Japan Etsu Original Gin is distilled at Asahikawa distillery in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. The Japanese word Etsu (悦) roughly translates to joy or pleasure. Launched in 2018, Etsu’s botanicals, many of which are native to Japan, are macerated for 22 hours in sugar cane distillate that has an ABV of 67% before being distilled in copper points still to 83% ABV. It is then brought down to 43% ABV with local water and filtered through a fine mesh filter to remove impurities. In order to preserve all its flavor properties, Etsu Gin is not chill-filtered. Cocktails: Etsu Gin & Tonic: 2 oz Etsu Original Gin 4 oz Mediterranean Tonic Lemon peel Pour the gin into a highball, rocks or balloon glass. Fill the glass with ice. Add the tonic, stir and garnish with the lemon peel. Geisha: 1 ½ oz Etsu Original Gin ⅔ oz Geisha Green Tea powder (or other green tea powder) ½ oz Lychee Syrup ¾ oz Lime Juice ⅔ oz Egg White Shake all ingredients with ice until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. Price: $43.99/700mL Botanicals: Yuzu, bitter orange, Coriander, juniper, liquorice, angelica root Tasting Notes: Nose: Floral and vegetal, with pronounced citrus notes Palate: Fresh and well balanced with pepper notes and a touch of liquorice Finish: Rounded, supple, silky
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Gin Club Quarter 1 2025: Junipero Smoked Rosemary Gin
Junipero Smoked Rosemary Gin Our featured gin this quarter is a brand new expression from an iconic San Francisco Distillery. Junipero Gin was one of the first craft gins to hit the market when it was created in 1996 by what was then Anchor Distilling, an offshoot of the legendary Anchor Brewing (makers of the iconic Anchor Steam Beer). Now known as Hotaling & Co., they continue to innovate the craft spirits industry and are firmly rooted in San Francisco. Cheers! Sam Crocker Resident Ginthusiast Junipero Smoked Rosemary Gin Origin: San Francisco, CA Anchor Distilling was founded in 1993 by Fritz Maytag and was located inside of Anchor Brewing on Potrero Hill. The distillery operated alongside the brewery for 24 years before the brewery and Anchor intellectual property was bought by Sapporo in 2017. Anchor Distilling remained independent and changed its name to Hotaling & Co., a name that reflects San Francisco’s whiskey history. Named after Anson Parsons Hotaling, himself a significant figure in San Francisco’s history of spirit production, distilling, warehousing and distribution. In 2020, the Hotaling distillery moved from its original location on Potrero Hill to Pier 50, a move that allowed the distillers of Junipero and Old Potrero to continue operating and innovating. Hotaling & Co. has been innovating with spirits since 1993 with the release of Old Potrero Rye whiskey. In 1996, the distilling team turned its sights on gin development and released Junipero Gin. With 12 classic, dry gin ingredients, Junipero was the first pot-distilled gin in the US since prohibition. Sitting at 98.6 proof and unfiltered, Junipero was designed to be used in a martini while maintaining the high quality Hotaling is known for. In 2024, Junipero Smoked Rosemary was released as the first line extension from the Junipero brand. Using some new distilling techniques, the distillers at Hotaling have created a gin that is as bold as the original, but introduces a relatively new flavor concept to the gin category: smoke. Using a custom blend of lapsang tea, which imparts a loud whisper of smoke into the gin, the distillers add rosemary and a variant of the classic Junipero recipe directly into the still. The result is Junipero Smoked Rosemary. -information courtesy of Hotaling & Co. Head Distiller: Kevin Aslan Price: $36.99 Botanicals: Fresh rosemary, Lapsang souchong tea, Juniper, Angelica root, bitter orange peel, orange peel, lemon peel, cardamom, cassia bark, orris root, Grains of Paradise, cubeb, coriander Tasting Notes: Aroma: A strong Juniper core supported by a soft campfire smoke. Palate: A big structure with juniper and bright citrus notes at the forefront that opens up to reveal a beautiful balance of soft smokey herbal complexity on the finish. Cocktails Smoked Bianco Negroni: 1.5oz Junipero Smoked Rosemary Gin .75oz Luxardo Bitter Bianco .75oz Bianco/Blanc Vermouth -Pinch of sea salt -Stir and strain, can be served up or on ice -Garnish with orange peel Fireside Martini: 2oz Junipero Smoked Rosemary 1oz Dry Vermouth 2 dashes grapefruit bitters -Stir and strain, served up -Garnish with grapefruit peel Rosemary & Sonic: 2oz Junipero Smoked Rosemary Gin .25oz-.5oz lemon juice -Fill collins glass with gin and then with ice -Stir ice down and top with more ice -Top of with 50/50 mix of tonic and soda water -Garnish with rosemary sprig and/or lemon peel
Learn moreGin Club Quarter 4 2023 - Sausalito Liquor Co. Marin Coastal Gin
For our final Gin Club selection of the year, I’m excited to introduce a brand new gin made right across the bay in Sausalito! Marin Coastal Gin is the first gin released by Sausalito Spirits Company. Comprised mostly of botanicals sourced from around Marin County, this is a gin that truly represents its origins. It is a good reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a place as diverse and beautiful as the Bay Area. Happy holidays to all! Cheers! Sam Crocker Resident Ginthusiast Sausalito Liquor Co. Marin Coastal Gin Origin: Sausalito, CA About Sausalito Liquor Co: For those on the noble search for a cocktail without conventional expectations, we introduce Sausalito Liquor Co. – the creator of delicious, bold, and unapologetically drinkable spirits inspired by the magic of Sausalito, California. These spirits are meant to be enjoyed with just a few other simple ingredients in any glass you have handy and with good friends and family – no Ph.D. in mixology required. Launched in October 2023, we set out to return the tradition of making spirits to the seaside town after the area's last distillery in Sausalito burned down in 1963. Our spirits include Marin Coastal Gin, Unsinkable Bourbon, and Unsinkable Rye and are making their way to bars, restaurants, markets and liquor stores throughout California. About Marin Coastal Gin: Marin County’s soul comes from the contrast between its beautiful, rugged land and the wild, unpredictable sea that surrounds it. Green hills tumble into an unpredictable ocean creating a place that draws different thinkers and creators alike. In this spirit, we created Marin Coastal Gin, a balanced coastal gin that highlights California orange and lemon citrus peel, Nori seaweed foraged off the coast of Bodega Bay, Angelica seeds from Santa Rosa, and a combination of two types of Juniper. All in all, 11 different botanicals. The result – a damn drinkable gin. It delivers great balance whether you are making a martini, cocktail or just want to sip it. Loved by die hard gin drinkers and the gin-curious alike. Founder: Scott Jampol Price: $37.99 Tasting notes: Aroma Marin Coastal Gin explodes with bright citrus peel and spice upfront. Find the aroma of angelica shining through and dancing the do-si-do with the juniper. Palate Kicks off with a velvety, round, and warming mouthfeel. Fresh citrus peel and earthy sweetness on the opening with a steady build of juniper and spice, wandering into a hint of maritime saltiness. Finish A subtle sweetness carries the one-two punch of California citrus and herbal notes toward a lingering finish of dry spice. Cocktails The Pink Houseboat 1.5 oz Sausalito Liquor Co. Marin Coastal Gin .75 oz Aperol .25 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur .75 oz lemon juice .5 oz simple syrup (or slightly less of agave syrup) Assemble all the ingredients in your Boston shaker. Shake well with two clutches of ice cubes for 20 seconds or until you fear frostbite on your fingertips. Pour this maddeningly lovely pink concoction over fresh ice in a Collins glass (or whatever vessel speaks to you – red Solo cup?). Garnish with a nice lemon peel. Pomegranate Marin Gin Gimlet 2 oz Sausalito Liquor Co. Marin Coastal Gin 1.25 oz pomegranate juice 1.25 oz fresh squeezed lime juice .75 oz simple syrup Lime wedge and pomegranate seeds for garnish Combine gin, juices, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake vigorously until you get thirsty. Strain into martini glass or a rocks glass with fresh ice and garnish with a lime wedge and pomegranate seeds. Enjoy, rinse and repeat. Drink responsibly and happy holidays. Recipes courtesy of Sausalito Liquor Co.
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Q3 2023 Gin Club- Sheringham Distillery Beacon Gin
This quarter’s gin selection comes to us from beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia. My grandmother lived in Victoria, located on the southern tip of the Island, from 2001 until she passed away in 2019. I have many happy memories of visiting her there and taking in the beautiful scenery. Sheringham Distillery is located in Langford, just 20 minutes from Victoria, and their spirits, including this quarter’s selection, Beacon Gin, are borne from the natural beauty that surrounds them. Cheers! Sam Crocker Resident Ginthusiast Sheringham Distillery Beacon Gin Origin: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada Alayne and Jason MacIsaac founded Sheringham Distillery in 2015 in the garage of their home in Shirley, BC, taking the original name of the town as the name for their distillery. Jason worked as a professional chef for more than two decades, developing an approach centered around locally sourced, fresh ingredients. He was inspired to create spirits with the same approach. Alayne’s entrepreneurial spirit and determination helped make their dream a reality. Originally known as Kazuki Gin, Beacon Gin evokes a sense of place. It is inspired by two significant sites on Vancouver Island: the iconic Sheringham Point Lighthouse beacon located near the site of their first distillery in Shirley, and the much-loved Beacon Hill Park in Victoria that is lined with cherry blossoms in the springtime. The cherry blossoms serve as a key botanical in the gin, which is rounded out with citrus notes from grapefruit and yuzu, and an earthiness from Canadian-grown tea leaves. Sustainability is one of Sheringham’s core values. It was recently certified a BC Green Business, which means it will be evaluated twice a year to ensure it is meeting its sustainability goals. It partners with other BC-based companies to find ethically-sourced and natural ingredients for its spirits. In addition, the distillery uses renewable energy and a water capturing and recycling program. Sheringham is working to be fully carbon neutral by the end of this year and have also begun the process of becoming a certified B-corporation. Master Distiller: Jason MacIsaac Price: $40.99 Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, grapefruit, green tea leaves and flowers, cherry blossoms, yuzu peel, grains of paradise Tasting notes: Brilliant floral and fruitiness of the cherry blossoms deliver polished and rounded edges with soft citrus notes of yuzu and grapefruit, and local green tea leaves and flowers give a delicate herbaceous note through to the finish. Cocktails Negroni Bianco Ingredients 1 oz Sheringham Beacon Gin 1 oz Luxardo Bitter Bianco 1 oz Bianco/blanc vermouth Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well chilled. Strain into rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a grapefruit twist. Beacon South Island 2 oz Sheringham Beacon Gin 3/4 oz Lime Juice 1/2 oz Simple Syrup 6 Mint Leaves Combine ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a mint leaf. Devil All the Time 1 1/2 oz Sheringham Beacon Gin 1/2 oz Cassis 1/2 oz Lime Juice 4 oz Ginger Beer Build all ingredients except the ginger beer over ice. Top with ginger beer and lightly stir. Garnish with a lime wheel. For more recipes, visit www.sheringhamdistillery.com/cocktails/
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Gin Club Q1 2023 - Leopold's No. 25 Gin
A new year is upon us and with it comes the opportunity to continue our gin explorations! This quarter’s selection comes from Leopold Brothers in Denver, Colorado. For nearly two decades, they have been at the forefront of craft distilling, producing a diverse array of spirits and liqueurs. Not long ago, I had the good fortune of meeting the master distiller and co-founder Todd Leopold. He is a true innovator in his field, with a humility that belies his accomplishments. First released in 2021, Gin No. 25 is one of four gins produced at Leopold Brothers and commemorates Todd Leopold’s 25th year in the business. I hope you enjoy. See you again in the spring! Cheers! Sam Crocker Resident Ginthusiast Leopold Brothers Gin No. 25 Origin: Denver, CO Taking inspiration from the orchards of Santa Catarina, Brazil, Todd Leopold set out to capture the character of the Green and Red Mandarin Oranges that have grown there for hundreds of years. When harvested in September, the Mandarin Orange is green in color, yielding an aromatic peel used in cuisines around the world. When these same oranges are harvested in late December, they yield a reddish fruit that has a floral and intense citrus aroma similar to its cousin, the Tangerine. Uniquely, each botanical used in the gin is distilled separately. Most gins are distilled with all botanicals together, but distilling them separately allows Todd to more precisely control the flavors and aromas expressed in the finished gin. Juniper berries, for example, can take on harsh, piney flavors when distilled for a long time (a quality which can put some people off gin altogether). When the distillate is cut sooner, the berries will come across as bright and fruit-forward. Leopold Bros. distills Santa Catarina’s Green and Red Mandarin Oranges separately, blending the two distillates together in the final gin. This allows the two contrasting flavors to work in concert, marrying citrus and floral notes to a piquant finish. In addition to the citrus, the Gin is finished with earthy and savory notes using Orris Root, Juniper, Sri Lankan White Pepper, and South African Rooibos Tea. Distiller: Todd Leopold Price: $42 Botanicals: Green and Red Mandarin Oranges, orris root, Bulgarian juniper, Sri Lankan White Pepper, South African Rooibos Tea Tasting notes: Bright citrus oil and pith on the nose. On the palate, savory undertones from the Rooibos. Finishes with lingering citrus and earthiness. To hear Todd Leopold talk about the gin, watch this video. Cocktails Classic Martini 2-2 ½ oz Leopold Gin No. 25 ½ - 1 oz dry vermouth (substitute blanc vermouth for a softer and sweeter drink) 2 dashes orange bitters (optional) Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir until well chilled (20-30 seconds). Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a citrus twist. White Negroni 1 ½ oz Leopold Gin No. 25 ¾ oz Suze Gentian Liqueur 1 oz Lillet Blanc Garnish: lemon peel Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass if serving up, or over ice into a rocks glass if preferred. Garnish with a lemon peel. Tom Collins 1 ½ oz Leopold Gin No. 25 ¾ oz lemon juice ¾ oz simple syrup (1:1, sugar:water) soda water Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain over ice into a Collins glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with a brandied cherry and an orange wheel.
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