Winter Gin Release
The first in our new series of seasonal gins made its debut this weekend.
Our distiller, Derek, used blue juniper berries, breaking them open to release the spice’s floral aroma and essential oils, which lend a slightly oily mouthfeel to the finished spirit, making this gin perfect for winter cocktails. Clove, nutmeg, and bitter orange add warm baking-spice notes.
We have only a few cases of this special release, so be sure to stop by the tasting room on Gutenberg to pick up a bottle while they last — while you’re here, try one of our Winter Gin Sip cocktails. It layers our housemade cardamom syrup and lemon peel with the gin. The full recipe is below — including how to make the syrup — so you can recreate the cocktail at home.
Winter Gin Sip
Yield: 1 cocktail
3 oz Black Shire Winter Gin
3/4 oz cardamom syrup (recipe is below)
1-by-3-inch strip lemon peel
In a shaker or pint glass, add ice. Pour Winter Gin and cardamom syrup over ice and stir 15 times. Strain into a coupe or cordial glass. Squeeze lemon peel to express oils over the cocktail. Place peel on top of cocktail and serve.
Cardamom Syrup
Yield: 1 1/2 cups
This recipe is easily doubled or tripled depending on how much syrup you’d like to make.
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 Tbsp cardamom seeds
Pour sugar and water into a saucepan and warm gently over medium heat, stirring. When sugar has dissolved, add cardamom seeds and stir. Cover and allow to steep for 3 to 4 hours. Strain and store in glass container, like a mason jar.