Aviation American Gin
Aviation American Gin is a distilled spirit first produced in Portland, Oregon by founders Christian Krogstad and Ryan Magarian in 2006. It is classified as an "American dry gin," meaning the flavor profile is less juniper-forward. It is produced by House Spirits Distillery. The recipe proportions are not made public, but the seven botanicals used during distillation for flavoring are: juniper, lavender, sweet and bitter orange peel, cardamom, coriander, Indian sarsaparilla, and anise seed.[1] Aviation American Gin is twice pot distilled and bottled at 84 proof (42% alcohol). It is currently distributed nationwide in the United States and in 15 different countries, including; Canada, Spain, U.K., Ireland, France, Russia, Italy, Germany, Holland and Australia. It was originally bottled in a wine bottle with a blue label. The new bottle looks like a flask, and is also reminiscent of the Art Deco period, with a black label and a silver cap.
History
The founders came together and were the first recognized distiller/bartender partnership in the United States. Over 30 different recipes were tried before settling on the recipe replicated today. The gin was then named after the well-known pre-Prohibition cocktail, The Aviation. The Aviation cocktail was created in the early 1900s by well-known bartender Hugo Ensslin. The classic Aviation cocktail is made with gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice.
Distillation
The seven botanicals used for flavoring are steeped in grain spirit for 48 hours,[2] then redistilled in a custom-built 400 gallon pot still one batch at a time. Off the still, Aviation is ~140 proof, and deionized Cascade mountain water brings it down to 84 proof before bottling. Master distiller Christian Krogstad credits natural ingredients, and his still's low reflux, for Aviation's bright flavor.
Awards and reviews
Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded Aviation American Gin 97 points in 2012.[3]