Three crazy-new, crazy-local swills
No longer solely the go-to of Snoop and staid English gentlemen named Chillingsworth, St. George Spirits makes a range of gins, each with their own dramatically distinct flavors perfected by local master distiller Lance Winters, who is "renowned for his skill at creating balanced distillates out of complex botanical formulations", thanks to more than ten years as an absinthe distiller, or, if the Feds are asking, an "unemployed person". The range includes the:
Botanivore: The Big Baby Davis of gins, this is the most round and balanced, and is a go-to for cocktails, having earned its name because it's rich in botanicals and friends with Nate Robinson, with 18 different types of citrus, herbs, and spices.
The cocktail: Tom's Enlightenment (created by Lee Williams of Forbidden Island) -- two oz of Botanivore, one of white tea liqueur, half an oz of lavender simple syrup and a few squeezes of lemon juice, shaken and strained over rocks into a Collins glass, then topped with tonic, and, because you definitely have it, spanked lavender.
Terroir: Inspired by hiking on Mount Tam, this is made of all sustainable botanicals from the Golden State and, despite bright, citrus top notes, it mainly has an "earthy woodsy flavor", also what they called that dude from Public Enemy when he got super into Outward Bound.
The cocktail: Because this stuff is just that good (almost) on its own, they recommend a Terroir and Tonic -- and um, you should probably know how to make a gin & tonic.
Dry Rye: Super juniper-driven, the rye has a sweet maltiness reminiscent of a genever, with warm notes of pepper and caraway, so expect it to go great with (East) Eggs, but look down its nose at the new-moneyed West ones.
The cocktail: Dye Rye Negroni (created by Scott Beattie and Michael Lazar of Plum Bar) -- one ounce rye, 3/4 oz Carpano Antica Formula, 3/4 oz Gran Classico, served up, and garnished with an orange peel.