Desert Juniper Gin (750ml)

Close friends, Ric DeMarco and Dave Hodgert began microdistilling Desert Juniper Gin in 1997. Their idea was to make a hand-crafted American gin, honoring the traditions of this spirit while using ingredients harvested locally around their home town of Bend. They began with wild Western Juniper berries, hand-picked in Christmas Valley. They experimented with a selection of local botanicals, soliciting friends for lively taste-tests while perfecting their recipe. Good water is a crucial ingredient, and another gift of the Bend environment, where clean mountain water travels through lava fields in the landscape. Dave and Ric took nature’s lead in their process, and found that filtering the distilled gin through crushed lava yielded the peak result.

Humor and laughter remain at the heart of their work. Two things Ric and Dave are certain of: Each realizes how flawed their own humanity really is; and they celebrate and accept one another, flaws and all. “Our relationship is based on the innate understanding that we’re full of BS. But I’d trust him with my life,” Ric says. And from Dave, “Everyone should have a friend like this. This is the kind of relationship that people strive for.”

Other reviews... First released in late 1998, Desert Juniper is made by Bendistillery in batches of around 500 gallons and filtered through crushed volcanic lava rock up to ten times before being bottled. The juniper berries used are harvested locally in Oregon from one of the world's largest juniper tree forests... Appearance: (Batch 132) Clear with very faint lime green/straw yellow hue. Aroma: There's a whiff of sauna to the restrained fresh cedar wood, citrus and coriander nose. Taste: Slightly sweet, oily, woody, nutty palate with very faint pine resin influenced juniper. More a botanical spirit than a 'traditional' gin. Aftertaste: Lingering woody, nutty, sawdust flavours. 41% Alc./Vol. 3.5 stars - www.diffordsguide.com