750ml
97 points, Wine Enthusiast
“With its clean, neutral profile, this graceful gin works well with just about anything, from Aviation cocktails (natch) to bone-dry Martinis. On the palate, look for bewitching hints of caraway, juniper, grapefruit and a dry, faintly spicy finish.”
PRODUCTION
Every bottle of Aviation Gin is handcrafted in small 100-case batches at the House Spirits Distillery in Portland, Oregon by master distiller Christian Krogstad and Andrew Tice.
Like the world’s finest gins, Aviation is distilled using a proprietary maceration process that produces a pure medley of botanical flavor.
STEP 1: INFUSION
It all starts with our precise blend of botanicals, sourced from around the world – cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel. The botanicals are placed in nylon sacks and suspended in a pure, neutral grain spirit for 18 hours in macerating tanks.
STEP 2: DISTILLATION
The macerate is then pumped into a stainless steel still along with pure water. Steam jackets heat the macerate, the vapors go into a shotgun condenser, come into contact with the cold water, and the distillate forms.
STEP 3: THE CUT
In a meticulously monitored process, the first fluid leaving the still, the “heads,” is removed. Collecting the “heart of the spirit” throughout the run, the distillers then determine the end of the cycle and make the final cut, “the tails.” This process takes approximately 7 hours and at this point, the “heart cut” is 142 proof.
STEP 4: BLENDING & BOTTLING
The “heart cut” is transferred to a blending tank where pure water is added, bringing the gin to the desired 84 proof. It then goes into a bottling tank with a 6-sprout gravity filler and pumped into bottles. Labels, caps, and cap strips are all applied by hand. A craft production from beginning to end, Aviation is then ready to pack and ship.